UC Healthy Lawns—Comparison of planting methods

The UC Guide to Healthy Lawns

Comparison of planting methods

Characteristics	Planting method
Characteristics	Seeding	Hydroseeding	Sodding	Sprigging, stolonizing, or plugging
Species	All cool-season and some warm-season grasses	All cool-season and some warm-season grasses	Most grass species	Many warm-season grasses that cannot be established from seed
Time of planting	Early fall for cool-season grasses; late spring for warm-season grasses	Early fall for cool-season grasses; late spring for warm-season grasses	Virtually any time of year	Mid-spring - summer
Relative cost	Cheapest method	More expensive than seeding	Most expensive method	Cheaper than planting by sod
Establishment	May take 10 - 15 weeks before turf can handle traffic; could take up to 1 year to handle normal use	May take 10 - 15 weeks before turf can handle traffic; could take up to 1 year to handle normal use	Instant lawn, can handle traffic within 2 - 3 weeks of planting	May take up to a year to establish lawn with no spaces
Comments	Susceptible to weed invasions, vertebrate pests, seedling diseases Seed may get washed away by rain May take a while to establish uniform coverage; not all seeds germinate at the same time or rate Requires high maintenance with water needs and weed control	Susceptible to weed invasions, vertebrate pests, seedling diseases May take a while to establish uniform coverage; not all seeds germinate at the same time or rate Better than hand-seeding on slopes or other hard-to-reach areas Water needs are not quite as high as for seeding	Gives the best quality turf of all methods Fewer weed invasions than with other methods Good uniformity Less frequent irrigation required Less maintenance than other methods Can stop soil erosion Good for slopes and other hard-to-reach areas	Susceptible to weed invasions

Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
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