FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Hydroseeding is the process of spraying a customized mixture of seed, mulch, fertilizer, water and other organic elements which creates a slurry. The slurry is then sprayed onto the soil, being kept in place by the mulch, allowing the seed to be protected from the elements. Thus creating a great environment for the seed to germinate.
It’s important to give the seed the best foundation available. Remove existing grass and weeds where possible. If using top soil, make sure there is at least 4 inches of topsoil leveled and raked. Be sure the surface is free of any debris, large rocks, leaves and sticks.
Keeping the mulch mat moist provides the seed with optimal growing conditions, so regular watering is key. Be careful when walking on your newly hydroseeded lawn not to disturb or kick up the mulch mat, as it contains your new grass seed. This could cause bare patches in your lawn so only walk on it when necessary. About 4-6 weeks after your seed starts to grow you can mow your new lawn!
A properly hydroseeded lawn should show results in as little as 10 days to 2 weeks, depending on watering and/or rainfall. The lawn should be ready for the first cut in 4 to 6 weeks. This is only a guideline and soil moisture and environmental conditions will dictate the actual length of grass establishment.
Mulch fiber helps reduce erosion from wind and water and it will insulate the soil from temperature fluctuation. It creates a uniform mat over the seed that helps to establish vegetation for erosion control, giving the seed the time it needs to germinate. Call and speak to one of our professionals to find out what seed mix and solutions will best fit your project.
Hydroseeding is the quickest and most cost effective method of seeding and erosion control. Think of it almost like a spray-on lawn. More technically, hydroseeding is the process of spraying a customized mixture of seed, mulch, water and other organic materials onto soil.
Hydroseeding has become increasingly popular for a variety of uses including; residential lawns, erosion control, hillside stabilization, vegetation restoration, wildfire repair, roadsides, national parks, soil renovation, landfills, city parks, airport dust control, and many other uses.
With proper preparation, cultivation and maintenance a hydroseeded lawn will be as thick and green as the best farm-grown sod.
Traditional or conventional seeding methods require each ingredient to be applied individually. Because the grass seed is unprotected, there is increased risk that the grass seed will be washed away, blown away, or eaten before the grass can be established. To avoid this, often straw or hay is applied over conventional seeding applications and will need to be collected and removed once the lawn is established.
As a spray-on mixture, hydroseeding addresses these challenges by spraying a water-based mixture of mulch, grass seed, fertilizer and a binding agent onto your prepared soil. Not only is this more effective, it allows you to cover a much larger area with hydroseeding than by more traditional means. A typical day can yield 10 acres (4 hectares) of ground cover. As well, unlike hay or straw that is used on conventional seeding jobs, the hydroseeding mixture contains no weed seed.
There are a number of benefits to hydroseeding. Consider just a few:
- Cost & Labour
On average, the cost of hydroseeding is three to five times less expensive than sod. - Quality & Compatibility
A hydroseeded lawn is often much healthier, greener, and longer lasting than sodding or traditional seeding. With hydroseeding new seedlings are grown on your soil, this means hydroseeded roots grow deeper into the soil and their is no shock from being transplanted into foreign soils (like with sod). - Customization.
The hydroseeding process allows you to create more eco-friendly mixtures (e.g. shade tolerant) that will work for your type of lawn and situation. The hydroseed mixture can be adjusted with various additives to create the ideal growth environment for the seed. - Versatility
Hydroseeding is great for covering large areas which would be a challenge to access by traditional seeding. Hydroseed can be applied in any direction or angle or curve which is great for irregularly shaped yards with trees and other obstacles. - Water Retention/Conservation
This seeding process has the ability to retain up to 10 times its weight in water making it ideal for areas where watering would be difficult. No other method of growing grass has this water retention advantage. A typical day can yield 10 acres (4 hectares) of ground cover. - Erosion Control
Erosion control is the most common reason for using hydroseeding. Hydroseeding is designed to provide even ground coverage. As it forms a barrier to keep everything in place, it stabilizes the seed to allow it to uptake the moisture, fertilizer and amendments it needs to grow quickly. The mulch fiber will help reduce erosion from wind and water and it will insulate the soil from temperature fluctuation. Eventually the mulch will break down and provide the soil with extra nutrients and organic matter.
No. Each ingredient in the hydroseeding mixture is environmentally friendly and does not pose a danger to pets or wildlife.
No. The hydroseeding mixture is easily removed off any unwanted surface with water.
Yes, while heavy traffic is not recommended, you may walk on the hydroseeded area when watering during the first two weeks (being careful not to disturb the mixture). It is best to keep disturbances to a minimum as it can cause damage to the young lawn.
Hydroseeding can be performed in the spring, summer, or fall. Each have their own advantages and disadvantages, depending on your timeframe.