Sod vs Hydroseed
Need a new lawn? Sod vs Hydroseed, which way to go?
You can achieve a plush green lawn with Sod or Hydroseed. Either way you go it ultimately comes down to preparation and then care of the grass. Healthy soil and proper grading before installation is a must. After installation your grass will require proper watering, maintenance, nourishment and weed control.
Expectations
Sod: Fresh blanket of farm raised turf installed for an instant lawn. A wide variety of seed blends to choose from.
Hydroseed: A slurry of water, grass seed, wood pulp, paper pulp and fertilizer sprayed on the prepared soil. Many other ingredients can be added to improve success such as: tackifier for erosion control, weed control to limit the existing seeds in the soil from sprouting, ph balancer to correcting soil ph, mechanical binders for erosion control and water retention controls just to name some of the common add ins.
Pros and Cons
Sod:
- Instant gratification
- Slightly superior erosion control
- Superior weed control at the start
- Ready to walk on in a week
- Ready to mow in 2-3 weeks
- Play on lawn 3-4 weeks
- A lot of water needed to establish
Hydroseed:
- Approximately 70- 80% less cost installed than sod
- Easier to install on steep grades
- Great for new construction that may expect reoccurring damage prior to establishment. More cost effective to touch up with repairs.
- Ready to walk on in 3 weeks
- Ready to mow in 3-4 weeks
- Play on lawn in 4-6 weeks
- Less water needed to establish
Using both for maximum value
For new construction and major renovations, we often recommend installing sod in front of the home/building and hydroseed on the sides and back. This strikes a great balance of instant impact for curb appeal and keeping costs down using hydroseed on larger less visible areas.
The Verdict
Win win. Whether you go with sod, hydroseed or a combination of both if you want a healthy plush lawn it will require proper attention for establishing the new lawn AND to maintain it. This will require the right combination of water, nutrition, maintenance and weed control. There are a wide variety of ways to accomplish these. Please reach out if you have any questions on your new or mature lawn.