How to Use Lime in Hydroseeding

Hydroseeding your lawn is far less labor intensive than turning over your soil and laying the seed yourself. This method is also more cost effective than laying down sod. In the hydroseeding process, a liquid mix of grass seed, fertilizer, water and fiber mulch is sprayed onto your lawn via a large hose. The mixture sticks to the lawn due to its texture, and has less chance of being blown away by the wind or washed away by the rain than seed in the traditional seeding process. Increasing the pH level of your lawn will increase your chances for success when hydroseeding. The easiest way to accomplish this is by adding lime to your yard before hydroseeding the area, but your hydroseeding company may also suggest a lime additive to the hydroseeding mixture.

Soil pH test kit
Lime

Instructions

- 1
  Test your soil's pH using a test kit. You can purchase a test kit at your local home improvement store or garden center.
- 2
  Place a small amount of soil in the container that comes with your kit.
- 3
  Place a few drops of the solution into the test container, shake it up and then wait about an hour. This will determine the pH level of your lawn. When the pH is below 7.0, the soil is acidic and when it is above 7.0, it is alkaline.
- 4
  Add lime to your soil if the pH level is lower than 6.0, or lower than the level recommended by your hydroseeding company. The most successful growth comes from a properly prepped seedbed.
- 5
  Apply the lime to your lawn by using a seed spreader. The amount of lime needed will vary depending on the soil's pH level and size of your lawn. Follow the directions on the lime product packaging. The lime should be distributed evenly over your lawn.
- 6
  Wait a few days and then test the pH level again. If the pH level has not increased, then repeat the lime application process again.
- 7
  Test the soil again prior to application of the hydroseeding mixture. If the soil has a proper pH, do not add lime to the hydroseeding mixture. Lime will be added to the hydroseeding mixture if the pH level is low. The lime additive will be a pulverized calcitic powder or liquid dolomite form. Your hydroseeding company will ensure proper amounts of lime that will work well with the seed, fertilizer and mulch hydroseeding mixture and size of your lawn.

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