Can you seed after hydroseeding?

The short answer to the question is yes. But there can be problems which result in some nasty consequences if you don't know what you are doing. So when it comes to hydroseeding, my recommendation is always a residential hydroseeding service. The following two problems may come into play should you do it yourself. Again this would be simply adding more seeds to an existing seeded area.

Problem #1

First, if you're using a specific seeding rate for a particular type of soil, adding more seeds could cause overcrowding of new grass, lead to poor root growth, and contribute to the spread of lawn diseases such as Fungal wilt and Pythium Blight.

Problem #2

Secondly, simply hydroseeding on top of the hydrosol slurry will lead to poor seed to soil contact, which will result in poor germination rates. It will lead to a poor germination rate for the seed you're spreading. Research has established that seeds broadcast on top of the ground, without being raked into the soil, only have a germination rate of roughly 15%, which is not good odds for getting new grass established. You're not putting any seeds if you're planting seeds on top of an already seeded lawn. It will lower the chances of seeds surviving even further. A good watering program can help increase the odds of success, but too much water can cause fungus problems in your new lawn.

In addition to the fundamental question of seeding, several other inquiries should lead us in deciding about the benefits of hydroseeding.

Understanding Hydroseeding 101

What is hydroseeding?

The term hydroseeding involves applying a mixture of wood fiber and seeds, fertilizers, and stabilizing emulsions with hydro-mulching equipment, which temporarily protects soil from erosion by water and winds. It may also be called hydroponic planting, hydroponic mulch, or hydroponics.

It is not the same as conventional seeding of a yard. One of the primary differences is that the hydroseeding mix spreads a specialized grass slurry over bare ground to grow new grass and prevent soil erosion. This mixture comprises grass seed, mulch, water (or sometimes sand), fertilizer, bio stimulators, and occasionally green-colored dyes. It may take a couple of weeks before the seed starts to germinate.

Story

I was driving to Foscoe from Boone on Hwy 105 last week. On the way, I saw a large FINN truck hydroseeding the bank not far from where the Ham Shoppe was located. The truck contained a hydroseed mixture in the tank, and one man did the spraying onto the hill. It was fast and efficient, which is why hydroseeding is so popular.

Preparing the ground for hydroseeding

If you take the time to prepare your site properly, you'll be able to get a good start. This will help provide a healthy turf throughout the year.

Here are a few basic steps you should consider before the hydroseeding process begins.

1: Kill any existing vegetation by using an herbicide.

2: Get a soil sample.

3: Analyze your soil condition. If necessary, buy the right materials to correct the soil pH.

4: Grade your area to avoid any drainage issues.

All of this relates to our original question about seeding over the hydroseed. The steps listed above give you the best chance to grow hydroseed properly. Therefore should you need to reseed, then it makes sense that it will have the best chance to succeed with the good ground preparation?

Soil Erosion

The overabundance of soil moisture can be a problem. Mulching with wood chips or straw protects the top layer of soil, and prevents seeds from blowing away. This only provides a short-term solution for any potential sediment movement due to erosion. Project planners choose seeds for their specific properties. Some plants have specific nutrient uptake capabilities. Others grow fast because they're adapted to local conditions. The goal is to grow a strong, resilient root system that will help keep the top layer of soil stable. Hydroseeding is used to quickly grow plants so they stay where you want them to be until you decide to move them. Growth can occur within a few days, depending upon the quality of the soil. It can be an eco-friendly choice for erosion control, which also adds moisture and replenish the soil’s nutrients.

These are the types of things that can be assured the best way to take care of your land.

How much is Hydroseeding Maintenance required?

Fertilizing

After one month has passed, you may begin fertilizing the lawn again. Most professional hydroseed services use phosphorus to get good root growth going on your lawn. These services usually recommend a nitrogen-based fertilizer for lawns. You may want to talk to your landscaper about your options for fertilizing your lawn. Make sure to check out weed killers and insect repelling products if you want to keep a uniform lawn that continues to look good.

If you want more information about the fertilizing process then check out this BLOG.

Mowing

The hydroseeding of a yard should begin to grow in about 7 to 10 days. And it should be ready for the first cutting in about 3 to 4 months during the growing season.## Output: New lawns should be mowed as early as the first grass blades reach 3” to 4" tall, even if the whole yard hasn't reached that height yet. Cutting back the grass will cause the grass to grow back thicker and taller for a lush lawn.

You should set your mower height at least three inches and you should always cut off just 1/3 of the blades in one mowing. To get the best results, keep your mower blade sharp. Healthy lawns are not as susceptible to pests, weeds, droughts, and other problems. Frequent mowing is important for a healthy lawn. You can leave clumps of grass on your lawn to help fertilize it naturally.

The hydroseeding slurry helps grass seeds take root in many ways, including by providing nutrients for the roots. Soil absorbs water from the ground, which helps keep the grass seed moist while grounded in the ground. The extra fertilizer then gives the boost the seed needs for it to grow. You'll be able to mow the lawn again in just a few weeks.

Weed Control

A hydroseeded turf is typically a mix of grass seeds without weed seeds. Weeds can be found in your lawn area. They can grow there. DO NOT use any weed killers on your lawn for at least three months. While products such as Weed-b-gone and Weed n'Feed are designed to kill broadleaf weeds but not grasses, they may damage the tender new grass seedlings. We recommend applying herbicides after three months if you want to kill weeds. For two reasons: 1) You can target specific areas in the lawn rather than applying the herbicide to the entire lawn and 2) a liquid herbicide gives better coverage of the weed than a dry granular product.

Yard Traffic

Don't let people or pets onto the hydroseeded yard for the first 3 months until it has time to get established. Of course, it should go without saying but the less foot traffic you have on the lawn, the faster it will establish itself. If you do decide to allow visitors, make sure you don't walk on the freshly seeded and potentially beautiful lawn.

Watering

Understanding the watering project of your newly established hydroponic turf is very important in order to achieve maximum results. Water needs are very delicate, and seeds require the precise balance of moisture, warmth, and light to germinate. Too little water and you risk having fungal diseases develop, while too much water will wash away all of the nutrients needed for proper growth.

The ideal amount of water varies depending on what type of grass you expect to plant. For example, Bermuda grass requires more frequent watering than Kentucky bluegrass, which requires less frequent watering. In addition, some plants require more sunlight than others and therefore require different amounts of light.

In order to understand more details of watering then I recommend this BLOG.

The key Hydroseeding questions

What does the hydroseeding cost?

Lawn professionals near you will likely determine the cost of hydroseeding by the size of your lawn. Your square foot or acre price includes the most cost-effective method to get an accurate quote.

1. The equipment for hydroseeding

2. Amount of slurry needed

3. The labor involved in the project

4. Soil slope and erosion threats

That last detail is crucial. The steeper the incline of your lawn, the harder it will be for you to get enough fertilizer into the soil. The reason is simple. Gravity takes hold on steepler slopes and can send the seeds sliding down the hill with slurry or during the rain.

If you have less steep slopes than 10 degrees, expect lower prices. If the slope of a field is greater than 20 to 25 degrees, then the price of hydroseeding will increase.

Hydroseeding is not an expensive option. And certainly is less costly than a typical sod installation.

When is the best time to Hydroseed my yard?

Fall and spring are great times for lawns in North Carolina to be seeded. Spring is ideal for hydroseeding because of the moderate temperatures, late summer/early fall is best, as the temperatures continue falling and the precipitation increases and the spring and fall allow for quicker growth than in cold and warm seasons, but won't require as much water as one that began in the driest summer season.

For the first six weeks after seeding, the ideal temperature is between 65 and 75°F. Temperatures that fall outside this range may be too cold or too hot for your baby.

Hydroseeding timelines vary depending on the weather, but usually, a hydroseeded lawn starts to grow in 5-to 7 days after seeding. For the next few weeks, they need more attention than a normal lawn.

We are also frequently asked about hydroseeding in the winter. Here is a good answer from this BLOG SITE.

What type of seed can be used in the Hydroseeding process?

You can use any type of grass seed with our hydroseeding equipment, including wildflower mixes and even oat seeds. When seeding a lawn or commercial job, we recommend using 5-10% annual ryegrass seed in your mix. This seed will germinate and grow faster than the other seeds in the mix. It will also hold the soil in place until the other seeds have had time to germinate and grow. This will also make your customers happy by providing them with some green ground cover in just 3-5 days. Don't add too much annual rye, because it will outcompete the seed you're trying to grow.

We've tried different grasses in our mowing machines with great success. Different types of seeds can accomplish different erosion control jobs. If you need help choosing a seed, you can contact us and ask for our advice. Or, if you're near a local grower, they might be able to recommend a good seed for you.

Finally, let's take a look at a few of the advantages of Hydroseeding for our property

1. Hydroseed holds onto the moisture

Because of the importance of the mulch in its mix (which contains lots of organic material), HydroSeeded grass holds more water than other planting techniques such as broadcast seeding, straw-blown seed, and sod.

Hydroseeds retain up to 10 times their weight in water, which helps them to stimulate fast germination. With hydroseeding, watering needs are about half as frequent as they are with other methods because the mixture holds onto its moisture so easily.

The slurry retains moisture throughout the process of Hydroseeding mixing and application, so it’s important to use enough. Once down, the soil protects the seed from wind, erosion, and sun damage before it disintegrates into soil nutrients to help germination.

2. Hydroseed gets into hard to reach areas

HydroSeeding’s sprayers allow for greater water access than traditional watering systems. Mounted on a vehicle, the gun-shaped sludge shooters shoot the sludge into difficult terrain such as steep hills, which would otherwise be too dangerous to climb any other way. HydroSeeding keeps people safe by keeping them away from steep slopes and dangerous terrain.

3. HydroSeeding works well for erosion control.

HydroSeeding has become the choice of many entities involved in erosion control and different kinds of soil stabilization. The mat style and sticky texture of the HydroSeeds method can work when other methods don't work because of its stabilizing qualities. In addition, hydroSeeding stays in place through most heavy rain events even on steep slopes, but other seed-planting methods leave the seeds vulnerable to washout.

In Conclusion:

We answered the fundamental question of can you seed after hydroseeding with a definite yes. But one needs to know something about the hydroseeding process before they leap this type of technology.

Hydroseeding is not like other seeding methods, it requires a lot more planning and preparation than normal seeding. It’s not like broadcasting seeds on top of soil that has been prepared for planting. The soil must be prepared properly before applying the hydroseeded product and there needs to be a follow-up process. But with all of that said it is one of the best methods possible to take care of your land.

If you are still interested in some more of the great benefits of hydroseeding then check out this WEBSITE.

Ground Effects of Boone can provide and accomplish all of your hydroseeding needs. All that remains is for you to give us a call or visit our website https://groundeffectsofboone.com and set up an appointment.