Quick answer
Sod gives you an instant lawn and holds soil in place right away, but costs more up front. Seed is cheaper but takes longer to fill in and needs steady watering. Many zoysia varieties are mostly sold as sod or plugs.
When Sod Makes Sense
- Bare yards on slopes where rain washes soil away
- New construction or full lawn replacement
- Repairing areas you need usable quickly
- Zoysia lawns, which establish slowly from seed
When Seed Makes Sense
Thin areas in an existing Bermuda lawn or larger areas on a tighter budget can work well with seed, as long as you can keep the soil moist until it establishes.
Timing
Warm-season grass establishes best when soil is warm, typically late spring into summer. Planting too late in the year leaves little time to root before dormancy.