Define Hydroseeding

Basics

• Hydroseeding consists of blending selected elements together to form a mixture of grass seeds and nutrients that will grow quickly. Items like fertilizer, fiber mulch, water and lime are mixed in a tank with seeds. Once combined, the mixture is sprayed using a special hose, coating the ground in seeds and a rich mixture designed to help them thrive. The popularity of hydroseeding has increased in recent years, according to the Pro Lawn website, and it has become a professionally offered service.

Advantages

• Depending on the lawn to be treated, hydroseeding can have several advantages over conventional seeding methods. The cost of hydroseeding is significantly less than that of sod and the seed mixture can be custom made for each lawn according to its needs. Lawns treated to hydroseeding usually sprout grass faster as well, thanks to the potent mixture of seeds and water, which requires little time to produce results. Also, hydroseeding can be done in less time than laying sod.

Disadvantages

• Though hydroseeding involves less labor than laying sod and can produce quick results, it's not ideal for every situation. Many professional hydroseeding companies have only a modest selection of grass varieties available, meaning choice may be limited when it comes to selecting a particular type. The season for hydroseeding is also limited and should be restricted to shortly before the prime growing season for grass, which varies from region to region, depending on weather.

Care

• For the best results from a hydroseeding treatment, additional lawn care steps are necessary. Provide the new seeded turf with plenty of H2O, and for the first several days after the treatment, water twice daily to encourage seed germination. Wait to mow the hydroseeded lawn until the grass has reached at least three inches in height, as suggested by Hydroseeding Experts, which also adds that mowing encourages growth. After a month, give the lawn a dose of fertilizer with a high nitrogen content.