Watering vs. Reseeding: Which Costs More for Your Lawn?

Like most homeowners in the St. Cloud area, you’ve probably wondered about the best way to keep your lawn looking lush and green, especially with this dry summer. Is it better to water your current lawn or to start over by reseeding a dead one? Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of watering your lawn vs. reseeding a new lawn and watering it. And if you’re battling the dry spell, check out these 6 Drought Tips for Keeping Your Lawn Green.

Gardening. Lawn sprinkler spraying water over grass.

Image(s) licensed by Ingram Image & Stock Photo Secrets

Cost of Watering Your Lawn

Watering your lawn seems like the easy way out, right? Just turn on the sprinklers and let nature do its thing. But here’s the deal: watering isn’t as simple as it sounds. According to the University of Minnesota Extension, a lawn needs about one inch of water per week, depending on your soil type. In Minnesota, a one-quarter acre lot might average $1296 for a season of watering. That’s a lot of H2O!

Let’s break it down.

$4.34 / 1000 gallons | average water cost in City of Sartell, MN 2023
10000 square feet | quarter-acre of lawn
1.24 gallons | two-inches of water on 1 square foot of lawn
1.24 * 10000 = 12400 gallons of water per week | Average volume of water needed for quarter-acre lawn
( 12400 / 1000 ) * $4.34 = $54 | Average cost per week to water quarter-acre lawn
$54 * 4 = $216 | Average cost per month to water quarter-acre lawn
$216 * 6 = $1296 | Average cost per season (6 months) to water quarter-acre lawn

Cost of Reseeding and Watering

Now, let’s talk about reseeding. If your lawn’s gone kaput, you might think reseeding is the way to go. But there’s more to it than just throwing down some seeds.

First, you’ve got to buy the seeds. Depending on the type and quality, you could be spending about $441 on grass seed for a quarter-acre lawn.

But wait, there’s more! A “reseeding lawn” needs water – and lots of it. In the first few weeks after seeding, you’ll need to water daily to ensure those seeds germinate. That’s even more water than a mature lawn needs. So, for the first month, you might be spending double on water.

That means over a 6-month growing season, you’re spending a total of $2912 for reseeding and watering. And we haven’t even counted your time and labor yet!

Let’s break down a grass seed purchase.

320 lbs. | average amount of grass seed needed to reseed one acre
320 lbs. * .25 = 80 lbs. | average amount of grass seed needed to reseed one-quarter acre
80 lbs. seed + professional labor = ~$1400 | average cost of reseeding grass seed for one-quarter acre

Let’s break down the additional watering to establish the new seed.

$216 * 6 = $1296 | Average cost per season (6 months) to water quarter-acre lawn
$54 * 4 = $216 | Average cost per month to water quarter-acre lawn (extra watering for first month)

Remember, once those seeds have sprouted, you’re back to the regular watering routine. Let’s break down everything.

$1296 | 6 months of regular watering
$216 | extra month of watering to establish quarter-acre lawn
$1400 | cost of seed and labor
$1296 + $216 + $1400 = $2912

So, Which is More Cost-Effective?

If we’re talking strictly dollars and cents, watering your current lawn will save you about $1616 over a 6-month period. So make sure you’re watering regularly and in the correct amount! And as we approach the fall, it’s a good idea to learn How to Handle Fall Lawn Prep in Minnesota.

Best Practices for Watering

If you decide to stick with watering, here are some quick tips from the pros. And if you’re looking for more tips, especially for the month of August, don’t miss our 4 August Lawn Care Tips for Central Minnesota.

Water early or late

This reduces evaporation and ensures your lawn gets the most out of every drop.

Deep and infrequent

Instead of watering a little bit every day, give your lawn a good soak a couple of times a week.

Check the soil

If it’s still moist two inches down, you can skip a day or two.

Watering vs. Reseeding: Which Costs More for Your Lawn?

Whether you’re team “watering lawn” or team “reseeding lawn”, the choice is yours. Just remember to keep those best practices in mind and your lawn will thank you.

And hey, if all this lawn talk has got you feeling a bit overwhelmed, don’t sweat it. Give us a shout at Valley Green Companies. We’re here to help with all your lawn care needs. Just fill out our contact form or give us a ring at (320) 259-5959. Let’s get that lawn looking fabulous!