Sodding Vs. Seeding? Here's How To Get A Green Lawn In DC

Spring is in full bloom in Washington, DC, and many of us are using the extra time at home to reinvigorate our landscapes. If you have sad, patchy grass, you can get it ready for the season on your own or with a little professional help.

There are two main methods for growing a beautiful lawn: sodding and seeding. Below, we've outlines the pros and cons to both. Read on to learn more.

The Difference Between Sodding and Seeding

With sodding, pre-grown strips of grass are installed on exposed and prepared soil. Within two to three weeks, you have an instantly green lawn. You can select from grass plugs or real grass rolls. Plugs are smaller squares of grass that are more affordable than their rolled counterpart, but they take longer to fill out.

With seeding, you distribute seeds throughout the yard with a hand caster (after you’ve tested your soil’s pH levels and prepped accordingly). You can also opt for hydroseeding, which requires professional help and costs an average of $1,000 for a 5,000 to 10,000 square foot lawn. With this process, landscapers distribute mulch, seeds, fertilizer, water and additives across bare soil. This allows seeds to develop deep root systems.

Need a landscaper to help create a greener lawn? Find a pro in your area.

Benefits of Seeding

Seeding can be cost-effective and easy to DIY. Below, we’ve outlined the benefits to seeding with a hand caster.

• Affordable. The cost of materials ranges from $100 to $500. Professional seeding costs $400 to $1,300.
• Most homeowners can DIY without a ton of know-how or expensive equipment.
• It’s easy to reseed bare patches in the future.

Drawbacks to Seeding

Of course, there’s a reason seeding is more affordable. Here are some challenges.

• Seeding has a long maturation time. It develops a deep root system but can take up to two years before you have a full lawn.
• Seeding requires good pH soil levels. Without proper testing, you risk seeding without results.
• Seeding can be high maintenance. You have to water three times daily for the first three weeks.

Benefits of Sodding

With sodding, you have the instantly satisfying result of beautiful grass, grown by a farmer in your area. Here are some other benefits.

• Prevents soil erosion.
• Immediate results have less restrictive planting times.
• The rolls are low maintenance and block weeds.

Drawbacks to Sodding

With sodding, you have to pay for those beautiful, instant results. We’ve outlined a few of the cons.

• Difficult to DIY. Improper installation can lead to unsightly and weed-prone gaps between sod sheets.
• Expensive. Sod costs between $170 and $380, and professional installation ranges from $1,000 to $2,500.
• It is possible for portions of the sod to not take root.

With those pros and cons in mind, decide what’s best for your yard, the current state of your grass and your budget.

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