Hydroseeding Or Sod: What Is Best and What You Need to Know

When planning out your landscape design and more specifically how to best create a lawn that will be lush, healthy and vibrant in all seasons and conditions, there are a few basic things to consider.  

When Sod is Best For Your Landscape

If you’re looking for instant gratification, sod is the only way to go. Sod is fully grown grass that comes in a roll or matt with about 1/2″ of soil held in place with a mature turf root system.

There are usually several varieties of sod available at your local sod farm. You should consult with your landscape contractor to determine the right sod for your property. For instance, if your site isn’t irrigated and is in full sun, you’ll want a drought tolerant, disease resistant tall fescue sod which will have more warm season characteristics. On the other hand, if  your property has dappled light, or tends to be more shaded with northern exposures, a Bluegrass sod may be a better choice.

What is Hydroseeding and How is It Different Than Sod

If you are not under a great time constraint, and can afford to allow 6-8 weeks to allow a lawn to grow in, then a more economical way to go may be hydro-seed.

Hydroseeding is accomplished by spraying a mixture of grass seed, fiber mulch, tack, starter fertilizer and liquid lime onto prepared, fine graded soil that has been screened, raked and removed of debris. Once the seed mixture has been applied, a layer of straw should be added as a top-dressing to protect the new seedbed and keep soils moist for optimal seed germination. The hydro-seeded area needs to remain moist during germination so you’ll want to check it every two to three days and water as needed until you have 90% germination and 3-5″ top growth.

What About Vertiseed

Finally, if you have an existing lawn that has grown tired, is thin, bare and become overgrown with weeds, the best way to restore the lawn may be to vertiseed. Vertiseeding, also known as slit-seeding, is performed with a machine that basically slices grooves into the soil and deposits seed rows at a 1-2″ depth. With the new grass seed planted, you can expect a very high germination rate and improved turf density within a relatively quick period.

You’ll once again want to pay close attention to the seed blend used to make sure the type of grass is the right one for your property and its characteristics mentioned above.

Cost Difference of Sod

Sod can range anywhere from $3.25 per square yard to $7.00 per square yard depending on the size of the project and type of sod.

Complete Landscaping offers a range of options for growing and installing the perfect lawn  – including hydroseeding – for any commercial property or commercial landscape installation project. Contact us today if you’d like a quote for your commercial lawn. We wish you the best of luck with your lawn.