SOD VS. HYDROSEEDING: WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOUR YARD?

cdavis • Nov 30, 2016

When determining whether to use sod or hydroseeding for your new yard, several key factors should be considered. First off, let’s give a brief definition of each item:

Sod
Sod is typically used for lawns, golf courses and sports stadiums. In residential construction, it is sold to landscapers, home builders or homeowners who use it to establish a lawn quickly and avoid soil erosion. Sod can be used to repair a small area of lawn, golf course or athletic field that has died. Sod is also effective in increasing cooling, improving air and water quality, and assisting in flood prevention by draining water.

Hydroseed
Hydroseeding (or hydraulic mulch seeding, hydro-mulching, hydraseeding) is a planting process that uses a slurry of seed and mulch. It is often used as an erosion control technique on construction sites, as an alternative to the traditional process of broadcasting or sowing dry seed.

The benefits of installing sod are that the end product is almost instantaneous. You prepare the ground, install the new sod and you have instant lawn. You will have to water it up to three times per day until it roots in, and follow up with a starter fertilizer application, but essentially you have instant lawn.

Hydroseeding is great for installing on steep slopes where installing sod may be difficult. The outright benefit to hydroseeding vs. sod is the fact that hydroseeding is much cheaper. If you hydroseed at the right time of year, you can have germination in five to eight days and you can have a healthy established lawn in about three weeks time. You can end up with the same result of sodding your lawn but it will take more effort on your part to get there.

Pros and Cons:

  1. Sod, which is usually primarily a bluegrass blend, should not be installed in really shady areas. The sod eventually will not thrive in that spot and thin out dramatically.
  2. Sod requires more overall maintenance. Because it is typically a bluegrass seed blend, you will need to ideally have a sprinkler system and when the hot weather comes, make sure you are giving it the appropriate amount of water and fertilizer.
  3. If you are a self-proclaimed lawn nut, then sod is the way to go. It is by far the nicest looking grass seed blend and is instantaneous. If you water and take care of it properly it will be stunning to see when established.
  4. Hydroseed is a good option because you can seed with any seed blend you want. If you want a lawn that you don’t want to have to water and take care of as much, you can opt to hydroseed with a turf type tall fescue blend of seed. This will not require constant care and it will weather the hot summers better.
  5. By hydroseeding you can also use specialty seeds such as wildflower, meadow mix and wetland seed mixes.

Choosing which seed method to use can be a difficult decision because the approach taken is solely based off cultural environmental factors around your home.

 Contact us today with your questions.

 

20 Jul, 2023
"Going above and beyond for our customers and meeting whatever need arises for them are two goals that are always on our minds at Harrell’s, just as our core value of “Taking Care of People” states. This article will focus on one of our customers, Scott Pinney, head of maintenance at EA Quinn Landscaping, and how he and his team fertilized the entire University of Connecticut campus overnight." Read Full Article Here
By Jackie Brousseau 03 Sep, 2021
HOW TO DESIGN A POOL THAT IS FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY Revamping your outdoor living space with the addition of a pool is a huge investment.  So, why not make sure you have all the right added features to enhance the experience?  Now, more than ever, homeowners are adding custom firepits, waterfalls, grottos, outdoor […] The post FEATURES THAT ENHANCE THE POOL EXPERIENCE appeared first on E.A. Quinn Landscape Contracting Inc..
By Jackie Brousseau 25 Jul, 2021
HOMEOWNERS ARE LIGHTING UP THEIR BACKYARDS WITH MULTIPLE FIRE FEATURES Over the last year, we have seen an interesting twist in backyard design: MULTIPLE FIRE FEATURES. Clients are no longer just adding a simple fire pit. They are adding multiple fire features to their backyard including fireplaces, fire bowls, and fire tables. We recently finished […] The post THE RISE OF MULTIPLE FIRE FEATURES appeared first on E.A. Quinn Landscape Contracting Inc..
By cdavis 01 Jul, 2021
When you are planning a patio, you have a lot of popular choices for materials.  At E.A. Quinn Landscape Contracting, we specialize in the use of natural stone in our outdoor spaces. Here is why we select natural stone for our patio project: Affordability – While natural stone (which can include bluestone, flagstone, fieldstone, granite […] The post A natural stone patio might be right for you appeared first on E.A. Quinn Landscape Contracting Inc..
By E.A. Quinn 15 Jun, 2021
Everyone loves a good fire. Increasingly, people want to live in homes with outdoor living spaces and these spaces can increase the value of the property and outdoor fireplaces are becoming increasingly popular. They provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere for entertaining guests and relaxing after a long day. But did you know that there […] The post The Benefits of an Outdoor Fireplace appeared first on E.A. Quinn Landscape Contracting Inc..
By cdavis 03 Mar, 2021
Every now and again, someone comes along in life that truly makes a difference.  A difference in the mentality of their peers and co-workers and in the client experience.  That person is Kyle Doolittle.  Kyle has been with E.A. Quinn for 7 years and is responsible for Business Development, Estimating and Project Management functions within […] The post KYLE DOOLITTLE PROVIDES INCREDIBLE VALUE TO CLIENTS appeared first on E.A. Quinn Landscape Contracting Inc..
By cdavis 03 Mar, 2021
E.A. Quinn puts safety above all else.  It is critical to the success of our business and to the value we provide clients.  We could not be prouder of our safety rating as reflected in the company’s EMR rating of .69.  An EMR (Experience Modification Rate) is essentially based on workers compensation claims history.  Some […] The post FACTORS OF A SUCCESSFUL EMR appeared first on E.A. Quinn Landscape Contracting Inc..
By cdavis 24 Feb, 2021
Hard work has an entirely different meaning when you spend half the year in a different country away from family and friends.  Two of our most valued and treasured employees have been doing just that year after year since 2005.  Jose Miguel Perez (Miguel) and Alvaro Perez Garcia work as installers in our hardscape division.  […] The post WORK SPOTLIGHT: MIGUEL & ALVARO’S RELENTLESS ATTENTION TO DETAIL appeared first on E.A. Quinn Landscape Contracting Inc..
By cdavis 24 Feb, 2021
If the bitter cold has you dreaming of warmer days, we have just the remedy!  Why not distract yourself and design the outdoor space of your dreams?  This investment will enhance your at-home experience and increase the value of your home. Here are the TOP FIVE things to think about before you begin.  And, as […] The post LET US HELP YOU DESIGN THE OUTDOOR SPACE OF YOUR DREAMS appeared first on E.A. Quinn Landscape Contracting Inc..
More Posts
Share by: