# Sod Vs. Seed Cost
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Starting a Lawn From Seed
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Starting a lawn from seed offers the consumer a wider range of choice regarding grass type and variety, at significant cost savings. Seed is spread on prepared soil, by hand or mechanically, then raked into the soil and compacted. Protective mulch is often applied, to protect germinating seeds from the elements. Renovation or initial planting of a lawn via seeding is much cheaper than sod and typically results in stronger, healthier grass. Plants started from seed develop deeper, more robust root systems, enabling lawns to better adapt to periods of heat stress or drought.
Disadvantages of Seeding
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Although it offers many advantages compared to sodding, there are more variables to take into account when starting a lawn from seed. Newly seeded lawns are much more vulnerable to foot traffic, and disturbing seeded areas can result in unsightly bare spots once the lawn becomes established. Young grass seedlings also require a steady supply of moisture for proper germination and growth, and any interruption can significantly affect the establishment of the new lawn. Timing of installation is limited as well, since grass germinates and grows best only in certain seasons, depending on the area.
Starting a Lawn from Sod
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Starting a lawn from sod involves transplanting mature, commercially grown turf onto existing soil. Sod is applied as soon as possible after cutting and delivery, over moistened soil. Pieces of sod are laid out in a staggered pattern, to avoid visible seams, and rolled to ensure good root contact with soil. Sodding is better suited to planting of new lawns, rather than renovating existing turf, because it cannot be laid over existing vegetation. It offers quicker, more uniform results compared to starting a lawn from seed.
Drawbacks of Sodding
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Starting a lawn from sod is much more expensive than starting from seed, and the choice of grass more limited. Sodded lawns often have problems with root development and soil incompatibility as well, since the soil used to grow the sod is often of a different composition than that of the lawn site, and the newly laid grass is often stressed from handling and transplanting. Sod sometimes shrinks as the soil loses moisture after installation, which can lead to unsightly bare spots that require overseeding.
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