There is a long standing argument over which is better: turf or seed. For those of you who don’t know, turf is a pre-grown lawn delivered to your door and ready to be laid down, while seeds need to be grown by you in your garden. Turf is a great option for those with little gardening knowledge and can be easily purchased from a supplier such as Hancey’s Turf (http://hanceysturf.com.au/), while seeds can be a cheaper option for private home owners that have the time to care for them. But the question still remains, which is better?
Turf
There is next to no work required for laying turf and very little knowledge is needed to do it. Sure, some bits will need to be cut to fit the right size, but even then it isn’t hard to do. Turf is also develops faster than seeds. The turf comes grown, roots and all and within around two weeks, given proper care, the lawn will be ready to mow. Turf can be installed almost anywhere, given the right base soil, including on slopes and hills. It is a little more expensive, but considering the time it takes to become fully developed, it isn’t that much of a drawback.
Seeding
A lot of time and effort is required when it comes to seeding a lawn. Before you even start putting seeds in the ground, you will need to sow the soil to get the best results and to help prevent seeds from being washed away. Seeds can usually only be sowed during spring. If the seeding time is missed, it is best to wait until next year. The area also needs to be flat. Otherwise, seeds will wash away during rain or even watering. You may find seeds costing you about as much as turfing when you add the cost of herbicides and pesticides. During the germination period, which can be as long as a month, seeds will need to be kept moist constantly – this can involve watering them three to four times a day. Mowing seed growth is very different to a full lawn. It can first be mown when it is at ten centimetres tall, but the blades must be kept sharp to prevent tearing the grass from its roots.
Overall, seeding is much harder than laying turf and may even require over sowing to help it grow at its best. In harsh weather it is much more likely that seeds will simply not develop, which will mean waiting a whole year before trying again. While seeding is the development of an entirely new lawn, turfing is the transplant of an already healthy lawn that is ready to grow.
The most import question is, which is right for you? Seeding may be cheaper, but to fully develop it can take a few growing seasons, which is around three to four years. While turf is more expensive, it will be fully developed within two weeks. Which do you prefer? Have you had experience with either? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Article Submitted By Community Writer.
