You’ve finally moved into your new home and it’s time to tackle the yard. You envision attractive, carpet-like turf for leisure-time activities or as a pleasing backdrop for ornamental landscaping. Or perhaps you have decided to rebuild an existing lawn plagued by weeds, inadequate soil, poor drainage, or numerous bare spots.
Creating a new lawn evokes an endless array of questions. Beyond the foremost question of how to properly prepare the soil bed, will you create your lawn by seeding or by laying sod? When considering a new lawn, most people envision committing an enormous amount of time and energy, beyond preparing the site, to spreading carefully selected seed, rolling, fertilizing, sprinkling, and nursing tender seedlings to maturity.
Much of this work can be avoided by sodding instead of seeding. Imagine, within two weeks you can transform bare soil to a thick green virtually weed-free lawn. There will be no worries that the seedbed will dry out on a windy day, no keeping the kids and pets off the future lawn, and no mud constantly tracked into the house.
Are there downsides to using sod instead of seeding a new lawn? Maybe. For one thing, sod is considerably more expensive than seeding. Measure the area to be covered, then call your garden center or sod dealer (check the phone book) to get a quote. This will help you to make a decision. (Plugs are a less expensive alternative for repairing a less-than-perfect lawn, so consider asking about pricing if appropriate.) Remember also that site preparation for sod is exactly the same as for seeding; there are no shortcuts. Sod will not perform in poorly prepared soil any better than a seeded lawn.
Be aware that timing is everything when laying sod. It is essential that the sod rolls are not delivered until the bed has been prepared and you are ready for the task of laying it. Never store rolled sod for longer than one or two days and never allow it to dry out. Plan ahead exactly how you will lay out the sod strips or squares, and have all tools and materials ready. When your sod arrives, make certain that it is not cut too thin. It may root more rapidly than thick sod, but it will also dry out more quickly. Look for signs of yellowing. Don’t accept delivery of sod that is not fresh and moist.
When selecting sod, it is important to look for reputable sources to avoid the introduction of pests and diseases to your lawn. Your dealer should identify the grasses, and provide assurance that there are no harmful insects, inferior grasses, or pests such as crabgrass seed.
Seeded lawns, rooted directly in local home soil, are still recommended by many experts over sod or plug transplants. Consider your options carefully, remembering that the secret to a lush, beautiful lawn is proper soil preparation and regular maintenance, no matter how your new lawn originates.
