Sod provides a lawn almost instantly.  While costing a little more than seed, sod offers a number of benefits that usually offset the price difference.  While it is almost impossible to get grass seed to germinate in a hot dry summer, sod will perform adequeately because it is already mature.  There is no time wasted waiting for a lawn; simply roll it out onto a properly prepared surface of topsoil and fertilizer and provide plenty of water.

   Sod also allows hills and slopes to be covered in turf that would otherwise have difficulty if seed were used.  Seed can wash off in hard rains and sudden storms.  Sod provides erosion control and therefore is used in many hilly locations.