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 concerns the difference between a ready-made lawn in rolls or sods and a sown 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 soil must be weeded, milled, rolled and leveled in an equally accurate manner.
Once the soil has been prepared, it is possible to proceed with both sowing and laying the sod. Let's see the advantages that the ready lawn offers compared to sowing.
| LAWN READY | SOWING | |
| Installation period | All year round, even with very low or very high temperatures | Only in the spring or, preferably, autumn months |
| Irrigations | Abundant after installation, ordinary after 4/5 days | Delicate and difficult to manage. It will be necessary to water the soil carefully for the first 50/60 days, making sure that it always has the right humidity, avoiding dry periods or excess irrigation which could cause the seeds to move, especially in the first few days. |
| Installation | Pretty easy, even for a beginner. Just follow a few basic rules (see our article "How to lay ready lawn"). | Difficult for those without great experience or suitable equipment. The major problems are: uneven distribution of the seed or in the wrong quantity, removal of the seed by insects and birds, poor irrigation management, and the prevalence of weeds. |
| Weed control | Easy, as you lay an already thick and mature lawn that leaves no room for weeds. The "sod" of lawn placed on the ground prevents the passage of light, a fundamental element for the germination of weed seeds present in the soil. | Difficult due to poor soil coverage in the early stages of growth of lawn seedlings. It will therefore be necessary to fight weeds with selective herbicides, keeping in mind that there are various types of weeds and therefore it will be necessary to choose the right herbicide. Furthermore, the majority of weed killers (especially the most effective ones) are classified as "phytopharmaceuticals", so to purchase and use them you must be in possession of the "Authorization for the purchase and use of pesticides", the so-called "license". There are also varieties of weeds that cannot be fought with selective weeding, 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 full coverage after approximately 120 days. Possible empty or thinned patches 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. |
| Erosion of sloping terrain | The ready lawn immediately protects the soil from erosion (if the slope is significant, secure the "sods" with pegs planted in the ground). | The risk of soil erosion, with 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 downpours of water. |
| Aesthetic appearance | Excellent and immediate. | Not optimal for at least 4 months. |
| Cost | Higher initially, but without further additional costs in subsequent periods other than normal ordinary maintenance. | Lower initially, but if we consider the labor (which must be done by qualified personnel with specific knowledge relating to turf) and the products to be used to achieve the "maturation" of the turf in the best possible way, the gap almost disappears. |
NB.: The comparison simulation was created taking into account a microthermal meadow, a type that is best suited to the vast majority of Italian territory.
Conclusion:
Even if it has a higher initial cost, the "ready lawn" guarantees optimal and immediate success of the turf.
The creation of a good turf with sowing, although possible, requires specific knowledge that sometimes even operators in the sector (gardeners or nurserymen) unfortunately do not have.
For those wishing to opt for sowing, we therefore recommend relying on specialized operators in the sector with proven experience and knowledge on the creation of turf.
For those who wish to sow "do it yourself", we recommend that you find out carefully 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 turf. 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.
