Overseeding Or Sod Installation: How To Decide On A New Lawn

Installing sod or having overseeding done in spring is ideal. Your new grass will have ample time to establish before the intense heat of a Georgia summer sets in. Both sod and overseeding can help fix problem areas – or give you a complete makeover – but they each come with their own pros and cons. Keep reading to learn about the benefits and drawbacks so you can make an informed decision when it’s time to rejuvenate your yard!

How To Approach A New Lawn Installation

Step 1: Evaluate Your Existing Lawn

Before you settle on the type of lawn installation you want, you need to answer some questions.

1. Is there dead grass in my lawn? If so, what percentage of the yard is dead?
2. Is there thinned grass in my lawn? If so, what percentage of the yard has thinned out?
3. Are there abundant weeds in my lawn? If so, what percentage of the yard is overrun by weeds?

If you answered yes to any of the following, and you estimate that 50% or more of the lawn is dead, thin, or dominated by weeds, it’s a good idea to start completely over with a new lawn -i.e., tear out the turfgrass entirely and begin anew. If you answered yes, but the damage or weeds is less than 50%, there’s a good chance we can tear out the problem areas and patch them with sod cuttings or a seeding application covering only a specific area. If you’re not quite sure what’s best for your lawngrass, please don’t hesitate to ask us! We want you to love your yard.

Step 2: Choose The Installation Method

Overseeding

Overseeding is the dispersal of grass seed across the surface of the earth. It’s no different than the spreader you might use to distribute fertilizer. This grass seeding can be done on bare ground or over an existing lawn. We often overseed at the same time as spring or fall aeration since the aeration process opens up the soil and makes it easy for the new grass seed to nestle into the ground.

Overseeding Benefits

Camouflage

Overseeding blends more seamlessly with your existing lawn as it grows. A fresh sod cutting is more likely to stand out, whereas overseeding an existing lawn keeps the uniform look of the turfgrass.

Money

The cost of overseeding will vary, depending on the type of grass seed/blend you choose, but even the higher quality, premium blends are more affordable than sod. If you have a tight budget to work with, overseeding is probably the best option.

Variety

Overseeding has a greater variety of seeds to choose from. Sod typically has a more limited selection. Why does seed selection matter? Well, some yards might be perfectly flat and sunny, but many yards are not this way. If your yard has mixed lighting, varying soil conditions, or slopes, you need to have grass seed bred to deal with these conditions. If you opt for overseeding, you’ll have more options than you would sod.

Drawbacks Of Overseeding

Time

Overseeding has two drawbacks in this regard. Firstly, there’s the time window in which overseeding is a viable option. It’s best to overseed in spring or fall – before the intense heat of summer. Seeding in summer is not impossible, but the new shoots will have a more challenging time establishing in your lawn, and they are more likely to come under attack by pests and diseases. Established turfgrass is better able to withstand issues like pests and diseases.

The second time issue is how long it takes seeds to germinate. With sod, you have a new lawn immediately. With overseeding, you’ll need to wait a few weeks for the fresh grass to grow. So if you’re not willing to wait around, you should consider sod installation instead.

Maintenance

Overseeding requires more maintenance in the beginning than sod. While both lawn installations require watering, overseeding also needs vigilance against weeds – if you’re starting over with a whole new lawn. If you’re thickening up an existing lawn with overseeding, you won’t have to stress about weeds as much.

Rain On The Parade

It’s essential to watch the extended weather forecast before overseeding. If your yard is nothing but grass seed and topsoil, excess rain can wash away the new grass seed if it hasn’t had a chance to sprout and establish a robust root system.

Sod Installation

Benefits

Instant Grass

Unlike overseeding, sod provides a new lawn immediately. All that needs to happen is the unrolling! And you’ll only have to wait about three weeks to walk and play on the grass.

Flexibility

Unlike overseeding a new lawn, which has a defined time window, you can install sod virtually any time you’d like through early fall.

Less Maintenance

Remember when we mentioned that not all yards are perfectly flat? Many yards have dips, slopes, and inclines, all contributing to erosion and soil loss. If that’s something your yard has experienced in the past, sod can help with that. Just remember to water it diligently for several weeks!

Drawbacks Of Sod

Upfront Cost

Sod has a higher upfront cost than overseeding.

Less Variety

As discussed above, the types of sod you’ll have to choose from are limited compared to the different overseeding varieties.

Find Overseeding Services Or Sod Installation Near Duluth, GA

Let North Georgia Lawn give you the yard you’ve been dreaming of! We offer both sod installations as well as overseeding. If you’re not sure which one is the best choice for your yard, please don’t hesitate to ask! We’re happy to discuss your needs and concerns. If you’re ready for a new lawn this spring, give us a call at (678) 508-0050 or send us a message through our online form here.

Don’t forget to check out our blog page for more tips and inspiration!

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/North-Georgia-Lawn-222912544986/

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/northgalawn