Summertime is for frolicking in the grass or watching kids run through the sprinklers. If you’re moving into a new home or needing to replace your existing lawn, you want a lawn now. So, do you hydroseed or sod? Both give you a lawn quicker without waiting for seed.
Scroll down to see the differences between the two and what you can expect from both.
What is Hydroseed?
The name seems kind of techie, but what is it? Hydroseed is a combination of grass seed, water, and fertilizer you spray onto your yard or property with a hose. You can apply it to bare soil, and depending on how much preparation is needed, you can get some grass in as little as a week to ten days. It’s an excellent choice for new construction since the ground is already bare. However, if there’s existing grass, it needs removing, as hydroseed only works on bare ground.
Although hydroseed doesn’t offer an instant lawn, it’s much faster than seed. In Utah, we have Kentucky bluegrass, which, when using hydroseed, germinates at a rate of about 22-30 days. So, what you initially will see with green sprouting up is only about 5 percent of the grass. The rest comes a little later. Within a month, it’s ready to mow at about 3 inches.
Hydroseed Care
Since you are taking on all the care for hydroseeding, you save money, but it takes more of your time. A sod farm does all the work for you—weeding, fertilizing, and managing the water. Once you get the sod and it’s installed, you can immediately walk on it. Alternately, with hydroseed, it needs to be well-watered and stay that way. Unlike sod, you won’t be able to walk or play on it for about a month, to establish roots. If you do hydroseed, the best time is spring.
Hydroseed Cost
Hydroseed does cost less than sod but not traditional grass seed, making it a good middle-ground if expenses are an issue. Depending on the type of grass and what’s included, hydroseed can range anywhere from 9 cents to 15 cents a foot. It also takes less labor than sod, so keep that in mind.
What is Sod?
When we talk about an instant lawn, this is what we mean with sod, rolled-up sections of pre-grown grass, with roots and all. The sections of grass are laid out on top of bare soil and will be ready to use about ten days later, which makes it a highly popular choice. Like hydroseed, though, there is some prep work if you have existing grass or weeds. Also, with sod, you need to water it often and at least 3 to 4 times daily for 15 minutes each time; do this for the first few weeks. Again, this helps establish the root system. Note that depending on the current weather and sprinkler coverage, it may change the required water amounts and watering times.
Sod Cost and Timing
Sod can typically cost between 30 and 80 cents ($120 and $280 per pallet) per square foot, depending on the type and amount. Contact Monarch Sod for an estimate. Just like hydroseed, the best time to lay the sod is colder seasons like spring or fall. It’s also a bit more labor-intensive than hydroseeding, which could take hours for a large yard.
Benefits of Sod
Other than an instant lawn, you can walk on far faster than hydroseeding, the benefits of sod include less time needed to weed, fertilize, and water. Once installed, the sod requires less irrigation, and it makes for a denser lawn. It also prevents soil erosion and is grown professionally by turfgrass farmers, giving your lawn a strong foundation for health and beauty that lasts a lifetime.
Ready for Sod? Contact Monarch Sod
If you’re ready to pull the trigger on new sod, contact us today. We are actively taking orders and will get you started. We take extra precautions with a no-contact installation to protect you and your family and ours. We can’t wait to install new sod for you soon!
