UC Healthy Lawns—Plant your turf

The UC Guide to Healthy Lawns

Plant your turf

Lawns are planted using seed, sod, or vegetative propagules such as stolons, sprigs, or plugs. The choice depends largely on the species of turf you are planting, your time limitations (seed is slowest to establish), budget (sod is most expensive), and time of year. Examine the information in the sections below to make the best choice for your lawn.

Planting methods for lawns established from

The same planting bed preparation and fertilizer requirements apply for all planting methods.

Comparison of planting methods

Planting options for common turf species
Turf species	Planting method
Turf species	Seed	Sod	Sprigs	Stolons	Plugs
Annual ryegrass	X	-	-	-	-
Bermudagrass	X	X	X	X	X
Buffalograss	X	X	-	-	X
Colonial bentgrass	X	X	-	-	X
Creeping bentgrass	X	X	-	-	X
Dichondra	X	-	-	-	X
Hard fescue	X	X	-	-	-
Kentucky bluegrass	X	X	-	-	-
Kikuyugrass	-	X	-	X	-
Perennial ryegrass	X	X	-	-	-
Red fescue	X	X	-	-	-
Rough bluegrass	X	-	-	-	-
Seashore paspalum	-	X	-	X	-
St. Augustinegrass	-	X	-	X	-
Tall fescue	X	X	-	-	-
Zoysiagrass	-	X	X	-	-

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