Hydroseeding: Comparisons With Dry Seeding And Sod Planting

When it comes to planting lawn grasses, aesthetics is key. It is more attractive and relaxing to the eyes to see a green yard than a bare one. There is a welcoming ambience that comes with a green yard. There is the implication that there is someone currently living in the property. It implies that the resident or residents of the place care about what the neighbors and passersby will see. Consequently, a well-cared lawn also indicates the level of meticulousness of the residents of a particular property. But it is not just about showing off. There is also the matter of respect. It would be a bit disrespectful and inappropriate for a homeowner to neglect the lawn when the rest of the neighborhood has well-manicured lawns.

Maintaining lawn grasses is one issue, but planting them is an entirely different matter.The expenses, time and effort needed offsets this otherwise seasonal task. There is also the careful preparation needed for the area to be covered with new turf. Dead and decaying grasses, fallen dry foliage, twigs and other debris must also be clean. What’s more, in some situations the soil must be loosened and fertilized as well. There are also cases wherein rock boulders have to be removed and the soil leveled. Money, time and effort can be significantly minimized by using hydroseeding methods.

Hydroseeding, also known as hydraulic mulch seeding and hydro-mulching, is a process of planting lawn grasses by spraying slurry of seed and mulch directly to the soil. This is a more efficient and cost-effective method compared to other methods because of several reasons. This is because with hydroseeding, the slurry and mulch are sprayed, which takes less time than laying sod and dry seeding. Wasting seeds is also minimized in the process because erosion and drying are prevented. There is also better binding with the soil for the seeds due to the wet mulch. This is why it is easier to apply seed slurry on sloping terrain.

Dry seeding vs hydroseeding

Lawns that are hydroseeded have faster and higher germination rates compared to dry seeding. This is mainly due to the seeds already being soaked with water in the slurry-mulch mixture. Typically, germination takes three to five days rather than weeks for most of the seeds to germinate.

Compared to dry seeding, a lawn that is hydroseeded immediately has an attractive green appearance. And since there is no need for straw mulch cover as compared to dry seeding, there is less chance for weeds to grow. This is because weed seeds often proliferate in straw mulch. The mulch from hydroseeding also enriches the humus of the lawn soil.

Another benefit of hydroseeding is the ease of customizing lawns. Turf grass seeds of different varieties can be applied to specific areas of the lawn. Different seed variety may be applied on the front yard, perhaps a grass variety that is more resistant to drying and direct sunlight.

The advantages of hydroseeding versus sod

While sod planting is one of the most popular types of planting lawn grasses, it is also costly. Typically, it cost three to five times more than hydroseeding. While the result will be more immediate with sods hydroseeding can produce similar or better quality results in just a few weeks.

Some sods are also not suitable with soils they are planted on. By comparison, seeds that are dispersed through hydroseeding have enough time to adjust. And since sods tend to have chopped-off roots, they are often unhealthy and less capable to anchor onto the soil. Sods also have the problem of shrinking in a couple of months. This often results with gaps between rows of sods.

Compared to hydroseeded lawns, lawns planted with sods require more meticulous care. In turn, thus leads to increased frequency in watering and use of fertilizers.

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