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Hydroseeding is an inexpensive way to distribute grass seed on your property.
Unlike laying out sod or applying dry seed, this planting method uses a sprayer to disperse grass seed, fertilizer, water, tackifier (adhesive or bonding agent) and other chemicals simultaneously to create healthy topsoil for your new lawn to grow on.
How much does hydroseeding cost? This is a pricing guide tailored to answer your questions about the cost of applying hydroseeding and if it is the best option for your lawn.
What Is The Average Cost Of Hydroseeding?
Hydroseeding is cheap, especially when compared to alternatives like sod laying. Expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $1,000 to hydroseed a half acre of lawn.
Alternatively, you can pay per square meter. The average price is between $0.06 and $0.20 per square foot.
This is an inexpensive way to control soil erosion and improve grass growth. However, the price quoted above is only an average price and could be based more or less on a variety of factors discussed below.
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Factors Affecting The Cost Of Hydroseeding
Evaluate the following factors affecting the cost of hydroseeding, as material and consumable costs can add up to a large percentage of your hydroseeding budget:
1. Size of site or property
2. Amount of dirt to be cleaned
3. Slope and ground conditions
4. Type of grass seed used
Materials that can add cost:
- Sprayer
- Fertilizer
- Grass seed
- HydroMulch
- Additives, if needed
- Tackifier (adhesive), if needed
1. Size Of Site Or Property
This is the most important factor because the larger the area that needs to be hydro-seeded, the more you can expect to pay. Most hydroseeding companies charge per square foot.
The more square meters your garden has, the higher your bill will be. Do you have several acres of land that you need to hydroseed?
Don’t let the prices give you concern. It costs around $2,000 to $4,000 per acre but most hydroseeding companies offer discounts for hydroseeding acres.
When planting a new lawn, decide if you want to pay per square foot or a fixed rate and choose the option that can help you save more money.
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2. Amount Of Dirt To Be Cleared
The hydroseed compound cannot be used until the lawn or property has been cleared. This means additional labour costs as you will need workers to remove the rubble.
Additionally, depending on the size of your lawn and the type of dirt, additional tools may be required. After that, you may need to hire a bulldozer or other machine to help clean up the site.
You can remove the debris yourself or hire professionals to do the work. The process involves not only clearing trees, and removing debris, but also dead grass and anything else that might hinder the procedure.
3. Slope And Ground Conditions.
Sloped yards frequently require extra material because of the accelerated drainage and runoff due to the slope. If the slope is full-size, you can pay double the quantity in expenses in line with rectangular foot.
A backyard with a full-size slope or bumpy terrain will make any landscaping or garden care process extra difficult, using up expenses. If you would love to keep away from those extra fees, keep in mind re-sloping your garden.
Homeowners commonly spend between $100 and $3,400 on expert land levelling, depending on how much work needs to be done on the land. Floors with a slope greater than 1:8 can be more expensive.
Moderate inclines won’t cost you much, but extremely steep terrain can be expensive to pay for. You need mulch like wood fibre and adhesives to ensure the seeds stay in place while they germinate.
Again, the mulch depends on the quality of the soil. For example, if there is no proper mulch, new grass will not grow.
You must use expensive, high-quality mulch to protect against erosion when the soil quality is already low. Material costs can quickly add up and make labour more expensive when fertilizer prices rise.
4. Type Of Grass Seed Used
You have to be very careful when choosing seeds for hydroseeding. Not all seeds are suitable; the right choice depends on factors such as climate and soil quality.
How much hydroseeding costs depends on the type of grass to be planted.
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Extra Services
There are other services you may decide to use that may increase costs. For example, it gets more expensive if you need frequent soil modifications and maintenance.
Some people opt for a sprinkler system, which also increases the cost, but this is important to ensure rapid grass growth, as poor watering can lead to poor germination and other problems. Also, keep in mind that prices vary from provider to provider and in different cities.
You may be able to get lower prices by shopping around and getting deals.
Cost Of DIY Hydroseeding
Do-it-yourself hydroseeding is likely to be more expensive than hiring a professional. For a 2,500-square-foot lawn, most homeowners can expect to pay between $200 and $500 for professional hydroseeding.
If you’re trying to hydroseed yourself, you’ll need to purchase a hydroseeder, which can cost anywhere from $1,900 to $29,000 or more. Calculating the correct amount of manure needed for the job is also a complex and potentially costly task.
If you apply inappropriate amounts, be sure your money and new grass seed will go down the drain. Sloping land also affects the amount of manure needed, so measure the manure accordingly.
Professionals have the tools and experience to determine the amount of manure to apply based on the slope of your yard and the size of your property. Because specialists can make measurements quickly and accurately, it is much cheaper to hire them than to attempt the calculations yourself.
Read Also: What Fertilizer to Use After Overseeding
Seeding Vs. Hydroseeding Vs. Sod
Practising hydroseeding may not always be the ideal choice for growing a new lawn. Some homeowners may be working on a smaller budget, so conventional planting is the best option.
On the other hand, if you have the cash and don’t want to wait for the grass to grow, sod can give you a green lawn faster than hydroseeding.
You can save significant amounts if you take on seeding as a do-it-yourself venture. A bag of grass seed typically costs between $1.50 and $6.40 per pound, depending on the seed brand and grass type.
Most homeowners spend $668 professionally planting an average-sized garden. Hydroseeding is a clever answer for owners who want to develop grass on a huge piece of land or a slope.
The technique is speedy and efficient, and the slurry combination is much less prone to drainage and erosion than normal grass seeds are.
The hydroseeding slurry combination carries fertilizer, mulch, seeds, water, and soil amendments and is once in a while treated with green pigment.
The fertilizer boosts growth, and the mulch secures the seeds in the soil and protects them from the wind and rain.
Sod or turf is a layer of grass growing on a cut piece of soil 1 to 2 inches thick. Professional turf installation can be expensive, but you’ll have a new lawn in no time.
You must wait about two weeks for the roots to develop before mowing the grass. Owners typically spend between $0.87 and $1.76 per square foot for professional turf installation
A. Merits Of Seeding
- Easy to apply yourself
- Easier to touch up or reseed.
- Less expensive option for growing weed species to choose from.
- Homeowners have more choices of grass
- Grass that germinates from seed has a healthier root system than grass.
Demerits Of Seeding
- Rain can wash away some seeds in certain areas, leaving patches of no growth.
- Grass seeds are vulnerable to competition from weeds.
- It takes about two months before you can mow and up to a year for the grass to fully mature.
- The maintenance effort is high in the early stages of growth.
B. Merits Of Hydroseeding
- Inexpensive
- Grows faster than a seeded lawn
- Results in fewer stains than traditional seeding
- An ideal solution for large areas
- Excellent for slopes where regular seed would be prone to erosion
- Provides soil erosion control
- Professionals spray hydroseeding mix with a hose, which makes it easier to spread in inaccessible places.
- You can mix and match different types of seeds to create a healthy lawn that best suits your terrain.
Demerits Of Hydroseeding
- Hydroseeding doesn’t give instant results like grass.
- Hydroseeding at home is more complicated than planting grass seeds or sod by yourself.
- The hydroseeding process requires a lot of water.
- It requires more initial care than sod
C. Merits Of Sod
- Provides erosion control
- Unlike grass seed, you don’t need to fear patches within with sod.
- You don’t need to wait because sod presents an instant lawn.
- You can stroll and play on the lawn in only some weeks.
Demerits Of Sod
- Some areas of the sod won’t grow roots
- It is expensive
- You have limited options on the kind of grass
- Installing sod yourself is possible, even though it’s now no longer a perfect DIY grass method
Frequently Asked Questions About Hydroseeding
When Is The Best Time To Hydroseed?
Spring and autumn are the best times to hydroseed because then, the soil is warm.
When Can You Mow Your Lawn After Hydroseeding?
You will have to wait 4 to 6 weeks before mowing your lawn.
How Often Should You Water Your Lawn After Hydroseeding?
After an expert applies the hydroseed mix, you’ll need to water the area frequently to keep the soil moist. Most days, water three or four times, or at least twice a day.
Conclusion
How much does hydroseeding cost? This depends on the factors you have already seen.
Hydroseeding is a safe, inexpensive and efficient method of sowing grass. Whether you have a large lawn or a small garden, you can use this planting technique to keep it looking lush and green all year round.
With this method you will have a green lawn in no time and you do not have to buy and lay a lawn. You need to know hydroseeding costs and hire the services of a hydroseeding company to start the hydroseeding process.