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Choosing between sod and seed depends on your budget, timeline, and maintenance preferences.

Sod:

• Pros: Provides an instant, lush lawn and immediate curb appeal. It's more resistant to weeds and erosion, can be installed any time during the growing season, and offers a consistent appearance.

• Cons: Has a higher upfront cost, typically $0.90 to $1.80 more per square foot than seed. It offers fewer grass varieties and must be installed immediately upon delivery.

Seed:

• Pros: Less expensive upfront, making it a budget-friendly option. It offers a wider variety of grass types and is easier for a DIY installation.

• Cons: Takes much longer to establish, potentially up to two years for a full lawn. It requires more maintenance, including regular weed control, and is more difficult to cultivate.

Ultimately, if you want a beautiful lawn quickly and have a larger budget, sod is an excellent choice. If you are patient, want to save money, and prefer a wider selection of grass types, seeding may be the better option.

Yes, in most cases, grass will return after your dog urinates on it. But without preventative measures, there’s always a chance your dog will pee on the grass again, leading to brown patches come summer. This aside, even if your grass is dead in patches, simply reseeding the dead spots should help restore your lawn. 

If you choose not to reseed your lawn, unaffected grass surrounding the dead patches will spread over any dead spots. But be prepared for this option to take longer—you likely won’t be able to grow grass fast.

While it’s possible to grow grass seeds by throwing them down, this isn’t the best way to plant them. By amending and prepping the soil beforehand, you’re providing optimal contact between seed and soil for a better chance at germination. If you throw them down without preparing the soil beforehand, seeds are more likely to blow away, get eaten by hungry birds, or never grow.

Unfortunately, garages are one of the worst places to store grass seeds, despite their proximity to yards. Garages are hot and humid, two environmental traits that are detrimental to grass seeds. Grass seed has the best chance of survival in a dry space with temperatures ranging from 30 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. 

With that in mind, the best place to store seeds is in a sealed container in the refrigerator or in the coolest part of your home. Also, limit your seeds’ access to sunlight for the best germination results down the line.