Successful establishment of quality turfgrass can be difficult in certain regions. The extremes in temperature and moisture availability create severe stresses on both cool- and warm-season grasses. The humidity promotes increased fungal activity. When this is coupled with the stresses created by the difficult climate, all turfgrass plants have difficulty surviving. Therefore, selecting the appropriate turf and method of establishment requires some forethought.

Quality seed establishment has several advantages:

Cheap initial establishment cost

Wide variety selection

Low labor requirement

Less time for job completion

Ease of establishment in difficult areas.

Soil preparation for establishment is the same whether the homeowner is sodding or seeding; therefore, since seed costs less, the initial establishment cost will be less if an area is seeded. When utilizing seed, an infinite number of mixture possibilities are available unlike sod. Seed establishment requires less labor and time than sodding. Because of difficult access in some areas, hydroseeding may be the only reasonable solution. In hydroseeding, a fertilizer/seed slurry is spread over the area.

Some disadvantages of seeding to consider before making a final decision are:

An erosion potential during the establishment stage

The time lag before the area will be usable

The need to reseed areas which do not establish well

The need for seedling weed control

Limited desirable seeding periods

Necessity of frequent watering during germination

The fact that tangible, end-product quality cannot be purchased.

Seeding should not be considered in lawn areas where the probability of erosion is high. When seeding Kentucky bluegrass mixtures, one should assume that with a fall seeding the area will not be ready for heavy use before late May. Extra money for reseeding the areas that do not establish well should be considered from the start. Herbicides may be necessary in the first year after seed establishment and should be included in the computation. Cool-season grasses are normally only successfully established from August 15 to the middle of October and from February 30 to April 15 in the spring. This limits the usefulness of seed in some situations. Frequent, light irrigations are necessary with tender seedlings. In seeding, the highest quality seed can be purchased, but remember, there are many factors that can reduce the quality of the end product. Seed is the most reasonable solution to the establishment problem when:

Cost of initial establishment is an extremely limiting factor

There is no rush for the finished product

Erosion is unlikely

The area is inaccessible.

If you decide to seed, be sure to purchase quality certified seed. Contact your local Extension office for specific information about the types of quality certified seed available in your area.

Sod

Advantages and disadvantages of each method of lawn establishment should be considered. The advantages of a quality sodding include:

Immediate erosion control

An instant green surface with no dust or mud

Year-round establishment capability (whenever the ground is not frozen)

Reduced probability of establishment failure

Freedom from weeds

Quick-use capability

A tangible quality that can be purchased.

Sod installation provides a mature turf which has less probability of failing than a new seeding. Quality sod will be weed-free, whereas any new seeding will have some weed invasion. Sod is normally usable within two to three weeks. When consumers make a decision to buy sod, they can see the product they are buying, but when purchasing seed, there is great difficulty in estimating the turf quality of the end product.

Sodding may have advantages, but it has problems, too. The initial expense of sodding is prohibitive for some. The limited sod mixture selection may be a handicap in certain environments such as shade or where one desires exotic varieties. The successful rooting of sod is dependent upon many factors. It has been observed that Kentucky bluegrass has difficulty rooting in the early summer after seed-head inflorescences have emerged. Summer sod installation of cool-season grasses such as bluegrass can be successful if irrigation and sod-bed preparation are adequate.

Situations where sod is the obvious answer to the establishment problem include :

Where immediate erosion control is required

Areas which need to be quickly functional

Where the need for established turf does not correspond to successful seeding times

If there is a need for a quick, tangible quality or immediate property value increase.

Sodding is frequently considered to be an expensive means of establishing turfgrass; however, if one is careful to consider the total cost of a seeding, especially in situations where seeding is being used in marginal areas, the cost of sodding can often be cheaper in the long run.