The Benefits of Hydroseeding for Your Commercial Landscape

Hydroseeding or hydraulic mulching is an effective and efficient method of planting grass seed and other vegetation. The hydroseeding process offers several benefits over traditional methods, including speed, control, and versatility.

In this article, we’ll define hydraulic mulching, the benefits of hydroseeding, how the process works, and why professional help is the right choice for your commercial landscape. Here’s everything you need to know:

What Is Hydroseeding?

The process of hydroseeding is a popular erosion control method. Essentially, it’s known as a high quality, inexpensive technique of lawn seeding. Hydroseeding is a process that involves mixing water, seed, mulch, and a bonding agent to create a slurry that is sprayed onto a prepared seedbed. Planting grass seed has several benefits over traditional methods such as hand-seeding or using a seed spreader. The hydraulic mulching erosion control method creates a lush, vibrant, and evenly grown lawn for your commercial location.

The Benefits of Hydroseeding

There are many avenues for erosion control and achieving luscious, healthy grass—such as sprinkling seeds by hand or laying sod—but hydroseeding is the most effective. Upholding a positive reputation includes ensuring your building’s landscaping needs are a top priority. Outlined below are the primary benefits of hydroseeding:

Cost Effective

Hydroseeding is less expensive than laying sod since it’s not as labor-intensive as unrolling and installing. On average, hydroseeding a lawn costs 50 cents to $1 per square foot, with an additional cost for the sprinkler system. The total expenses of hydroseeding depend on factors like:

The number of square feet of coverage area
Capacity or size of hydroseeding truck and its tank
The tank’s mixing rate

Equipment, materials, and upfront costs needed for hydroseeding can be expensive, especially for large projects. However, the speed and efficiency of the process often offset these costs in the long run.

Safety

Hydroseeding is neither toxic nor hazardous. It poses no threat to the environment, wild animals, pets, or children since no heavy and complex equipment exists. Hydraulic mulching is the safest erosion control method.

Versatility

The common objective of hydroseeding is to generate expansive turf or healthy, green grass across a large area. No matter if you’re a business owner building on new land or if you’re a landscaping contractor aiming to prevent erosion, hydroseeding is beneficial for a variety of agricultural needs and beyond.

Time Efficiency

For fast distribution and fast results, hydroseeding is an excellent choice. The slurry is sprayed over the land in a quick process that only takes half the time of traditional erosion control techniques. The slurry binds to soil instantly thanks to unique bonding compounds called tackifier agents. They help the seeds take root more quickly, so you can expect to see sprouting within three to five days.

Are you interested in learning about additional erosion control tactics for your commercial property? Check out this article on control blankets.

How To Install Erosion Control Blankets

How Does Hydroseeding Work?

Professional contractors—like Varsity—have an extensive hydraulic mulch seeding process that can be applied to various property sizes. Outlined below is a brief description and the process professionals utilize:

Preparing the Seedbed

The process of hydraulic mulch seeding begins by preparing the seedbed. This typically involves grading the ground to ensure it is level and free of debris and then adding a layer of topsoil or other planting material. The seedbed should be moist but not saturated, as this will help the seeds germinate and grow.

Hydraulic Mulch Seeding

Once the seedbed is prepared, the hydroseeding process can begin. The slurry is mixed in a large tank using a specialized hydroseeding machine. The mixture is sprayed onto the ground using a hose or other specialized equipment. The mulch helps to hold the seed in place and provides nutrients and moisture to the seed as it germinates and grows.

Steps of the Hydroseeding Process

Select the desired seed
Test your soil
Remove debris, rocks, and weeds
Grade the soil
Lay the compost and topsoil
Re-grade the soil
Prepare the hydroseeder
Spray the hydroseed

Why You Need to Choose Hydraulic Mulch Seeding for Your Commercial Landscape

The hydroseeding process is the best option if you are looking for rapid development at your property and don’t want to pay high prices for sod. Let’s take a deeper dive into why this process is best for your commercial space:

Speed

One of the main advantages of hydroseeding is the speed at which it can be done. Because the slurry is sprayed onto the ground, large areas can be covered quickly and efficiently. This is especially useful for landscapers and contractors working on large commercial projects.

Greater Seed and Mulch Distribution

Another benefit of hydroseeding is controlling the amount of seed and mulch applied to the ground. This allows for precise seed placement and helps ensure the seed has the best chance of germinating and growing into a healthy lawn.

In addition to grass seed, hydroseeding can also be used to plant wildflowers, erosion control mixes, and other vegetation types. This makes it a versatile tool for landscapers and contractors working on various projects.

Customized Slurry

With hydroseeding, you can choose whichever blend you want. If your soil is hard or your area experiences tougher weather conditions, you can select the mix that best suits your landscape. When you hire professionals like Varsity, consulting leads to a wiser decision about what to include in your slurry.

Additional Moisture Retained

The hydroseed mixture produces and provides extra moisture, obtaining up to 10 times its weight in water. The process offers the fastest and healthiest seed germination and requires less maintenance and upkeep than hand-seeded lawns, in terms of irrigation. Expect your company’s property to need mowing after three to four weeks, which is significantly quicker than a traditionally seeded lawn.

Enhances Project Quality

With hydroseeding, grassroots are embedded into the soil quicker and deeper than sod. Plus, the slurry is evenly distributed, giving your lawn a healthier look and adding curb appeal to the location. The appearance of your company’s lawn won’t have any seams. Also, the natural growth of grass is resistant to disease and unwanted weeds.

Hire a Professional Hydroseeding Contractor With Varsity, Inc.

Since 1976, Varsity Inc. has successfully completed hundreds of projects and counting. No challenge is too tough for our team of experts or exceeds our range of capabilities. Give us a call today to eliminate erosion problems with the best hydroseeding process in Pennsylvania.