With proper watering and a glass of lemonade, youll be. Add plenty of water and your lawn should be as good. Packed with premium smart seed grass seed, professionalgrade fertilizer and improved wood mulch formula, everything you need is premixed in the bag. Our team of experts are committed to providing superior, fresh sod and excellent customer service for each client. Sod and seed will both eventually lead to a beautiful green lawn that your family will enjoy all summer long. Compare sod vs seeding a lawn costs compare product choices. I wouldnt scratch the soil too much after rolling, it can change the grade. If theres no sod present, sow grass seed on open soil. Paul, minnesota with their two english springer spaniels and one feisty rabbit. The best time of year to install new sod in warm season turf areas is late spring to early summer. Setting the highest standards for the industry, we strategically placed sod farms and sod stores throughout the southeast.
However, a sod lawn may not be the right choice in every circumstance. Use either fertilizer from your local garden supply center or compost from your. Seeds should be watered lightly and regularlyevery couple of days. Diy protips to help you decide when to use one or the other. Costs vary, but in general, expect to pay at least 40 cents a square foot for sod you install yourself. You can lay down sod at any time during the gardening season. Be sure to cover the area with the seed, but dont use so much that you create a pile. Spread the seed, then water frequently with a gentle spray until the grass is growing. Its better for seed to be a little too thin than too thick. A nice, thick lawn requires healthy soil as its base, but this can be difficult to do once grass is established. So you wont have to cut the sod in odd shapes, remove the dead grass so that the prepared area forms a square. The heavyweight material is ideal to flatten lawns and flower beds on small and large areas. Lawn repair for ruts and small holes in yard bioadvanced.
Seed is typically available in a wider range of options than sod, however, giving you more choices for color, hardiness, and lushness of the lawn. Homeowners will pay more for quality sod, but the extra expense is always worth it for sod that is in good condition and free of weeds and disease. One of the two major factors involved in the decision to sod or seed is expense. All coolseason sod lawns are planted by seed, and after they mature in 3 to 4 months, they are harvested by knife and shipped to your door for installation. It will take more patience and tending on your part, but for shady areas youll get better results with. Sod, on the other hand, should be watered thoroughly as soon as it is. If budget is your main concern, then seed is definitely the way to go. Rake in the seed to cover with a thin layer of soil, about 12inch. Sod roots fastest when laid during the period of peak growth for the type of grass involved. But again, hydroseed needs a lot of water, but you should be able to mow the grass 46 weeks after seeding. Sod is more expensive than grass seeds, but it grows in much faster. So, its no wonder why dozens of you emailed me, requesting i try patch perfect on does it work wednesday.
This mix contains 20% more grass seed and covers more bare spots than any other lawn patching. Scotts ez seed patch and repair 10lb bermuda lawn repair mix. Although kentucky 31 has been specially adapted for the cool planting zones that are unique to the northeastern states, it also does very well in some warmer areas of the u. There are many options for cultivating a beautiful lawn from good oldfashioned seeding to laying sod. Lay sod squares tightly, because it may shrink initially stagger squares so the seams line up like bricklaying if you have questions about choosing lawn type, fertilizing your lawn or if youre unsure whether to seed or sod, call the grounds guys. Concrete is more durable than steel as it isnt affected by rust. Also, although it isnt always necessary to match the variety currently growing in your lawn, try to select a seed variety that is similar in color or. Sod is pregrown grass that comes in rolls of about 2 feet by 5 feet. Quick question soil height adjacent to concreteblacktop. Super sod is one of the souths largest suppliers of turfgrass sod and seed. Planting seeds its the question on all of our minds sod or seed. How to patch a lawn with grass seed ask this old house. There are two easy methods for restoring bald patches in your lawn.
Topdressing to improve the soil in your lawn todays homeowner. Prepare for sod or seed landscape innovations fayetteville, ga. Sometimes sod gets a bad rap, but thats usually because of mistakes people make while laying it, says roger. A sod lawn is the most popular type of lawn for homeowners, because it is easier to establish than seed, has instant appeal, and is more reasonably priced than artificial turf.
Here is everything you need to know when choosing sod vs. The sod arrives as a finished product on day one and seeding will take at least 2 years to compare. Seed does take up to 2 years to fill in completely, however, while sod will give you a new lawn within one. Heres the best prices on some of my favorite amazon tools. You may want to plant a mix of types of grass seeds. We can help guide you through the maze of decisions and move you toward the goal of a lush. Plugs are small sections of sod that contain grass, roots and soil. If you prefer to learn how to patch a lawn with seed, you can to do this by hand or using a spreader. A nice, lush, green lawn is desired by most home owners but sometimes it can be quite difficult to achieve. Its also important to choose the best grass variety for the sun and shade conditions of your yard.
Gently water new seeds with the mist attachment of a sprayer or a gentle sprinkler. Sodding can be done when the soil is dry enough to work, and the sod will have enough time to root before winter. Use a grass seed that matches what you already have in your lawn. This mixture repairs stubborn bare spots quickly and seamlessly blends into existing lawns. The process of adding a thin layer of soil on top of your lawn is a great way to improve it without disturbing existing grass. Next, mix enough grass seed so you see plenty of seed in every handful. Sod simply put, sod is the most expensive option because you are essentially paying someone else for time and materials of growing the grass. Sod can provide a lawn in a shorter time than seed. Planting and growing grass seed step by step from allyn hane, the. If you hire a landscaper to do any sort of prep work, such as ripping out the old grass, removing stumps andor regrading the lawn, plan on paying. Cost is one of the main factors when choosing between sod and seed. Remove excess concrete and construction debris from the driveway edges, being.
Because everything the seed needs is contained in the mat, you can even grow this sod on top of concrete, and supersod, in fact, sells a repair. Oct, 20 planting sod in bald areas is something that you can do after youve properly prepared the soil. Sod the success of a sod farm starts with the quality of the seed that is planted. A great way to view and understand your building or repair project before you get started. The grass patch mixture will be nice and dark when damp so it will be easy to see if and when it dries out. And sod can be installed yearround, while seeds are generally planted in the spring or fall. Remove the sod over the low spot if the area is bigger than a onefoot square, cut out multiple chunks, since a piece of sod greater than a onefoot square is hard to move around without breaking and set it aside. If there is thickly matted dead grass or thatch covering the spot you want to seed, you would need to remove that as your first step. Scotts ez seed patch and repair bermudagrass is a revolutionary seeding product designed to grow in tough conditions.
If you dont know, bring a sample to a local nursery. Sow seed at the rate recommended on the package and scatter by hand or with a spreader. While sod can be pricey and grass seed may not take in all areas, a third option to consider is hydroseeding. Since it is alive, keep it moist until youre able to install it. You dont have to worry about the lawn being destroyed in the first few weeks. When it comes to caring for your patched lawn, water is essential. Stir concrete patching compound using a margin trowel or putty knife. Shovel enough topsoil into the hole that, once you replace the sod, the area will be even. You can sow in some new seed to fill the area, but this is best done when the temperatures are not too hot so the tender plants dont get scorched. Whether a sparse, weedy lawn needs renewing or youre facing a barren backyard, laying sod is the easy way to an instant, lush lawn. When you buy sod to put in a shady area, it will have to adapt. You can purchase it by the pallet, and a pallets worth of rolls usually covers 400500 square feet.
In this video, this old house landscape contractor roger cook and host kevin oconnor patch a lawn with grass seed. Okay, well maybe its not consuming your everyday thoughts but if you currently have a yard of dirt, you may be pondering about whether laying sod or planting seeds is the better option when it comes to getting that green lawn. Water the area, then amend the soil by working in either compost, leaf mold or finemilled peat moss to a depth of 3 to 5. Make sure the sod makes good contact with the prepared soil bed. The unique combination of scotts high performance seed, premium continuous release lawn food, and superabsorbent growing material, make. A prime disadvantage of sod is the limited number of grass species included in sod mixes. It outcompetes weed seeds that that try to move in early on. The grass seed or sod that most people have in their lawn is not the same as the grass on golf courses. Sod can be installed anytime in the growing season, except in very high heat. Lay sod squares tightly, because it may shrink initially stagger squares so the seams line up like bricklaying. Once this soil is graded, its time for grass seed, fertilizer and topdressing. Seed germination blankets made from wood fiber keep seeds and soil in place for erosion control.
And in southern states, which favor warmseason grasses like bermudagrass, zoysia grass, and centipede grass, sod is the best way to cover the yard at any time of year, since these turf types cannot be grown from seed. No waiting with sod, you instantly have a beautiful, manicured lawn. It will take more patience and tending on your part, but for shady areas youll get better results with seed. When you need seed for your lawn, its important to consider the type of project you have and choose the correct grass seed product for your needs. But, in the long run the amount of watering, fertilizing, care risk of failures or washouts, and weed killing applications will be much more expensive than sod.
Top dressing with sand should i put sand on my lawn. Its drawback is that it will take several weeks for the patch to fully blend into the. Grass seed plays an important role in helping you maintain a beautiful, thick, green lawn. Because everything the seed needs is contained in the mat, you can even grow this sod on top of concrete, and supersod, in fact, sells a repair kit for lawnslittle squares of seed and.
Youll get better results in highly shaded areas using 12 lb. Both seeds and sod need to be soaked to a depth of 4 inches the first day, followed by daily, or even twice daily, watering until wellestablished. Nick and cindy germann are young diyers living in st. Easier and more economical to diy than other methods. Find out just about everything you need to know by watching the video below.
Reseeded and hayed this past aprilmay, seeds germinated nicely, but our fertilizer guy, who claimed to know all about eco lawn and its fescue mix, put some mild broadleaf weed killer on the eco lawn way before it reached the 3. Place at least 4 inches of topsoil over the concrete. Farmers harvest the grass in these strips with up to 2 inches of soil intact, so that the soil, root systems and grass stay together like a mat. Like the steel rollers, concrete material makes one of the most efficient rollers. You can purchase mixed grass seed that is designed to meet specific needs, such as droughtresistant grasses or mixes that you can grow to repair damaged lawns seed mixtures. If you have shady areas that need patching, stick with seed rather than sod. Additionally, not all types of sod are of equal quality. Choose one of penningtons varieties to give your turf the appearance, vigor and drought tolerance of a proven winner.
Heres to a summer of barbecues and games of frisbee on an impeccably green lawn. For bare spots, the ideal product is scotts ez seed. If the soil below the seed was dry, really soak it deeply. The product makers even call patch pefect grass seed on steroids. Deciding on the right type of grass seed involves knowing what type of grass grows best in your specific region. The unique combination of scotts high performance seed, premium continuous release lawn food, and superabsorbent growing material, make it possible for grass to grow in tough conditions, guaranteed. Sod vs seed my wife and i are building a house in southwest ohio and were scheduled to close at the end of october. Golf courses also generally receive more maintenance than the common lawn, such as fertilizing and watering, which ultimately helps correct deficiencies created by the addition of sand. Lawn patch products combine grass seed, fertilizer and mulch blends in one bag. I just priced out a sod job for a customer yesterday.
Okay, well maybe its not consuming your everyday thoughts but if you currently have a yard of dirt, you may be pondering about whether laying sod or planting seeds is the better option when it comes to getting that green lawn of your dreams. This easy method is inexpensive and requires only about 20 minutes of your time, plus some upkeep until the first or second mowing. The sod itself usually costs about 10 cents to 30 cents per square foot, depending on the type of grass you select. When spread on the lawn you want to see 1520 seeds per sq. If you only need to patch a bare spot in your lawn or fill in where the existing turfgrass is sparse, you may choose to use plugs. If you have questions about choosing lawn type, fertilizing your lawn or if youre unsure whether to seed or sod, call the grounds guys. The strengths and weaknesses of each offset the others to keep your lawn green and healthy. Some seed mixtures combine several different grass types in one seed package. Designed by turf scientists, it combines three highquality components that work in harmony. Prepare the damaged area by removing all dead grass and 1 to 2 of soil 34 past the edge of the dead grass. Hydorseeding involves spraying grass seed mixed with water onto a specific area. The mix may also contain fertilizer, mulch and other additives to help the seed take root. Repair broken edges and corners on concrete steps, curbs, slabs and walls without the use of forms with quikrete quicksetting cement, along with quikrete acrylic fortifier.
Sod is the quickest way to receive an instant lawn. Sod july 23, 2015 marcus reed youve probably seen those large bricks of sod placed on a yard for the instant lawn look, but there is a variety of other options for creating a new lawn. Both seed and sod come in a range of different grass types, including fescue 1 and bermuda. To get the grass seed to actually grow it is critical to keep the seed damp until the grass is established. You can rent a sod roller at home depot or pretty much any rental yard. I received an email today saying that theyre looking to save money and want to look into seed rather than sod. More durable sod isnt as fragile, at least initially. The short answer is that all sod lawns start from seed except for warmseason grasses that are grown from stolons. Seed does take up to 2 years to fill in completely, however, while sod will give you a new lawn within one day. In addition to containing common grass varieties such as rye and fescue, these hardy seeds include kentucky bluegrass for a green, lush lawn. How to patch a lawn with grass seed this old house. Spot seeding and overseeding with do it yourself grass patch. Many seed boxes have examples of what the right density of seed will look like.
For large holes deeper than 24 inches, if turf is still. Most sod is a blend of several kentucky bluegrass cultivars. Included was fully sodded front and side yard, plus 5 feet around the back of the house next to the foundation. The fastest solution is to purchase sod that matches the lawn, dig out the bare spot to match the shape of the sod pieces, and patch the lawn. After you sow seed or lay sod, watering is crucial. Kentucky 31 have designed their tall fescue grass seed to grow into a lowmaintenance lawn that has a high tolerance to heat, so it is ideal for areas that experience a lot of sun as it is drought resistant. Measure topsoil with a ruler or measuring stick to make sure you have the right amount. If your lawn is patchy and thin, you have several options for bringing it to life. Hydroseed will take less time then grass seed because it has a blanket with a fertilizer mix that holds the seed in place. Learn more about the benefits and drawbacks of working with sod.
Fill holes and areas to be repaired with the mixture. Step 5b spread and texture the concrete patch to match the surrounding concrete. Those of you that live in the northern parts of the us and grow coolseason turfgrasses like kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fine fescue or turftype tall fescue, you can either seed or sod the areas that require repair. Use a grub hoe to remove the damaged grass and weeds, but leave the topsoil. Keep soil damp but not soggy until seed germinates. We add the final touches by hand raking the entire lawn and leaving a 1 lip at the edge of all concrete surfaces so the sod goes in flush to the concrete surface. As a homeowner, its important to weigh all options while taking into account your priorities for lawn care such as budget, time, and the overall aesthetic value. Seed germination blankets made from wood fiber keep seeds.
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