| Time and money should be considered when | | | | Whichever you decide, preparing the site is basically |
| choosing a new lawn | | | | the same. The following steps are broad guidelines, |
| Want a new lawn? You've got two options: you can | | | | so consult a garden professional for specifics |
| plant seed and sprout your own turf, or you can buy | | | | appropriate to your area. |
| sod and roll it out like a plush new carpet. Either way, | | | | First, clear the ground of old or dead grass, |
| the results are the same. Which begs the larger | | | | undesirable roots and large stones. |
| question: To seed or not to seed? | | | | Water to encourage weeds to emerge, then kill |
| The answer boils down to time and | | | | them with an herbicide and remove. |
| money—and which you can afford more | | | | Amend the soil with organic matter and rototill. |
| of. "Sod is instant lawn. You can go from dirt to | | | | Level the soil while it's dry, tamping with a rake or |
| grass in one day," says Jim Shaw, director of | | | | roller. "Because sod is thick, you need to grade the |
| marketing at Superior Sod in Tehachapi, Ca. "It's like | | | | soil an inch lower than sidewalks and driveways," |
| getting a pre-roasted chicken at the supermarket. | | | | Shaw says. For seed, soil should be even with |
| We've done all the work for you." | | | | hardscaping. |
| Once the province of landscape contractors, laying | | | | Apply a granular fertilizer and moisten slightly. |
| sod is now common among do-it-yourselfers. After | | | | Add the grass. "Sod is perishable, so install it |
| all, few of us can resist the temptation to transform | | | | immediately after delivery," Shaw says. Place the |
| our yards in the blink of an eye with grass harvested | | | | pieces end to end in precise rows, with no gaps and |
| and trucked in from a commercial farm. The catch is | | | | staggering seams like brickwork. Seed should be |
| that sod remains the pricier alternative. | | | | spread evenly at the rate prescribed on the package |
| If, however, you don't mind waiting three or four | | | | and covered lightly with mulch. Netting helps protect |
| months while your lawn grows in, then starting from | | | | against hungry birds. |
| scratch is cheaper. "Generally speaking, seed will cost | | | | Water daily to prevent drying. For sod, keep the |
| about $20 per 1,000 square feet and sod will cost | | | | grass wet for one to two weeks. When using seed, |
| about 35 cents for just one square foot," says | | | | light but frequent irrigation for two to four weeks is |
| Stephen Knutson, vice president of Stover Seed | | | | recommended to avoid washing seed away before it |
| Company in Los Angeles. Do the math and that | | | | germinates. |
| five-pound bag of seed translates into savings of | | | | Mow only after the grass is one-third taller than it |
| more than $300. | | | | should be. If you want it to be two inches, let it |
| Other reasons to consider seed include the wider | | | | reach three inches before trimming. |
| array of grass varieties to choose from, and the | | | | Once your lawn is established, continue to water, |
| ability to cover hard-to-reach sites such as steep | | | | mow and fertilize regularly. Shaw and Knutson agree |
| slopes. And, according to Knutson, you won't import | | | | that with proper maintenance, your lawn should |
| any potentially troublesome non-native soil either. | | | | remain lush and inviting regardless of its origins. |