It’s a good question and one you need an answer to in order to plan your new lawn. So you want to know what the cost of the lawn is compared to the cost of the seed. That’s putting the cart before the horse, what you really need to know is… can your lawn be saved? Once you know the answer to that question, you can determine if grass or seed is more expensive. The following steps will break down the cost of both and you will have your answer.

So you call a landscaper! The first thing your landscaper will do is walk around his property to see the general condition. Most homeowners have an established lawn but want a thicker, weed-free lawn. Others are not so lucky and have a patchy lawn with little growth due to poor soil. Let’s start with the worst case scenario… with the grass that is in a lot of trouble; You are going to need a complete lawn renovation. What happens now? First, your landscaper will need to remove and remove the “old” grass, which is a labor and transportation fee. After removal, to create a healthy lawn, it is necessary to add topsoil over the area. Topsoil can range from $25.00 to $30.00 per yard to purchase. Add to that your landscaper’s labor charge to spread the topsoil. Once spread, raking the soil by hand to level it will be a job that can take hours, depending on the size of your property. Once the soil is well leveled, planting and fertilization will take place. The cost will vary as the size of the properties are not the same, but be aware that this could be expensive.

A few more steps need to be done to create a thick turf like lawn. 1. It will be necessary to carry out a second planting. Aeration will usually be necessary to seed through the new lawn. A starter and lime fertilizer application as well. This cost can range from $450.00 to $700.00 depending on the size of your property. This application may need to be done multiple times to create a dense lawn.

With the physical work done, now it’s time to coax that grass into growth. We all know that with our busy work schedules, time is money. You will spend your time watering your newly seeded lawn. The soil must be kept moist, which requires watering at least three times a day at 10 minutes per section.

Now let’s get to that thick lawn you admire. Once again… “old” grass must be removed and transported, and the fees to do so. Most of the time you won’t need to replace the soil since the grass comes with its own soil attached to the roots. So you’ve already saved on the cost of soil, grading cost, raking, and of course seed and fertilizer. About the cost of lawn installation and shipping cost. This, of course, will depend on the square footage of your property and the time (labor) required to cut in or around plant beds, structures, etc.

As with the seeds, you will need to water the lawn; however, the requirements are different as you now have a healthy lawn that requires less water. Turf lawns also don’t require the overseeding or fertilizer that seeds require (another savings). As if that wasn’t enough savings, you can also skip weed control for at least one year(s).

So, at the end of the day, you will always find that when you compare the cost of the lawn to the cost of the seed, the savings come when you install the lawn. Especially since when the grass is done, it’s done. There will be no additional seeding or lawn renovations involved. You won’t have to deal with weeds and crabgrass applications that cost you valuable time and money. It’s like buying a new car that lasts a long time and putting money into a used one.

I hope this article helps you in your decision making when it comes to seed or grass. You will find more helpful tips at http://www.suffolksodfather.com