Care After Hydroseeding

Watering

Grass seed needs water; begin watering immediately.  Keep the mulch moist until the grass shoots appear.  Avoid puddling and erosion. After shoots appear and until the grass blades are three inches tall, water once daily, preferably early morning or evening.  In very hot weather, you may need to water twice a day.

When the tallest grass blades are four inches tall, they are ready for the first mowing. After the first mowing, water every three to five days.  To prevent root rot, allow enough time between waterings to allow the soil surface to dry.  Increase watering in very hot weather, and decrease watering during periods of heavy rainfall.  Grass will respond best to slow, gentle watering where the water has a chance to soak in well to a depth of about three inches.

Mowing

The lawn is ready for its first mowing when the tallest shoots are  four inches tall. It is normal at this time that the height of the shoots will vary from one to four inches. 

Discontinue watering one day prior to mowing to allow the soil surface to dry and stabilize. 

As with a mature lawn, no more than one third of the grass blade should be cut off.  To avoid damage to the lawn, keep your mower blade sharp.

Fertilizing

A balanced fertilizer is applied at the time of hydroseeding, but an ongoing fertilizing program is essential to produce a lush lawn.  Your lawn will stay healthy and green when it receives a steady supply of nutrients.  More numerous light applications of fertilizer are better than fewer, heavy applications, and will produce more consistent grass color and rate of growth.

Commercial fertilizers are labeled with a three number code, such as 18-12-16.  The first number is the percentage of nitrogen, the second number is the percentage of phosphorus, and the third number is the percentage of potassium.  Generally speaking, nitrogen stimulates blade growth and color, phosphorus promotes root development, and potassium affects the plant’s general vitality.

Apply fertilizer after the first signs of “yellowing” of the new grass or approximately  four weeks after the hydroseeding. The first time, use a “starter” fertilizer or one that has balanced nutrients such as 15-15-15 to assure plenty of phosphorus for root growth.

We recommend that you never use “weed and feed” fertilizers.  If any weeds appear, pull them by hand or “spot spray” each weed individually if necessary.  A healthy, growing lawn will minimize weed and moss problems and make them much easier to control.

Overseeding

It’s normal for the first shoots of grass to appear within 7-14 days. Additional seed should not be applied for at least six weeks after hydroseeding. Areas that don’t appear to have enough seed will usually fill in within four to five weeks.

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