Sod remains the pricier alternative. But if you don't mind waiting three or four months while your lawn grows in, then starting from scratch and using seed is cheaper. Seed will cost about $20 per 1,000 square feet and sod will cost about 35 cents for just one square foot. So, if you do the math, a five-pound bag of seed translates into savings of more than $300. This may or may not seem like a lot, but it certainly adds up fast.

Many people think sod is the only answer, and there are some great benefits to it, but besides the cost savings, there are some other reasons to consider seed as well. These reasons include the wider array of grass varieties to choose from, and the ability to cover hard-to-reach sites such as steep slopes, as well as reducing the risk factor of bringing in new soils or bugs that are not going to do well in your area.

When trying to decide whether to plant grass or sod, consider the following comparisons between the two:

1. Coverage: How well will your lawn area be covered

Seed takes weeks to fill out, and may even take longer depending on how well you seeded, fertilized, and watered.

Sod makes an instant carpet of grass, and has immediate coverage that looks great.

2. Appearance: What is your lawn going to look like once it is in?

Seeded lawns are not uniform at first, it may grow better in some areas of your yard that in others, or grow faster, darker, etc.

New sod is rarely patchy or uneven in color, and the appearance is very uniform and precise, it immediately looks nice.

3. Planting: when can you do which?
Seeds must be planted at the beginning of the growing season, and certain varieties require specific weather conditions in order to flourish.

Planting sod is not as seasonally restricted, while you likely won't want to lay it in the middle of winter when there is a foot of snow on the ground, it is possible to do so.

4. Customized Blends: Customizing your blend can help your lawn look nice all year round, especially if you use varieties that grow well in the hot summer months, and mix it with varieties that grow well in the winter months. This way you will have a lawn that looks nice all year long.

Your garden center will carry a variety of seeds that can be blended to better suite your environment, thus planting seeds makes customizing blends easier.

Sod is normally only available from nearby sod farms and cannot be custom created to better suit your environment, it is how it is, and that is about all there is to it.

5. Labor: How much work is this going to take?

Planting grass by seed takes fewer tools and less effort. You can plant your whole lawn in an hour, and other than sprinkling etc. which you will do either way, you can be done with it.

Planting grass with sod requires more physical activity and heavier tools, and while you get instantaneous results, that instant takes a while. Meaning, you have to plant the whole yard which could take a few days, and several hours.

Weeds

Seeding encourages weed seeds to develop in your ground, and the money you saved by seeding rather than sodding may have to go to weed killer.

Sod is less susceptible to invasion by weeds, and weeds are less noticeable.

Whether you plant seed or sod, it is important to prepare your planting area in advance. The following simple pre-planting steps that will help you create a beautiful lawn regardless of whether it is seed or sod.

 Remove weeds from the planting area prior to planting seed or sod

 Till the area to break up dead grass and compacted soil, and allow air to saturate the soil.

 Work in any needed lime or organic matter as you till, or whatever fertilizer you should choose to use (do not over fertilize).

 Use a steel rake to remove any dead grass or stones from the planting area.

 Smooth the planting area so that it is even and level.

 If planting sod, use a roller to settle the loosened soil

 After the soil is prepared, plant the seed or sod