Installing a lawn can be a big project. A lot of the time the lawn is the biggest portion of your outdoor space. What is the best way to go for getting grass? Sod, Seed, or Hydroseed?
- Sod: An instant yard. No need to wait and wait for the grass to start to grow, it is there. That is by far the main reason why sod is chosen. However, sod is expensive. But you are paying for someone else to start the grass growing, then it needs to be harvested and replanted. All of that adds up. Then again, it is an instant lawn.
- Seed: The slowest of the ways to install a lawn. But it is the most cost effective. Generally a starter fertilizer and a moisture retaining material is applied/installed at the same time to help the grass germinate. Birds and other small animals may be interested in the seed on the ground for food. Some reseeding may need to be done if the problem becomes too great.
- Hydroseed: Hydroseeding a lawn is slightly faster when it comes to seeding, but way behind sod. The starter fertilizer and moisture retaining material are all wrapped into one spray application. Generally, birds and animals are not interested in hydroseed because the seed is not directly accessible to them. Hydroseeding is more expensive than just seeding, but less expensive than sod.
All of these modes of grass installation do the same thing, plant grass. Once the lawn is established, for the most part, it doesn’t matter how the grass started, it is all the same turf grass. What does matter is how the grass is taken care of. It is best to properly maintain your lawn to keep it in the best shape.
There are price and speed differences when it comes to how you establish grass, and that is what to think about when installing a yard. However, there is no difference once that lawn is established as to how it reacts to maintenance and problems that can arise.