One of the most difficult choices you will have to make when you want to create a new green area is choosing the installation method. The question that often arises is the difference between a ready-made lawn in rolls, or in sod, and a seeded lawn.
Let's start by saying that the two types of installation are very different, but they have the same initial preparation in common, that is, the ground must be weeded, milled, rolled and leveled in an equally accurate manner.
Once the ground is prepared, you can proceed with both sowing and laying the turf. Let's see the advantages that the ready lawn offers compared to sowing.
INDEX
1. Comparison
| READY LAWN | SOWING | |
| Installation period | All year round, even with very low or very high temperatures | Only in the spring months or, preferably, in the autumn months |
| Irrigations | Abundant after laying, ordinary after 4/5 days | Delicate and difficult to manage. The soil must be watered wisely for the first 50/60 days, making sure it always has the right humidity, avoiding dry periods or excessive watering that could cause, especially in the first few days, movement of the seed. |
| Installation | Pretty easy, even for a beginner. Just follow a few basic rules (see our article "How to lay ready-made lawn"). | Difficult for those who do not have much experience or suitable equipment. The major problems are: uneven distribution of seed or in the wrong quantity, removal of seed by insects and birds, poor irrigation management, overgrowth of weeds. |
| Weed Control | Easy, because you lay a lawn that is already thick and mature and leaves no room for weeds. The "clod" of lawn laid on the ground prevents the passage of light, a fundamental element for the germination of weed seeds present in the soil. | Difficult due to the poor ground coverage in the early stages of growth of the lawn seedlings. It will therefore be necessary to fight the weeds with selective weed killers, keeping in mind that there are various types of weeds and therefore it will be necessary to choose the right weed killer. Furthermore, the majority of weed killers (especially the most effective ones) are classified as "phytosanitary products", therefore to purchase and use them you must have the "Authorization to purchase and use phytosanitary products", the so-called "license". There are also varieties of weeds that cannot be fought with selective weed killers, so they will have to be removed by hand. |
| Uniformity of coverage | Immediate total uniformity. | Nothing for the first 20/30 days. Light coverage after 60 days and total after about 120 days. Possible empty or sparse spots caused by seed movement or incorrect irrigation. |
| Usage | Light trampling immediately, intense after 15 days. | Light trampling after 3/4 months, intense after 6/7 months. |
| Soil erosion on slopes | The ready lawn immediately protects the soil from erosion (if the slope is significant, secure the "clods" with pegs driven into the ground). | The risk of soil erosion, with the dragging of seeds and seedlings, is very high in the first 30/60 days and possible up to the sixth month in the event of heavy rain. |
| Aesthetic appearance | Excellent and immediate. | Not optimal for at least 4 months. |
| Cost | Higher initially, but with no additional costs in subsequent periods other than normal routine maintenance. | Lower initially, but if you consider the labour (which must be done by qualified personnel with specific knowledge of lawns) and the products to be used to achieve the best possible "maturation" of the lawn, the gap almost disappears. |
NB: The comparison simulation was created taking into account a microthermal lawn, a typology that best adapts to the vast majority of the Italian territory.
2. Conclusion
Even with a higher initial cost, the "ready lawn" guarantees an optimal and immediate success of the lawn.
Creating a good lawn with seeding, although possible, requires specific knowledge that sometimes even operators in the sector (gardeners or nurserymen) unfortunately do not have.
For those who want to opt for seeding, therefore, we recommend relying on specialized operators in the sector with proven experience and knowledge in the creation of turf.
For those who want to do the sowing with the "do it yourself" method, we recommend that you get good information about the techniques, times and products to use. And speaking of the latter, the choice of products (starting with the seeds) is fundamental for the success of the lawn. So get advice from experts.
The Prato Erboso Shop team with its decades of experience in the field is at your disposal for any information.
