Sod or seed for planting grass in formerly mulched bed?

[Anonymous]

I've removed about a dozen shrubs were in a mulched bed that ran along side my driveway. And, now I want grass there. The area is about 50 feet long and 5 feet wide. The driveway and bed curves out some - so not a straight line.

Should I use sod or seed to start the grass? I don't know what kind of grass our front lawn has. This area is pretty much in full sun.

I saw a "seed blanket" at Lowes that is nearly the perfect size. Do those work?

[Anonymous]

I have a patch that is 10 x 5. Out of stubbornness, I am replanting grass seed for the second spring. It has not gone well.

Given the season, date, and size of the former bed, sod would be the better option.

No experience with seed blankets.

[Anonymous]

It's getting warm for seed. No idea about the seed blankets.

[Anonymous]

Mulch is very acidic -- put down lime before you do anything. Sod is easier.

[Anonymous]

Sod is better and quicker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sod is better and quicker.

+1, make sure you water.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks! And thanks for the tip about lime.

[mjsmith]

just be careful about the seed blankets... you may get a lot of crap grass, like rye.. Those shaker bottles that grow grass any where is also usually just rye grass.

around here the most popular grass is turf type tall fescue which is a cool season grass. it is a bit late to get fescue to get good germination. Best time to sow fescue is fall. You may find that we also get kentucky blue and even zosia

your best bet would be to sod. head directly out to a sod farm. One roll covers one square yard...

don't buy the crap from merrifield, meadows, or home depot. its been sitting on he pallet for a while and is shit.

you'll need about 30 rolls (half a pallet)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks! And thanks for the tip about lime.

Do a soil test before liming. At least one of those inexpensive home tests you can get at the garden center and probably the hardware store.

[Anonymous]

Sod will be more expensive, but you'll have fewer bare patches. I've had to re-seed some pretty significant bare patches (after pulling out weeds that had taken over) and as long as you do it in the early fall or early spring, I've mostly had pretty good luck. But I always overseed. (I buy a couple of bags of the premixed seed + fertilizer + mulch, plus a bag of pure seed. I put down a layer of pure seed and then I cover it with a layer of the premixed stuff.) A bit more expensive, but you get thicker grass. I've typically used fescue, and make sure you buy the right type for your sun/shade conditions.