When you want to plant a new lawn on your steep slope or large yard, you should consider planting using the hydroseed method. Hydroseeding creates a lawn that is evenly seeded and beautiful.
How long does Hydroseed Take to Grow?
After hydroseeding your yard, as a general rule, the seeds planted in some areas will start to germinate within 10 to 14 days. You will have a full lawn within 6 to 8 weeks. Some areas may grow fast in the first 4 to 6 weeks, and other sections may grow slowly.
Depending on the seed mixture, watering, and climate, some hydroseed lawns sprout within the first 5-7 days after planting. Your lawn should be about 3 inches long in a month with proper maintenance and good weather.
The type of grass used in hydroseeding also affects how long hydroseed takes to grow. Different types of grass have different rates of germination. Some species can germinate after five days; others may take as long as 28 days to germinate.
Hydroseeding is a process. While it can take as fast as five days for your hydroseed to germinate with twice a day watering, your beautiful lawn
will begin to appear after a few weeks. It will also take about a year to have a fully established hydroseeded lawn with constant fertilizing and weed control applications.
Factors Affecting How Long it takes for Hydroseed to Grow depends on several factors, such as:
1. Soil Preparation
The success of your hydroseeded lawn largely depends on the condition of the soil. The soil must be well-prepared before the hydroseeding process.
2. Remove all the weeds.
Rounding up all the weeds in your yard will give you good hydroseeding results. The weeds will die in about a week. If you do not kill all the weeds before tilling, the weeds’ live root system will remain in the ground and allow them to grow again.
3. Remove all the bigger rocks.
Any rock bigger than the size of a golf ball should be discarded.
4. Have good quality topsoil
It is cheaper to have good topsoil, especially if you have clay or rocky soil. Poor soil will require you to spend more on fertilizer.
It is also recommended that the top 2 to 5 inches of soil from the surface should have soft soil. This will allow the grass to have a deep root system.
5. Watering
The grass seeds will sprout only if the hydroseed mixture is kept damp. It is best to water the lawn at least twice daily for the three weeks after the hydroseeding. Lessen watering after a month to allow the roots to grow deeper underneath the soil until such time that you only need to water once a week.
Your lawn may appear green and lush, but it would take a few more months before the entire area would be established with grass.
6. Weather
It is best to hydroseed during fall and late summer. These are the times the soil is warm and ideal for germination. The morning dew also keeps the seed moist, and there will be lesser weeds to compete with the new grass. Lower humidity and heat will also make diseases less likely to occur.
Hydroseeding too early will not give good results. The best soil temperature for hydroseeding is between 500 to 550.
7. Type of Grass
The type of grass you choose to go with the hydroseed mixture plays a considerable role in how long it takes to grow. Different types of grass have different germination rates. Some grass types may take 5-6 days to germinate, and some may grow after a month.
Hydroseeding is a method wherein grass seeds, fertilizer, fine mulch, water, and green-tinted dye are mixed in a garden auger to form a slurry (specialized grass). When done, this green mixture is spread on your lawn.
Hydroseeding is cheaper than sod, allows grass roots to go much deeper underneath, and grows faster. It also retains water and, therefore, boosts grass growth. If you are looking for a fuller and greener lawn, hydroseeding may be your best option.
Seeding vs. Sod vs. Hydroseeding
Creating a lawn through seeding, laying sod, and hydroseeding, have their own unique advantages.
Seeding
Seeding is the cheapest method of planting grass. If hydroseeding costs about $2,000, seeding would cost less than $1,000.
Seeding takes more time to grow than hydroseeding. It also takes the longest before you can have a fuller and greener lawn. It can take the grass about 6-10 weeks for a seeded lawn to become a fully established lawn and withstand foot traffic.
While it takes a long time for the seeds to germinate, it is a highly affordable option.
Sod
Although sod grows the fastest, it is the most expensive method for your lawn. Sod pallets are about 70% more expensive than hydroseeding. If it costs about hydroseeding about $2,000 to establish a lawn, it would cost about $10,000 with sod.
You can lay sod from late spring to late summer or any time of the year; It also does not require much watering or maintenance. It usually takes sod a few weeks to be rooted in a lawn.
Sod is not only expensive but grass options are limited too. Since sod is grown, cut, and installed, it is less hardy than seeds are planted in the soil.
Hydroseeding
Hydroseeding is only less expensive than laying sod when working on a larger lawn. The cost of setting up the hydroseeding equipment (hydraulic) for smaller and larger are the same.
Best Time to Hydroseed your Lawn
The best seasons to hydroseed your lawn are during spring and fall. These are the seasons when there are moderate heat and warm soil. These conditions allow the grass seedlings to develop deep roots fast.
Hydroseeding during summer will make the grass germinate and have a faster growth rate, but you will need to water the lawn more often.
Winter is never a time to hydroseed because the grass will not germinate and be dormant. It will germinate when the weather warms.
While you can work on other tasks in your yard, hydroseeding can be a challenging DIY project. It can be challenging to mix the slurry, and you will need specialized equipment to endure the grass seeds, fertilizer, mulch, and water are well-blended.
Final Thoughts on How long does Hydroseed Take to Grow?
Hydroseeding is one of the best methods to build a beautiful, green, and lush lawn. With the included fertilizer, the seeds germinate faster than traditional seeding.
Read More:
Why Is My Hydroseed Not Growing?
When should I Fertilize a Hydroseeded Lawn?
How to Grow Grass in Clay Soil: 9 Helpful Tips
How Many Square Feet are on a Pallet of Sod? +Sod Calculator
