Sod or seed? Both are great choices for getting the green lawn that so enhances the curb appeal of your home. Seed however, takes time, so if its not on your side, consider laying sod. Remember too, when creating or recreating your front yard landscape to invest time and resources in the planning process: youll want to be sure all the components you choose work together and complement your final landscaping plan.

Deciding to start a lawn from sod can save you time since it is grown to its teen years and can instantly provide overall beauty to your budding garden. Grass sod do not dry easily and they pack well to prevent the survival of weed seeds in the area.

Grass sod is more expensive than seeds and sometimes can include microbes or weeds that can be harmful to your garden. However, sodding remains the top pick for most landscaping endeavors. You can lay sod anytime during the growing season, though look carefully at the type of sod as some will do better during different parts of the season or in your local climate. Warm season grasses, for instance, grow best during the early spring or fall and the cool-season grasses fare better in mid to late spring. Take note of one goal and that is to get the roots to weave into the soil as quickly as you put the sods in place.

Planting it In

Grass seeding may be cheaper but laying sods is more convenient. In laying grass sods, soil preparation is needed to set an ideal place for sod to grow. It involves testing the pH range of the soil before planting for at least three months. A pH kit is helpful in this situation to adequately verify the soil’s pH. Ryegrass reportedly needs the soil to have between 5.0 to 8.0 pH level to grow. Retest again in three months. Also, you can assess if the soil is too dry by grabbing a fist of soil and squeezing it. If the soil is malleable then it is adequate and has draining abilities. In the event that the soil crumbles then it is too dry or sandy and is it releases water then it will not do for planting. Builder’s sand and compost are tilled over the area for clay soils and peat moss for sandy soil. Till the area sufficiently and spray the soil with a mist of water. The end result must be moist soil that is not too saturated. Once the fresh-cut sods arrive, it is best to place them as soon as possible to prevent drying up but if you must, keep them fresh by misting them until you decide to place them home. When you do place the grass sods after preparing the soil, water the area first and then work by laying the sod strips tightly together with staggered joints like laying a brick wall. Make certain that no gaps are evident between the ends and pat them down using a rake to keep good contact. After which, you may add a thin top dressing of soil between crack and soak the sod. To keep it leveled, use a water filled roller through the lawn area.

On the whole, planting grass sods today does not give you license to forget about them tomorrow. You need to water them every morning and in time, they can grow beautifully, accentuating you garden and give you cause to celebrate.