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Sparrow
LIF Adult
Member since 11/10 6826 total posts
Name:
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Sod vs Seed?
We're in the midst of deciding which to do for our front lawn. We're over-hauling all of our landscaping, had masonry work done, now we're having beds planted and debating on sod vs seed. This is only for the front, we'll seed the back, definitely not worth the cost of sod.
We're hearing mixed preferences from different people we're talking to and I'm wondering what the consensus is here. So money aside, sod or seed and why?
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Posted 4/19/12 11:24 AM  |
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Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate
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lucyloo
nope
Member since 1/06 9758 total posts
Name:
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Re: Sod vs Seed?
Sod = less weeds & instant lawn
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| Posted 4/19/12 11:29 AM |
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MarsB
LIF Adult
Member since 11/10 1456 total posts
Name:
Martha
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Re: Sod vs Seed?
If money wasn't an issue I would have done sod. We did seed last year and ended up with 75% weeds. We're in the process of trying to get the lawn going again. It's alot of work!
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| Posted 4/19/12 12:02 PM |
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8ternity
<3
Member since 11/08 10586 total posts
Name:
Formally NYPD-Wife
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Re: Sod vs Seed?
We just had the landscaper come and re-do our backyard and front yard. He pulled out all the weeds, leveled out the yards added new dirt and seeded...we water it every day and see some patches of new grass, but the damn birds are all over our yards eating the seeds...if money wasn't an issue we would of done sod.
Message edited 4/19/2012 2:01:15 PM.
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| Posted 4/19/12 2:00 PM |
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nraboni
Uggh...
Member since 10/09 6905 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: Sod vs Seed?
If money is not an issue then there is no question-Sod.
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| Posted 4/19/12 3:14 PM |
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CurlyQ
Member since 6/07 2024 total posts
Name:
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Re: Sod vs Seed?
Sod without a doubt. My DH is a landscape contractor. When we did our yard we did sod in the front and seed in the back (it is a very large area and we have dogs.) After 3 years our front yard is a thick beautiful grass carpet with no weeds at all- and the backyard- not so much.
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| Posted 4/19/12 3:20 PM |
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hmm8191
My loves
Member since 3/06 2908 total posts
Name:
Heather
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Re: Sod vs Seed?
Sod!
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| Posted 4/19/12 4:45 PM |
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mommy2Two
LIF Infant
Member since 3/07 218 total posts
Name:
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Re: Sod vs Seed?
Like everyone says, sod if money is not a problem. But it always is...
But if you seed, you are already too late right now. You will get more seeds than grass if you start right now. Might as well let it sit and do nothing. You will get the same results.
I would put "kill" down the entire lawn in Fall. Perfect is September-ish.(Or spring Early March assuming no snow) Give it a day or two. Till if you want to but I've left it like that with dying weeds and they just go back into the soil before the grass really starts up. Rake in thin layer of soil. Seed the area. Rake lightly. Water everyday. Put more seeds than birds. Never had a problem with birds eating a few.
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| Posted 4/20/12 11:00 AM |
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Sparrow
LIF Adult
Member since 11/10 6826 total posts
Name:
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Re: Sod vs Seed?
Posted by mommy2Two
Like everyone says, sod if money is not a problem. But it always is...
But if you seed, you are already too late right now. You will get more seeds than grass if you start right now. Might as well let it sit and do nothing. You will get the same results.
I would put "kill" down the entire lawn in Fall. Perfect is September-ish.(Or spring Early March assuming no snow) Give it a day or two. Till if you want to but I've left it like that with dying weeds and they just go back into the soil before the grass really starts up. Rake in thin layer of soil. Seed the area. Rake lightly. Water everyday. Put more seeds than birds. Never had a problem with birds eating a few.
Are you saying it's too late even if we're starting from scratch? We're having a lot of excavation done so the yard will all be dirt and top soil. We're leaning towards sod but we've actually had a few landscapers say seed is better, heartier, withstands droughts, etc. 
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| Posted 4/20/12 2:53 PM |
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MarsB
LIF Adult
Member since 11/10 1456 total posts
Name:
Martha
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Re: Sod vs Seed?
Posted by Sparrow
Posted by mommy2Two
Like everyone says, sod if money is not a problem. But it always is...
But if you seed, you are already too late right now. You will get more seeds than grass if you start right now. Might as well let it sit and do nothing. You will get the same results.
I would put "kill" down the entire lawn in Fall. Perfect is September-ish.(Or spring Early March assuming no snow) Give it a day or two. Till if you want to but I've left it like that with dying weeds and they just go back into the soil before the grass really starts up. Rake in thin layer of soil. Seed the area. Rake lightly. Water everyday. Put more seeds than birds. Never had a problem with birds eating a few.
Are you saying it's too late even if we're starting from scratch? We're having a lot of excavation done so the yard will all be dirt and top soil. We're leaning towards sod but we've actually had a few landscapers say seed is better, heartier, withstands droughts, etc.
It's not too late, you'll get grass, but you'll also get alot of weeds. We were in the same boat last April/May. Our entire backyard and side yard had to be regraded so we were left with just dirt. The grass came up within 1-2 weeks, but then the weeds came in and took over. Weeds thrive in dry hot conditions, like LI summers. If you don't have the $ for sod, then def seed. Otherwise you'll just have dirt all summer long. You have to water it like crazy though, 2-3 times a day.
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| Posted 4/20/12 3:30 PM |
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Ann456
LIF Infant
Member since 8/11 309 total posts
Name:
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Re: Sod vs Seed?
We seeded our backyard and did not get too many weeds at all. We had grass growing within two weeks. As prior posted stated, it is too late to start seeding now. Depending on how big your front lawn is just sod. It is really not that much more expensive. Plus it is your front lawn, one of the first things people see.
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| Posted 4/20/12 3:48 PM |
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mommy2Two
LIF Infant
Member since 3/07 218 total posts
Name:
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Re: Sod vs Seed?
Posted by Sparrow
Posted by mommy2Two
Like everyone says, sod if money is not a problem. But it always is...
But if you seed, you are already too late right now. You will get more seeds than grass if you start right now. Might as well let it sit and do nothing. You will get the same results.
I would put "kill" down the entire lawn in Fall. Perfect is September-ish.(Or spring Early March assuming no snow) Give it a day or two. Till if you want to but I've left it like that with dying weeds and they just go back into the soil before the grass really starts up. Rake in thin layer of soil. Seed the area. Rake lightly. Water everyday. Put more seeds than birds. Never had a problem with birds eating a few.
Are you saying it's too late even if we're starting from scratch? We're having a lot of excavation done so the yard will all be dirt and top soil. We're leaning towards sod but we've actually had a few landscapers say seed is better, heartier, withstands droughts, etc.
I know it sounds nuts and at first you'll see the baby grass coming up in about a week in a half to two. The forsythia bushes are done blooming which means crabgrass is about to take off like crazy. Not sure if your familiar with crabgrass but they will suffocate your grass and you will have mostly weeds. This will be the weed that you will have the hardest time combating if you start now.
The only way your grass seeds will do well now is if the weather stays coldish for at least another month (give grass time to establish) b/c weeds thrive in hot sun. Unlikely...
I've reseeded so many times due to those instant pools, dog patches, etc.
The only thing I wish I would have done different is invested in zoysia. They have zoysia plugs that will overtake your lawn in like 3-4 years. You put a plug every sq foot of grass area. Now zoysia is one grass that acts like a weed.
If I were you, I would see when the work is actually done. It could be june or something by then. Sod the front only for now if asthetics is very important to you.
But from experience now, I would just leave it until fall if it is already like May. It really is a losing battle.
Good Luck.
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| Posted 4/20/12 7:20 PM |
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Sparrow
LIF Adult
Member since 11/10 6826 total posts
Name:
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Re: Sod vs Seed?
Thank you for all the responses, they were VERY helpful! I think we're most likely going with sod, I don't think we can stand to have a dirt lawn all season.
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| Posted 4/21/12 10:19 PM |
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Diane
Hope is Contagious....catch it
Member since 5/05 30683 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: Sod vs Seed?
SEED all the way. Our lawn is so green.
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| Posted 4/23/12 7:59 AM |
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