Landscaping projects aren’t just about moving soil around from one place to the next but about creating a better environment from what you have. Many landscaping projects benefit from seeds, seedlings, or the transplantation of full plants – this way, the landscape becomes alive with things that benefit its decor. But how do you choose between seeds and seedlings for your landscaping project?
Choosing Between Seeds and Seedlings for Your Landscaping
There are benefits and drawbacks to both options. Seeds can give landscapers more control, but seedlings are beneficial because they can lead to faster (though sometimes costlier) results for the landscaping project. The choice doesn’t seem easy for most landscapers, but there are great reasons for both of them. Here’s how to choose between seeds or seedlings for your next landscaping project.
Seedlings Versus Seeds
Seedlings refer to plants that have already sprouted and have usually grown for a few days to weeks. Grown plants sprout more quickly than germinating seeds. Each of them has potential pros and cons for your landscaping project. There isn’t one single right answer for every project.
Why Choose Seedlings?
Time constraints are the most common reason landscapers choose ready-grown garden seedlings. New landscapers or those on a tight schedule are encouraged to plant seedlings over seeds. Seedlings are recommended to ensure the success of your landscaping project on the first attempt.
The benefits of choosing seedlings:
- A faster way to complete the bigger picture
- They are automatically more hardy
- A higher success rate
- Seed germination time: different seed varieties can have longer germinating times
- You know what you’re getting when you pick your seedlings from your local garden center
However, that doesn’t mean that all landscapers should banish the practice of planting seeds, but knowing the proper planting time outdoors is essential.
Why Grow From Seeds?
Seedlings can undergo transplantation shock or struggle to adapt to new environments after being planted. Seeds might have a lower success rate than some seedlings do, but they don’t undergo transplantation shock. The shock could leave large “gaps” in what should have been a fuller and more perfect landscape.
When you need to be sure about your growing, grow from seeds. For some landscapers, it gives them the perfect control over what their garden does from the very first sprout. Some plants (like many types of grass or ferns) might prefer to be grown from seeds rather than the shock of being put into a new garden.
Seeds are beneficial if:
- You’re growing something in a totally new environment
- You want the benefits of growing from the ground up
- Seeds can be started indoors from a simple seed packet and grow lights
- You can start seeds indoors to get a head start on your vegetable garden. Be aware of the right planting time before moving your plants outside to your garden beds.
What about the budget When Choosing Between Seeds and Seedlings?
Budget can also be your answer for seedlings versus seeds. Starting from seeds can be less expensive, depending on the type of plant, you could pay much more for buying seedlings.
Choosing seedlings over seeds will cost more if you need to cover a large area. Sometimes, budget is the main reason why landscapers choose seed starting over seedlings.
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Arbor Hills Trees & Landscaping Services can provide you with everything from detailed maintenance programs to unique plant production, and other services in between. That means we build water features, walls, patios, irrigation, walkways, outdoor kitchens, lighting, and anything else you can help us dream up. Our professionally trained staff can build the landscape of your dreams and keep you from breaking any Home Landscaping Rules.
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