Three Hydroseeding Mistakes To Avoid

Hydroseeding is a quick, nearly foolproof way to get the lush green lawn of your dreams. After the soil is properly prepared and amended, a combination of grass seed and a nutrient solution, which is formulated to help hold moisture, is applied. You have likely seen it done before — it looks like the ground has been temporarily painted green. Ensuring the best results from hydroseeding does require a bit of care. Knowing the following common mistakes can help you avoid problems.

#1: Walking on the lawn

Chances are you want a lush lawn so you can enjoy it, but patience is necessary during the initial phase. Walking or playing on a hydroseeded piece of ground can lead to bare spots or even depressions in the ground, which will mean a sparse, uneven lawn once the grass does grow in. Even pets shouldn't be allowed on the lawn. Not only can they cause the same sort of walking damage, but if they relieve themselves on the ground, it can damage or kill grass seedlings. As a basic rule of thumb, stay off the lawn until after the first mowing, which is generally about one to one and half months after the initial hydroseeding.

#2: Skipping a scheduled irrigation

In most cases, a hydroseeded lawn isn't watered for the first 24 hours or so because the application needs to dry on the surface. After this initial drying phase, though, regular irrigation must begin. During germination, which is generally the two weeks following seeding, watering three times a day is usually advised. These should be relatively brief waterings, since the idea is to keep the soil moist without inundating it and washing away any seed. You don't want puddles to form either, since this can cause seeds or new seedlings to rot. Night watering is also a bad idea, since this can lead to fungus growth. Once the lawn is actively growing, first daily and then every other day watering is sufficient.

#3: Mowing too soon

Although you can usually mow within one to two months of hydroseeding, the timing does vary depending on recent weather and how quickly the grass grows. You don't want to mow too soon, since this can lead to a rutted lawn and shallow grass roots. Instead, wait until the grass has grown to about 4 to 4 ½ inches tall. Then, remove no more than the top inch of the grass blade. Longer grass, generally above 3 inches, tends to result in a healthier lawn. This is because the longer grass blades are self-mulching, which allows for soil moisture conservation and a shady root zone.

For more help, contact a hydroseeding company like Hydrograss Technologies.