5 Great Tips on Hydroseeding
Fall is a popular time for hydroseeding. Our hydroseeding products are one of the most popular items our customers buy in spring, late summer, and early fall. We carry everything from adjuvants to seed mixes. Hydroseeding is usually done to assist with corrosion control. It ensures quick grass growth time. The seeds may germinate in about a week if the hydroseeding is done properly as opposed to regular seeding which can take several weeks. If you are planning on hydroseeding your lawn (or your clients), we have gathered 5 great tips on hydroseeding.
5 Great Tips on Hydroseeding
- Prep the soil prior to hydroseeding – Your soil must be in decent shape to hydroseed. The most important thing you can do is make sure your soil is properly aerated. Foot traffic and even construction vehicles can compact the soil over the summer. Seeds have a harder time germinating in hardened soil so aerate or till the soil before the hydroseeding process begins. It also doesn’t hurt to test your soil in case it needs any amendments to make it healthy again.
- Water consistently – When you finish the hydroseeding you’ll need to water the seedlings about three to four times per day. This ensures the roots will start off well. To make the process easier, it doesn’t hurt to install a sprinkler system that runs on an automatic timer. Just make sure the sprinkler is able to reach all of the areas that have been seeded.
- Don’t walk or drive on the area that has been seeded – The seeds are extremely vulnerable in their first 2 to 3 weeks so you’ll want to be extra careful and not walk on them. If the seeds are compacted, it can lead to bald and spotty areas of grass. Another reason for installing a sprinkler is a good idea is that it can help you avoid walking on the grass seed. Sprinklers allow the seed to germinate and get watered without physical contact.
- Weed the lawn before the process begins – You’ll want to weed the lawn by pulling or spraying at least a week before you start to seed. This will ensure the roots of weeds die and the new grass will not suffer any negative effects from the chemicals you used to spray the weeds. If you are pulling the weeds, make sure you get all of the roots or the weeds will grow back and choke out the new grass.
- Fertilize afterward – There will probably be fertilizer in the hydroseeding slurry mix but you should still apply a high nitrogen fertilizer about a month after. Continue to fertilize every 90 days as long as the weather cooperates. For even healthier grass, you’ll want to apply an all-purpose fertilizer every 6 to 8 weeks especially if you are hydroseeding in spring.