Seeding or Sodding?

Seeding or Sodding?

A lot of clients ask our professional option for seeding or sodding their lawn. We are going to give you some basics on these two options that can help you decide which route is best for your turf needs. SEEDING: The seeding method works best when you are seeding into an existing growth of grass such as a residential lawn. Seeding is useful for thickening existing turf as well as filling in small patches of grass that have died off. It is important to note that timing is specific for seeding and should be done in the spring or fall months.
Aeration and Seeding your lawn Northern VA

This turf would best benefit from aeration and seeding as the majority of the area has established grass growth.

If you are going to seed, we highly recommend that you employ some method of cultivation prior to seeding such as aeration, dethatching or even spreading a light amount of top soil or hay over the seed. This ensures the all-important seed to soil contact that necessary for the establishment of turf that is often overlooked. Seed will germinate, even on the sidewalk, but it’s the establishment phase of seed that provides for the long lasting stand of grass that most homeowners desire. Seedlings must be monitored and carefully nurtured for several weeks. Light applications of a starter fertilizer are helpful and proper watering practices crucial. Keep in mind, if you are seeding in the late spring, you are more likely to encounter issues with disease as opposed to seeding in the fall. All in all, seeding can be a tedious process that requires diligence and patience. Most people agree that seeding is the way to go if you are not working with large areas of bare ground with little or no current grass growth or you have a smaller budget. SOD: Sod is a good choice when you are working with bare ground, such as a newly constructed site, and a bigger budget. Sod is already grown and established rows of turf that you roll out onto the bare ground. Unlike seeding, sod does not need to germinate and then grow, sod only needs to grow new roots into the ground of the area it is installed. Sodding can be done most times of the year. Again some cultural practices such as aerating will be helpful before sodding and applying an organic fertilizer containing Phosphorus will help with the rooting process. Watering the first couple of weeks is critical in the rooting phase as sod needs to stay very wet so that the turf and roots don’t dry out. Once the roots are fully established you can then resume regular maintenance of your turf. In many circumstances, sodding works out to be the better option as it simply requires less care and gives an immediate visual impact that is very ascetically pleasing to the homeowner. As you can see, seeding and sodding are two very different methods of achieving a more beautiful, healthy, green lawn. Depending on your time frame, the state of the lawn you are working with, and your budget you will be able to determine which route is best for you. Contact the pros at Professional Grounds, Inc for all your commercial maintenance needs today at 703-339-0600 or email us your requests at landscape@progrounds.com!
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