What is Hydroseeding?
Hydroseeding is a planting process which utilizes a slurry of seed, fertilizer, tackifying agents, green dye and other additives. The slurry is transported in a tank, either truck- or trailer-mounted and sprayed over prepared ground in a uniform layer. A pump forces the slurry through a top mounted discharge nozzle or discharge can be through 100 to 200 feet of hose. Tank capacities range from 1000 to 3000 gallons. Water is added first and then the mulch, tackifier (if used), fertilizer (if used), and seeds. Any coated seed would be loaded last. The mix is sprayed onto topsoil and transforms into a uniform lawn in a few weeks, depending on the season and climate where it is applied.
Hydroseeding is an alternative to the traditional process of broadcasting or sowing dry seed. Hydroseed typically germinates faster than seeds alone, because seeding requires several days of watering to reach the same level of moisture saturation the grass needs to grow. Not all types of grass can be grown with hydroseeding, but most common varieties—including Bermuda, Buffalo, Zoyzia, Fescue—can be hydroseeded.
There are reasons hydro seeding works so well. The seed is suspended the nutrient rich slurry. The contact of the seed with the water in the machine triggers the germination cycle. The mulch layer seals in the moisture, and holds the soil in place. The seed is at an ideal depth for good results. The conditions are right to produce a lush green lawn in very short time. Mulch, seed and fertilizer are evenly distributed in the sprayed material.
The mulch in the hydroseed mixture helps maintain the moisture level of the seed and seedlings.
Hydroseeding is used to seed grass on commercial sites (highways/motorways etc.), golf courses, lawns and areas too large, inaccessible or unsuitable for conventional methods. Starting a lawn by hydroseeding is considerably cheaper than laying sod/turf and quicker than using seed. It is also used to spread mixtures of wildflower and tree/shrub seeds or turf grasses for erosion control. The process is called sprigging (or hydro-sprigging) when the slurry contains stolons or rhizomes instead of seed.
It is fast and irregular areas are a breeze. Hillsides, banks and other areas that can be a problem with other seeding methods are easy to do. In most areas, hydroseeding can be done in the spring, fall and early summer.