Sod vs Hydroseed

There are many options for cultivating a beautiful lawn from good old-fashioned seeding to laying sod. As a homeowner, it's important to weigh all options while taking into account your priorities for lawn care such as budget, time, and the overall aesthetic value. While each method has its advantages and disadvantages, the debate often comes down to sod vs hydroseed. Many simply want to know-which is better?

Hydroseed is a mixture of seed and mulch which is sprayed over the area on which you decide to grow grass. In terms of preparation, sod and hydroseed are equal as they both require tilling, debris removal, and level ground prior to application. The most notable difference between the two methods is cost.

Pros:

• Hydroseed can be up to four times cheaper than sod, ranging from $.50 – 1.00 per square foot.
• It's an ideal option for large yards for its affordability. Labor charges are significantly less drastic for a larger yard than a smaller one once the hydroseed machine is in use.
• Hydroseed generally has a lower rate of disease as it is comprised of several different grasses. Sodding is a monoculture method and therefore becomes a bigger risk for infestation.

Cons:

• It demands a lot of water! When it comes to sod vs hydroseed, the difference can equate to two weeks of intensive watering vs two months, respectively.
• Expect plenty of weeds if you choose to use hydroseed plus the added cost of chemicals and time for multiple weed treatments.
• Hydroseed installation is weather dependent and is not ideal during the summer and winter.

Sod refers to mature grass held together by material that is later installed (in sections or strips) onto pre-treated soil. With proper application, sod will take root in your yard, eliminating the need to grow a full lawn from scratch. While pricier than seeding or hydroseeding, the benefits of sod usually outweigh the other variables in the eyes of most homeowners.

Pros:

• When comparing sod vs hydroseed, the former always wins in terms of beauty. It's vibrant and green-best of all, instant.
• It becomes functional much faster than hydroseed with an allowance for moderate to heavy foot/animal traffic after a few weeks. Hydroseed can demand up to a full year of maintenance before it's strong enough to withstand heavy traffic.
• Sod requires the least amount of watering compared to the competition. On the contrary, if Mother Nature brings heavy rains, sod will not be damaged and will hold up better than hydroseed-known to erode in similar conditions.

Cons:

• As noted, sod is the most expensive grass option in terms of installation per square foot.
• Some sections of sod may not take up root as easily as others and may need to be re-installed. (Keep in mind, the same can be said for certain areas of your hydroseed lawn.)
• When comparing sod vs hydroseed, sod is more labor intensive and requires a bigger commitment for installation, especially if you're going the DIY route.

To ensure success with either method, you must fully understand the watering and weeding schedules required by your grass of choice. Even more crucial is the pre-installation prep work that goes into your yard before any growth can occur. Without the proper soil treatment to include tilling, cleaning, grading, testing, and fertilizing, it will make little difference what you choose as both sod and hydroseed will prove ineffective. In the end, both sod and hydroseed can produce beautiful lawns so long as you care for them well.

Evergreen Turf is your source for the highest quality sod in Arizona. Our friendly, knowledgeable people are committed to answering all of your questions to ensure a stress-free experience with your new Arizona sod lawn. Whether you wish to sod a small play area for the family or an entire golf course, Evergreen Turf can help you make it happen.

Our team serves customers throughout Arizona, including Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe and Tucson. Browse our website for information and tips on how to create and maintain a beautiful lawn, or give us a call and talk to one of our sod specialists at 480-456-1199 if you don't find what you are looking for. Better yet, stop by and meet the team at our convenient Chandler location.