When you want to improve your landscaping and increase the amount of grass you have on your property, you typically have two options – add some grass seed or put down sod. Grass seed comes in a variety of different types and allows you to fill in thin areas or grow an entire lawn over the course of about two years. Sod gives you an instant lawn without any of the waiting involved with seeds. Both will eventually produce a lush, green lawn when well cared for, but they do have several differences. Below, we’ll explain these differences to help you make a more informed decision for your property.

Installation and Costs

Seed is fairly easy to lay once the soil is prepared. The grass seed is added to a spreader and laid evenly over the ground before being raked in. This process typically costs around $150 to $700 depending on the size of your lawn and the amount of preparation work, with an average cost per square foot of $0.14 for labor, with a small garden costing about $150, and a 5,000 square foot lawn about $700.

Sod can be laid out in rolls or squares, as well as smaller plugs to fill in sparse areas. Like seed, the labor cost is generally priced per yard rather than per foot, with a 5,000 square foot yard costing between $1,250 and $3,000 in labor or $0.25 to $0.60 per square foot, depending on the amount of preparation required.

Both seed and sod have a range of prices depending on the type of grass installed. Seed is much less expensive than sod, not only to install but also to purchase. Most grass seeds range between $65 and $105 for enough to cover a 5,000 square foot lawn, costing roughly $.08 per square foot. Sod is considerably more money, costing between $1,250 and $4,250, or $0.69 per square foot on average, to cover the same 5,000 square foot lawn – roughly a 30% to 42% increase in the cost of the material.

Planting Season

When adding seed to your lawn, the best time of year is during the cooler fall months. The warm days and cool nights help the grass grow quickly, putting down roots that will help it come up stronger in the spring. Keep in mind that it will be several weeks at least before you see the grass begin to grow and around two years before you will see the final results of a fully mature lawn.

For homeowners wishing to get an instant lawn, sod is the better choice. Sod can be laid in the spring or fall, but should not be laid in the winter months. It will take the sod roughly two weeks to put down shallow roots after it is laid; it is best not to walk on the sod during this period of time. Over the next 30 days, the sod will put down deeper roots, establishing itself in your lawn.

Erosion Control

If the soil in the area you are planting is experiencing erosion, sod can be installed as a form of erosion control. A biodegradable mat is first secured to the soil to help prevent any further displacement. The sod is installed on the mat, then as the roots grow, the mat degrades and allows for the roots to help anchor the soil.

Seed cannot be used for this purpose, as the length of time it takes to put down roots cannot stop erosion quickly enough.

Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet

¹ Fescue: A coarse, resilient grass that stays green all year. Fescue is considered a cool-season grass, so it does well in cooler temperatures but can turn brown quickly in the heat. This means that it must be watered frequently in the summer