Among the many innovative techniques for landscaping and grass planting, Hydroseeding has gained a lot of recognition. Garden owners around Sydney are slowly adopting this process, replacing traditional methods of hand seeding and sod application, among others.
Nowadays, the hydroseeding process can be used for residential yards, commercial spaces, sports grounds, and natural parks, even with slopes and hilly sections. Moreover, the cost for hydroseeding a lawn is significantly lower than traditional methods.
Hence, whether you are setting up a new lawn or restoring an old one, opting for hydroseeding will ensure a lush garden for an affordable price. That said, here is a beginner’s guide to hydroseeding process.
Hydroseeding in a Nutshell
Hydroseeding is a process where fertilisers, biostimulants, lime, and other additives are combined with seeds, water, and hydroseeding mulch to create a slurry that is sprayed to the ground. This process is used to establish vegetation in a residential or commercial space, and control soil erosion.
With little effort, you can turn a dry and lifeless yard into a lush and healthy garden. But in order to fully benefit from hydro seeding, learning the basics and using the right components should be the top priority.
How Hydroseeding Works
The critical component of every hydroseeding slurry is the mulch ‒ which works as the growth medium for the grass seeds. It helps retain the moisture, promoting germination of seeds while protecting the soil from erosion.
Furthermore, you can alter the hydroseeding slurry with different additives to establish an ideal growth environment for the seeds.
Another crucial advantage of the process versus traditional seeding methods is labour cost. All components for your seedbed are combined into the slurry. Thus, you don’t have to manually apply each ingredient into the soil one at a time.
Types of Mulch for Hydroseeding
Choosing the right mulch is vital for hydroseeding a specific area. Each type of mulch has its benefits, such as lawn establishment, severe erosion control, slope stabilisation, or a daily cover on landfills.
Some mulches are made using a special process that lets you pour them into hydroseeding tanks quickly. They also contain synthetic synthetic fibres or tackifiers which help retain the moisture and hold the seeds in place after spraying them onto the soil.
Common hydroseeding mulches include:
- Paper mulch
- Wood fibre mulch
- Wood/Paper blend mulch
- Hay/Straw mulch
- Cotton fibre mulch
- Erosion control mulch
- Alternate Daily Cover – Used on the working face of landfills
Step by Step Hydroseeding Process
As easy as it sounds, there are lots of ways for a hydroseeding process to go haywire. If you miss a few critical steps, you could end up with a weed garden or a lawn with no growth at all.
Soil Testing
Before conducting a hydroseeding application, it will be best if you test the soil first for pH and toxicity levels. This ensures that the ground is of good quality to promote germination and grass growth.
Weeding and Soil Tilling
After testing for soil quality, the next step is to eliminate all weeds and tilling the soil. Using a rake and a hoe, you’ll need to turn the soil and break down the large chunks of land. This promotes soil aeration and allows the soil to accept the hydroseeds.
Moreover, you can also spray a pre-application weeding solution to quickly get rid of unwanted weeds that will obstruct the growth of grass seeds.
Hydroseed Application
Now that the soil is prepared and ready, it’s time to combine the slurry, seed, and fibre mulch in the tank and power up the hydroseeding pump.
Using the special nozzle, generously spray the mixture into the ground evenly, forming a thick and even layer of slurry. Additionally, you can apply several hydroseeding techniques such as:
- Spraying out ‒ For a long-distance spray over a wide area
- Spraying down ‒ For a precise spray on close distances
- Trimming ‒ Using cardboard or any barrier to prevent slurry from splashing into unwanted surfaces (e.g., roads, path walks, walls, flower beds)
- Use of a platform gun ‒ For covering massive areas that might take a long time for manual spraying
Additional Applications
You can also apply hydroseeding above an existing grass bed or lawn. This application will effectively cover up exposed spots and improve the growth of the existing grass.
Besides, you can use different types of grass seeds, depending on the soil quality and your preferred choice.
Maintaining Moisture for Germination
The job isn’t quite done after spraying the mixture. For the next couple of weeks, you’ll have to keep your lawn wet. This will promote germination and help establish healthy and uniform growth.
Besides, installing a garden sprinkler will be practical since you’ll need to water your lawn more than three times a day, depending on the weather conditions. On the other hand, these options won’t be as good as letting a garden professional take care of it.
Summary
Hydroseeding is practically the best way to create a beautiful and lush lawn with minimal effort. Experts from Trees Down Under recommend starting hydroseeding your garden in the summer and spring to establish the grassroots before winter.
Finally, complementing a hydroseeding project with a thorough garden landscaping will unleash the true beauty of your garden. For your garden needs, Trees Down Under is the only partner you’ll need for your residential and commercial garden landscapes.
You can put your trust to us in making your dream garden a reality. Call us now on 0475 463 597, and we’ll respond with a free estimate. We are the perfect solution to all your budget-friendly garden and landscaping needs.
