Trying to decide between seed vs. sod can be a tricky decision. From the outside, they both look like pretty good options. But is one better than the other? As it turns out, one will likely work better for you and your yard than the other. So how do you know which to pick? Well, you need to review the pros and cons of grass seed vs sod and figure out which suits your situation the best.
Is Seeding or Sodding a Lawn Better? (The Short Answer)
When picking between seed and sod for your new lawn, there isn’t an out-and-out winner. What works for one person may not work for another. So when deciding between sod vs seed, you need to consider the following factors and work out your best option.
- Grass Type
- Terrain
- Time of Year
- Cost
- Difficulty of Installation
Pros of Seeding Your Lawn
Let’s start off by taking a closer look at the benefits of choosing to seed your lawn over sodding.
More Grass Type Options to Choose
If you want the freedom to choose from a big selection of grasses, then grass seed certainly has the most available options. You’ll find a whole range of seeds available for specific grasses, plus you’ll find blends. Blended grass seeds are great as they combine different grasses into one bag. This means you get the pros of a bunch of various types of grass.
Less Expensive than Sodding
If you are looking for a cost-effective option, grass seed is the way to go. A 20lb bag of seeds starts at about $50 and will be enough to plant around 5000 sq ft. So if you have a large area to cover and don’t want to break the bank, seeds are a great choice.
Easy and Quick to Plant
Seeds, a spreader, and an hour or so are really all you need to plant a new seed lawn. There is no working on your knees or carrying around heavy materials, and you probably won’t even break a sweat. Seeding is definitely the easier option.
Disease & Weed Free
When you are planting a new lawn, the last thing you want to do is bring weeds or diseases to your yard. Thankfully, grass seed is usually very clean and free of any kind of potential issue. Unfortunately, you can’t always say that about sod.
Cons of Seeding Your Lawn
So far, seeding sounds pretty good. You can choose from a big selection of grass, it is easy to install, it’s affordable, and free of problems. But what about the downsides? Let’s take a look.
The Lawn Will Take Time to Establish
When you have finished seeding your lawn, it’s time to sit back and watch it grow. Now, it could take a few months to several months for the lawn to fully establish. So, seeds will not be a good option if you are looking for instant results.
The Lawn is Off Limits Until it Established
While waiting for your lawn to grow, you shouldn’t walk on it. This is because you’ll damage the new shoots and kill the grass. So if you are planning a garden party anytime soon, you’ll want to avoid using seeds for your new lawn.
Limited Planting Season
When it comes to planting a seed lawn, you’ll need to plant during the growing season. Seeding is typically done during late summer and early fall. So, if this isn’t the time you were hoping to get started seeding, you’ll either have to wait or pick a different solution.
Weeds Can Overtake Bare Soil
Even though seeds are screened for weeds, you’ll unfortunately still get weeds. This is because the bare soil is good for germinating grass seeds and is also perfect for weeds. Herbicides can kill off the sprouting weed in your new lawn, but newly germinated lawns usually aren’t strong enough to handle such chemicals. So, be prepared for weeds if you go the seed route.
Pros of Sodding Your Lawn
Now it is time to look at sod and see if this could be the better option for your yard.
Instant Results
Probably the one thing that stands out about using sod is that you have an instant lawn in a fairly short period of time. You can definitely have a new lawn in just a weekend. So, if you’re looking for quick results, then sod has you covered.
Instant Access
Unlike a seeded lawn, you can walk on a sod lawn after just a couple of weeks once the roots have taken hold.
Sod Has a Long Planting Season
Due to the fact that sod is already established grass, you have a far longer period in which you can plant. As long as it’s the growing season, you’re good to plant. There’s no waiting for summer to end.
Sod Limits Soil Erosion
Depending on the terrain of your yard, you might find that sod will grow better than seeds. Sod will quickly cover slopes and prevent rain from turning your garden into a washed-out mess. Also, rain or irrigation won’t disturb your newly sodded lawn.
Cons of Sodding Your Lawn
Now, let’s take a look at why sod might not be the best choice.
Expensive Installation Costs
The prices for sod can vary around the country, but you will be looking to pay anywhere between $0.50-$1.00 per sq ft. Now if you want professional installation, this price will go up to $1-$2 per sq ft. So you could be looking at anywhere between $2,500-$10,000 for a new 5000 sq ft lawn.
Limited Grass Selection
Unfortunately, the options for sod are much more limited compared to seeds. So if you are looking for a big selection of sods to choose from, this just isn’t going to happen.
Labor Intensive
To install and lay sod, you have to carry every piece to its location, carefully position it, and butt it up to the previous piece. This sounds pretty easy, but after a few pallets, you’ll be exhausted. So, be prepared for a few days of hard work.
Seeding vs Sod: Factors that Will Impact Your Decision
Now that we have covered the pros and cons of seeding vs sod, let’s look at the different factors that will impact your decision.
Grass Type
If you have a particular grass type in mind, then you may not have a choice between seeding vs sod. This is because certain grasses are only available in one option. For example, if you want a St. Augustine lawn, you will only be able to get it in sod. Again, this is because you can’t purchase St. Augustine seeds.
Terrain
Terrain can play a part when deciding whether to go for seed vs sod. For example, planting seeds on a slope can be problematic when it rains since the seeds will get washed down along with a bunch of dirt. However, this is not an issue you’ll face with sod.
Time of Year
If you plan to install a new lawn during spring and summer, then the decision between spreading seed and laying sod is pretty much taken out of your hand. It’s definitely not a good idea to seed in the summer. But if it’s mid-October, then you can choose between both options.
Cost of Installation
As you have already seen, there is a huge cost difference between seed and sod, and for most people, this is the deciding factor. Of course, you can install sod yourself and save a considerable amount of money, but this brings me to my next point.
Difficulty of Installation
Even though a sod lawn gives you an established lawn in no time, it is a lot of work and may be more than you want to take on. So, a professional service might be a consideration.
Can You Do Without Using your Lawn Space?
So we have seen that seeded lawns need plenty of time to establish, meaning you have to stay off the lawn for a chunk of time. Now for some people, this may be fine. But, if you have pets or kids, this might not be such an easy task to achieve.
My Recommendations for When to Start a Lawn from Seed vs Installing Sod
If you are still on the fence about whether you should install a sod vs a seed lawn, then here’s a quick table that summarizes everything we have talked about. Hopefully, this will help you to get started.
| Yard Type & Suitability | Seeding | Sodding |
|---|---|---|
| Small Lawns | x | x |
| Medium Lawns | x | x |
| Large Lawns | x | x |
| Flat Lawns | x | x |
| Sloped Lawns | x | |
| Most Cost Effective | x | |
| Quickest To Establish | x | |
| Easiest to Install | x | |
| Biggest Amount of Grass Options | x | |
| Reduces Soil Erosion | x | |
| Quickest to Walk On | x | |
| Weeds Can Be an Issue | x | |
| Requires the Most Aftercare | x |
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