Restoring your lawn, seed vs sod

Restoring Your Lawn

So you are looking at restoring your lawn and you are not sure of the options. Let us help you with your decision.

The two main options are planting new seed or laying sod which is lawn that has been grown by a sod farmer and delivered to you in squares or rolls.

As with most things in life there are pros and cons with each option. Let’s take a deeper look at what may be the best approach for restoring your lawn.

Seeding Lawn
Advantages:
  • More grass types and varieties to choose from
  • Less expensive than sodding
  • Deeper root system
  • There is no thatch layer present which may harbor unwanted diseases or insect pests
  • Over seeding by the planting of grass seed directly into existing turf, without tearing up the turf, or the soil.
  • Easy to spread, and it only takes a few minutes to do it
  • Better to use on yards that are hilly, sloped, or have shaded areas
Disadvantages:
  • Initial establishment takes longer – maybe 2 or 3 months before the lawn can be used
  • Sometimes, not all seeds germinate and you have to spread new seeds in certain areas of your lawn
  • Time of seeding is limited mainly to late summer and early fall
  • Moisture is critical for the young seedlings – daily watering
  • Invasion of weeds into bare soil
  • The area is inaccessible until seed is fully established
Sodding Lawn
Advantages:
  • Instant gratification
  • Relatively weed-free in the beginning
  • Can be laid any time during the growing season
  • Sodded lawns control soil erosion on slopes and eliminate problems with mud while the grass is becoming established.
  • Instant accessibility to the area
  • Sod takes root better than seed and is much more reliable
  • Sod doesn’t need as much water as seed
Disadvantages:
  • A lot more expensive than seed
  • Less selection or control over types of grasses (shade or drought tolerance)
  • Labor intensive – harder to install than it is to spread grass seed
  • Sod is a crop, and it is grown in sun. When you buy sod to put in a shady area, it will have to adapt.

Contact Us for a chat. We will help you decide on the best approach based on your needs and on your Wauconda or Denver location.

Of course, don’t forget to take into account your irrigation requirements while restoring your lawn.

 

 

 

 

 

Heated Driveway – Melt That Snow

Staying safe and slip-free is the number one reason to install a heated driveway snow melting system. The main reason people have heated driveways is for safety. Many driveways are impossibly steep and homeowners are afraid of the fall hazard presented by ice build-up on drives and walks.

Benefits
  • Added home resale value
  • No salt or chemicals meaning less environmental damage
  • No driveway damaging snow plows
  • No need to own a noisy and space consuming snow thrower
  • No more physically strenuous snow shoveling
How Heated Driveway Systems Work

The two popular types of heated driveway systems both work by generating radiant heat underneath the driveway keeping the pavement warm during snowstorms.

Generally, two types of snow melting systems are available for use in exterior slabs ,  hydronic snow melt and electric snow melt systems.

Both rely on four key components to turn the entire slab surface into a radiant heat source.

  • A heating element, which is embedded in the slab.
  • Sensors to detect outdoor air temperatures and moisture.
  • A power source.
  • A controller to tie the heating element, sensors, and power source together.
The Technology

The first method uses a series of tubes and pumps to move hot water directly underneath the driveway, warming it up. The second heating method uses an electric current to generate heat on a wire or across a mat, in almost exactly the same manner as most indoor floor-heating systems.

Heated driveways are actually a radiant heat flooring system, which can be installed both indoors and out. For outdoor use, radiant floor systems are quite beneficial to those who live in snowy climates. When temperatures drop, heated water and antifreeze are pumped into the tubing, melting any snow that collects on your driveway. From the comfort of your home, you can flip a switch and watch the snow melt away. It’s also possible to automate the whole process. Sensors detect when the system needs to turn on so that you arrive home to a snow free driveway.

If you want a heated driveway, you don’t necessarily need to install a whole new driveway. Sometimes the tubing can be run under your current one.

Many factors influence whether you need to have the driveway replaced including time of year, soil compaction, trees in proximity, etc. Replacing the driveway ensures that the heated driveway system has been installed correctly.

Most underground systems are constructed with the ability to melt snow at a rate of about one inch per hour.

MackLand, LLC in Denver and in Wauconda will help you decide if an electric or hydronic heated driveway system is right for you.