When consulting with homeowners about their gardens, one common question comes up:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShould we start the lawn from seed, or is sod a better choice?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From an aesthetic perspective, a healthy, well-maintained lawn is one of the most visually appealing parts of a garden. So in most cases, choosing grass is a safe choice. However, recently, some homeowners are concerned about Chafer Beetle damage when establishing a new lawn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are two main ways to create a lawn: from seed or by installing sod. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This method involves spreading grass seed directly onto the prepared soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Advantages:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Disadvantages:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sod involves pre-grown grass cut into mats, which are then laid onto the soil like a carpet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Advantages:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Disadvantages:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When seeding, the method varies depending on how much existing soil is removed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Generally, more new soil helps seed growth, but it may also increase weed emergence. Achieving the same uniform quality as sod in the early stages is often challenging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many homeowners worry about Chafer Beetle larvae damaging new lawns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this case, there isn\u2019t a significant difference between seed and sod. Seeded lawns can also be affected during early root growth. Both methods are susceptible under similar conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Severe damage that kills an entire lawn is rare. Even in soil with Chafer Beetles, sod rarely disappears entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Spring and early summer are peak growth periods, so lawns grow quickly and can tolerate larvae damage better than in other seasons. The key is balancing the grass\u2019s root growth speed with the larvae feeding rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In areas with Chafer Beetles, raccoons may dig up lawns looking for larvae.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is especially common in newly installed sod. In such cases, stakes or sticks can be used to secure the sod and prevent lifting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From experience, seeded lawns often produce slightly lower quality than sod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re not concerned about uniformity or speed, starting from seed is a reasonable choice. But if you want a uniform lawn that establishes quickly, sod is usually the better option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Written by Andy Lee When consulting with homeowners about their gardens, one common question comes up: \u201cShould we start the lawn from seed, or is sod a better choice?\u201d From an aesthetic perspective, a healthy, well-maintained lawn is one of the most visually appealing parts of a garden. So in most cases, choosing grass is a safe choice. However, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-121","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-garden-design-idea"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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\n\n\n\nInstalling Sod<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nSoil Preparation for Seeded Lawns<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nChafer Beetle Damage and Lawn Establishment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOther Potential Issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nObservations on Lawn Quality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Owner of Andy\u2019s Landscape Inc. \u2013 Landscape Contractor in Maple Ridge, BC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"