Seeding vs Instant Turf – Which one is better?

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, it was common for many people to invest in seeds and watch their prized new lawn grow from scratch. It was commonplace for people to invest in a new lawn and watch their hard work come to fruition. But these days, statistics show that more than 95% of people favour rolling out instant turf and reap the immediate benefits of this option.

Each choice has a lot of value and many benefits to boot, so let’s explore sowing lawn seed and instant turf so you can determine which option would best suit you.

Lawn Seeds

Lawn seeds have always been highly regarded by people who choose to invest in a new lawn. They can produce the same results for some of the lawn types available as instant turf and are usually a much more affordable option.

Since the price difference is what sways people in one direction or the other, it is only fair to examine it between the two options. Lawn seed is roughly 10% of the cost compared to instant turf, and as an example, to cover an area of 50 m2 in instant turf, it can cost around the $500 – $600 mark. The same area in lawn seed can cost less than $50, thereby making it highly cost-effective, and one many might choose if their budget was a little tighter.

Another perk to this option is that lawn seeds are fairly easy to buy and sow, requiring minimal effort, including spreading it out across your prepared soil and raking it in. However, you will need to allow extra time for it to germinate and establish itself in the soil.

You will need to water seeds regularly and monitor the weeds sprouting alongside your turf seedlings. Also, you may have to factor in the fact that birds might feed on your seedlings and that some seeds might not germinate. Factoring in these considerations, you may need to over-sow at around the 6-week mark. You may need to sow further until your turf has reached maturity, usually around the 10 – 12-week mark.

To summarise lawn seeds:

• They are more cost-effective than instant turf
• It can be easier to sow seeds as opposed to rolling out turf
• They will take a little longer to achieve the same result compared to instant turf
• They require more frequent initial watering
• You will need to over sow over time
• Sowing seeds is best done during September and April in Australia
• Developing a lawn from seed takes longer and requires more water
• Weed seeds will be more prevalent in a seeded lawn during the establishment
• Couch and Kikuyu seeds need to be sown from late October to January in Victoria for the best results

If you’re an avid gardener and enjoy watching your new turf begin from next to nothing and mature into a stunning lawn, this option might be best for you if you are looking to save money. If you have any questions about sowing lawn seeds, you can give us a call, and one of our helpful and knowledgeable team members will be able to guide you on this process.

Instant Turf

If you’ve purchased instant turf previously or know someone who has, you must be aware that once the turf is rolled out, it can transform the look and feel of your property in a matter of hours. It will look incredible on the first day you lay it out, and within a matter of weeks, it will look like it has been a part of your property for years.

Whilst you will need to initially water your turf frequently, instant turf is still not nearly as sensitive and temperamental as lawn seeds. Most varieties of instant turf can be laid at any time of the year. Seed thrives best when sown in Spring and Autumn.

It’s also worth mentioning that there are more varieties of instant turf than there are for seeds, as many turf varieties now are hybrid types which means they cannot be sown from seeds. These hybrid types include Couch, Kikuyu and Buffalo.

To summarise instant turf:

• Turf is costlier than lawn seeds
• There are more instant turf varieties available than lawn seeds
• Some turf types such as DNA Sir Walter are not available as seed
• You can enjoy relatively instant results in comparison to sowing lawn seeds
• Instant turf tends to suppress weeds more than lawn seeds
• Instant turf can be rolled out any time of year, though it thrives in the warmer months
• Instant turf provides a faster establishment when rolled out in the warmer months
• It is easier to establish a lawn from turf
• A lawn established with Instant turf can be used faster than a seeded lawn

For information on how to roll out instant turf, watch our helpful video guide here.

As there are quite a few benefits to each type, deciding whether to sow your lawn seeds or invest in an instant lawn is usually a personal preference, as they produce fantastic results. If you have plans for entertaining on your property in the near future, instant turf might be the way to go. However, if you’re looking to save some coin and take the time to nurture your seeds, then sowing lawn seeds might prove to be a better option for you.

If you need any further clarification of our guide here or more tailored advice for getting instant lawn in Melbourne or instant turf in Geelong, turf installation or turf delivery and more, give Anco Turf a call today.

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