TryBuildCalcLandscaping & Garden Resources (10 guides)
Lawn establishment method comparisons, mulch and soil amendment guidance, irrigation and drainage choices, and practical landscaping and garden reference topics.
Resources in this section
- Sod vs Grass Seed vs Hydroseeding: Which Is Best→
Three-way comparison of sod, grass seed, and hydroseeding covering installed cost per 1,000 sq ft, time to a usable lawn, failure risk, and the best-fit scenario for each — with a decision framework and worked cost example.
- Natural Grass vs Artificial Turf: Which Is Best→
Head-to-head comparison of natural grass and artificial turf covering installed cost, lifetime cost of ownership, water use, maintenance, heat, and the best-fit scenario for each — with a worked 15-year cost example.
- Mulch Types Guide: Bark vs Wood Chips vs Rubber vs Rock→
Comparison of the four most common mulch types — shredded bark, wood chips, rubber, and rock/gravel — covering cost, lifespan, soil benefit, and the best-fit scenario for each, with a worked coverage cost example.
- Warm-Season vs Cool-Season Grass: Which Is Right for Your Lawn→
Comparison of warm-season and cool-season grass types covering climate zones, growth patterns, drought tolerance, and dormancy — with a species reference table and a decision framework based on where you live.
- Drip Irrigation vs Sprinkler System: Which Is Best→
Comparison of drip irrigation and sprinkler systems covering water efficiency, installed cost, best-fit plantings, and maintenance — with a worked water-use cost example and a decision framework by area type.
- French Drain vs Dry Well vs Swale: Which Drainage Solution Fits→
Comparison of French drains, dry wells, and swales for residential drainage problems — covering what each does, installed cost, and which one actually solves standing water, a wet basement, or downspout runoff — with a decision framework by symptom.
- Organic vs Synthetic Lawn Fertilizer: Which Is Best→
Comparison of organic and synthetic lawn fertilizers covering nutrient release speed, cost per application, soil health impact, and burn risk — with a worked coverage cost example and a decision framework by lawn goal.
- Compost vs Manure vs Topsoil: What Each One Actually Does→
Comparison of compost, manure, and topsoil covering nutrient content, use case, and application rate — explaining why these three are frequently confused for the same thing but serve very different purposes, with a worked raised-bed mix example.
- Balled & Burlapped vs Container vs Bare Root Trees: Which to Buy→
Comparison of balled & burlapped (B&B), container-grown, and bare root nursery stock covering cost, planting season, transplant shock risk, and root system quality — with a decision framework by budget and timing.
- Paver Patio Base Guide: Sand-Set vs Mortar-Set→
Comparison of Sand-Set (flexible/interlocking) and Mortar-Set (rigid, on a slab) paver patio construction covering cost, drainage, repairability, and frost performance — with a worked base-material cost example and a decision framework.