Sod or Seed?

[ALHILLDIRT]

I have about 1/2 acre of yard to plant. Soil is red clay, so I'll have to spread some topsoil. Anyone have any pros or cons on using sod versus seeding the plot? I have everything to do the job either way.

 

[RonR]

Have done both with Fescue.

We put sod around a 24ft round swimming pool. LOTS of work on the knees and we wore out a lot of steak knives cutting the stuff to make it fit. And expensive. It is nice when you are done though.

Seeding is cheaper, and slower to lushness.

I know how I'd vote, but it's your call.

ron

 

[EddieWalker]

What type of grass are you talking about?

Seed is gonna be ALLOT cheaper. Sod will give you instant results and stop erosion, but a pallet of sod is only good for a small area and each pallet runs a hundred bucks or so.

You have to sod if you're putting in St. Augustine, but bermuda works great from seed. It's too late in the year for bermuda and St. Augustine anyway. You won't have enought growing time for them to get there roots established, and when it gets cold, the plants will die.

The only thing you can plant right now is rye, and for that, you just through out the seed. It will start growing as soon as it rains and stay nice and green all winter long, but as soon as the temps warm up, it will die off.

Eddie

 

[Doc_Bob]

Seed is cheap sod is expensive.
Bob

 

[Bird]

Three good answers that seem to me to cover it all. I've done both; sod and seed and can't think of anything to add to the three other answers.

 

[Egon]

Evertime I hear "Sod" my back starts aching til the word "Seed" is mentioned!

 

[MarkV]

Like Eddie said, you have missed the planting window for turf grasses normally used here in the south. Fescue does best planted in the fall or spring where Bermuda does better with a summer planting. Centipede is also used around here and does best from sod. If you are in southern bama it will most likely be to hot in the summer for Fescue.

Sod can be put down this time of year and will stay dormant for the winter but a half acre will be real expensive. This is a good time to get a soil test done and add amendments to the soil like the top soil you mentioned and I’ll bet you need lime. The county extension agent will also be able to give good advice as to what grows well in your area and when to plant. Throw some Winter Rye out now as a winter crop to help the soil and stop erosion. Then plan on a spring or summer planting depending on what type of grass you want.

MarkV

 

[have_blue]

I have about 1/2 acre of yard to plant. Soil is red clay, so I'll have to spread some topsoil. Anyone have any pros or cons on using sod versus seeding the plot? I have everything to do the job either way.

Here's how I did my 1100 foot levee, and it's working out great:

I planted a mixture of bermudagrass, var. Sahara and Centipedegrass Var. unknown. I used Pennington seed, bought from Wal-Mart. The mix was ~2/3 bermuda, and 1/3 centipede.

The idea behind this is, bermuda sprouts and fills in quickly. Centipede is very slow, but absolutely the best grass there is for the deep South. The first year, I could hardly find the centipede, but the bermuda was lush, drought tolerant, and very easy to bush hog. The 2nd year, I had good patches of centipede. The 3rd year, the centipede was dominating, and the bermuda is disappearing. That's where I stand now.

I chose centipede for it's good running, and because it almost never needs mowing if used in a rough field. If it's for a lawn, it requires lots of mowing, but about 25% less than St. Augustine. Also, it has a rich green color with no fertilizer ever required, and is much more disease resistant than St. Augustine.

 

[AlanB]

Time or Money?

 

[Doc_Bob]

Time or Money?

Or, now or later?
Bob