Calgary Hydroseeding

Hydroseeding – Is it worth the wait?

By using the hydroseeding turfing method, you will save money but at the expense of a lengthier waiting time. Seeding a new lawn can be an exercise in patience, with seeds generally germinating around days five to seven. The time it takes to nurture a seeded or hydroseeded lawn surface can be anywhere from 6-12 months. However, if you are wanting to revegetate or cover a vast area quickly, then hydroseeding is a better option than other direct, traditional methods of seeding. It is also a more convenient way to revegetate areas that are hard to access, such as slopes and hillsides. 

Laying solid turf – is it worth the expense?

With instant turf, you significantly reduce any establishment risk – guaranteeing an instant result from your money and time invested. In the case of re-turfing a sporting facility, using solid turf to replace or repair the surface will reduce time out of play and provide a quick and easy lawn solution – reducing costs and stress in the short and long-run. 

Solid turf systems also have an immediate visual impact (don’t underestimate the non-dollar value of that instant ‘’wow’’ factor!), delivering desired results for the client/ customer/community straight away. 

Lawn costs and maintenance

With councils and developers placing tighter constraints on new turf areas, you need to consider installation process and establishment costs and the ongoing input costs for irrigation, fertiliser, herbicides etc. The labour-intensive hours required to then establish and maintain the area must also be considered during the tender process. 

Watering and fertilization

Solid turf varieties need to be watered immediately after being rolled out, in order to avoid the grass from drying out and dying. In the weeks that follow, solid turf needs frequent watering to maintain its health and success. This can be tedious, depending on the type of solid turf you invest in. 

Solid turfing grass varieties automatically eliminates many of those uncontrollable risks associated with turf establishment. For example, the water requirements of C4 warm season hard turf surfaces as compared to C3 cool-season grass can be up to 66% less, pending seasonal conditions. 

The first fertilization generally only requires one application on installation, a second application 4-6 weeks post-installation, and then, generally an application in Autumn and Spring thereafter. 

Why choose hydroseeding to establish a lawn instead of sod or dry grass seeding?

What is Hydroseeding?

Hydroseeding is a soil stabilization technique that originated in the United States in the 1940s. Hydroseeding is also called hydromulching and hydraulic mulch seeding. This method of planting is a way to grow grass and reduce erosion. It is one of the fastest and most cost-effective strategies for achieving and maintaining a healthy lawn all year round. It’s a way to plant grass over large areas or on slopes that are difficult to plant. Instead of scattering grass seed over the area that needs planting, or laying down sod, hydroseeding involves using a slurry of seed, water, mulch, fertilizer, tackifiers, lime, polymers for moisture retention, and biostimulants. 

The slurry is continuously mixed and transported in a tank similar to that of a concrete mixer, as it’s constantly mixing up the slurry to keep all materials evenly combined. This slurry is sprayed through a hose with a specialized nozzle, or for very large areas, an aircraft such as a helicopter may be used. 

Why Choose Hydroseeding for Your Lawn?

This method may give you the best chance of a beautiful lawn in the long term. With hydroseeding, a healthy lawn can be planted on almost any kind of surface. Grass can grow quickly and thrive with this technique, even if the land is uneven or has a slope. It’s easy to fill in patchy areas by simply respraying the mixture over the affected area. 

Your grass seed will be shielded from wind, soil erosion, and sunlight with a combination of mulch and moisture. The mixture used in hydromulch grass releases a variety of nutrients designed to help your seeds thrive. When a fairly large area of ground has to be planted in grass, it is a quick solution to establish healthy turf. Hydroseeding also helps crowd out and reduce the presence of weeds in your lawn. 

This proven process has been around for more than a half-century and is the best way to get fast and widespread ground cover. Hydroseeders hydraulically spray hydromulch, seed, fertilizer and additives. Hydroseeding is ideal for inactive lots, backyards, front entrances and paths. The cost does tend to be more expensive than planting dry seed, but the process is considerably cheaper than planting with sod. 

Biodiversity Leads to Resilience and Soil Health!

Using only one type of grass creates a monoculture. Monocultures are more susceptible to disease and pests than mixtures. A mix of different types of seeds promotes diverse soil bacteria that protect plants and supply them with nutrients. Homeowners and property managers should always use a blend of different types of grass for lawns. With hydroseeding, you can create your own seed mixture. Discuss your needs with your service provider so they can select a mixture of grass species that suits your property and personal preferences. These lawns will be more attractive, as you can orchestrate exactly the color and texture of grass that you want. 

Hydroseeding is Excellent for Large Spaces 

You can save money by choosing to hydroseed your yard – the bigger your property, the more you can save. Consider the amount of labor involved in rolling out and installing sod over expansive spaces. 

Hydroseeding is an effective solution for mitigating soil erosion. When you lay down the slurry mixture over a steep slope in danger of eroding, the seed takes root quickly, offering a fast solution to the problem of loose ground and potential landslides. 

The Process of Hydroseeding – How It’s Done 

Technicians must first prepare the soil to get the ground ready to apply the seed with the best possible chance of fast and healthy germination. Be sure to grade the soil away from structures before spraying the hydroseeding slurry next to a building. The grade should drop by at least two inches every 100 feet. This will prevent the slurry moisture from running towards the building and causing moisture damage.

Then you’ll schedule a time for the technician to return with the hydroseeding truck, to apply the slurry using a hose and nozzle. The service will likely post signs or barriers around the area, so people will know not to step onto the field or lawn while the new grass is getting started.

The fertilizer in the slurry mixture boosts growth, the mulch bonds the seeds to the soil, protects them from the elements (like wind or too much sunlight), and ultimately adds extra nutrients by decomposing and feeding soil microbes. 

Keep in mind that soil preparation is important so you should try to follow the instructions given to you by the technician you hire as closely as possible. 

Once the slurry is mixed, the application must happen quickly. The seed can’t stay within the hydroseeding equipment for longer than an hour or it may be damaged by the fertilizer and water it’s mixed with. 

If you are looking to plant a large area of land, hydroseeding is a great alternative to broadcast seeding or drill seeding. Hydroseeding can be completed in a few hours, depending on the size of the project. Germination rates are quicker with hydroseeding as opposed to broadcast seeding, as the seed is protected and has the proper moisture and nutrients to thrive. Typically, under ideal conditions, germination will begin in 3-4 days, with a full lush lawn in about 28 days. 

Hydroseeding is also very effective for erosion control of hillsides, slopes and tough landscapes that are hard to access, or may have excessive runoff. The mulch and tackifier in the slurry stabilize the soil, and prevent soil from eroding from wind and water. In contrast to laying sod, hydroseeding will not slough. This can be a big problem when laying sod on a slope. With excessive moisture, the sod pieces will begin to slide down the slope, resulting in a very uneven and patchy lawn. 

Calgary Lawn Solutions Hydroseeding specializes in residential, commercial and oilfield hydroseeding and landscape applications. Calgary Lawn Solutions Hydroseeding & Landscaping is your dedicated hydroseeding company in Southern Alberta. We are capable of tackling any size of job and our focus on workmanship and customer satisfaction is second to none.

​Calgary Lawn Solutions is a family-owned & operated Landscape Construction Calgary based business. With an extensive  background in Agriculture, Horticulture and Geotechincal Engineering, we have specialized knowledge and a unique skill-set to successfully “grow grass” for any kind of project.

​Calgary Lawn Solutions Hydroseeding is committed to a Safe Workplace for our employees and our customers.