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.