I went with seed over sod because of cost and convenience. Not only would sod be cost prohibitive for me ($5k for my lawn 15k sq ft lawn) but you also have the added cost/hassle of removing the old sod and preparing the soil properly.

I have a sod farm about 10 miles from me that only has a bluegrass blend. It's $5/lb for seed and cost less than $200 for the product. The downside to seeding is the amount of time it takes to germinate and fill in. Also, unless you have a good irrigation system it may be a multi-year process. I'm on year 3 now and have got 90% of the lawn done.

 

I am more constrained by time and seriously looking at sod. If you had a choice of putting down good seeds vs sod the whole thing with bluegrass, does the seed really outperform the sod? I cant figure out what brand seeds the sod farms use.
If anyone knows where i can order midnight, bluebank or maxama sod, i will send u a nice bottle of whiskey! Thx

 

Cost is the main factor. For 8k, you need ~20lb of seeds. That's like $100 for good stuff in seeds. You do need to water, but you also need to water sod, so not that much of a difference.

For sod, if you pick it up at a sod farm on your truck, i think the rate is around $0.50/sqft. Delivery and someone else installing, it can easy go $1 to $1.50/sqft. That means $8k to $12k.

 

Other than cost, elite variety wont really outperform or be better than sod bluegrass?

 

The sod farms are likely using the same seeds.

 

You can get a bit better seed if you seed yourself. In most cases, though, a custom seeded lawn won't be better enough to notice. There are too many other factors that will be more important in lawn quality than minor differences in seed. If you are already a showcase lawn or looking for something specific like a cultivar that will do better at very low HOC, then sourcing your own seed will make a bigger difference than if you have a typical or even good lawn mowed at 3 inches.

This late in the season, though, the decision may be already made for you as many newer, more desirable seed varieties are going to be sold out. The time to source seed was 3 months ago.

 

Prices go down to significantly around here the more you get. My local sod farm goes down to 35 cents sqft if you get over 3500sqft. Their starting price is 60 cents a sq ft for under 1000 sqft.

 

I have bought the seeds.
I even had harley rake fluff up entire lawn yesterday and spread 20 yards of topsoil.
But i am really starting to see how much of a work it is and leaning toward sod.
If i do go to sod, i have a 25lbs bag of SS1100 i will sell at discount.

 

Hard part is done. All you need to do now is spread seed, top with peat moss and water. Tenacity and other chemicals optional.

 

I have bought the seeds.
I even had harley rake fluff up entire lawn yesterday and spread 20 yards of topsoil.
But i am really starting to see how much of a work it is and leaning toward sod.
If i do go to sod, i have a 25lbs bag of SS1100 i will sell at discount.

At this point, idk if seeding is going to be any more work than sodding it. Id probably guess spreading 8k worth of seed would take you significantly less time than unrolling and laying 8k worth of sod.

You could probably spread seed, fert, and peat in less time than laying sod over that area.

 

You all are inspiring me to see it through and not quit and throw money at it…

 

I have bought the seeds.
I even had harley rake fluff up entire lawn yesterday and spread 20 yards of topsoil.
But i am really starting to see how much of a work it is and leaning toward sod.
If i do go to sod, i have a 25lbs bag of SS1100 i will sell at discount.

If you went through the trouble to harley rake and spread 20 yards of soil you may as well see it through and seed it. Like bernstem said, the hard part is done. Now it's a matter of putting the seed down, dressing it, and waiting.

 

Throw the seed and try to get it to work. It should be fine. If not, you can still do sod in October/November.

 

Throw the seed and try to get it to work. It should be fine. If not, you can still do sod in October/November.

Or the opposite. Install sod now so you'll still have time to fix any issues (re-seed/overseed) in October.

New sod is instant lawn. Water it and cut it in a week or two. Seeding will require you to stay off the lawn for many weeks.

 

Throw the seed and try to get it to work. It should be fine. If not, you can still do sod in October/November.

Or the opposite. Install sod now so you'll still have time to fix any issues (re-seed/overseed) in October.

New sod is instant lawn. Water it and cut it in a week or two. Seeding will require you to stay off the lawn for many weeks.

Throwing seeds in October in NJ is a good way to throw money away.

If money is not a problem, sod the 8k.