NB: PLEASE ALLOW THE HYDROSEED TO CURE FOR 24 HOURS!

This means absolutely no watering please, allow the mulch to cure. This time frame allows the hydro mulch to bond together along with the soil, and stabilize themselves together.

Care for your new lawn

After the 24 hour curing phase, This is the most important thing for you to take special care of, to assure proper germination. You can begin to water your hydroseeded areas, It is very important at this first stage of watering to keep the mulch uniformly moist but don’t over water. Try to avoid puddling and washing, but water thoroughly. We suggest watering in the early evening. On warmer days we suggest watering 2 times per day, late morning and early evening. Keep it moist, but not wet. Do not allow the mulch to dry out. This will kill any germinating seed. You may walk on the hydro seeded surface when watering, but keep it to as little as possible for 3 weeks. Be sure to walk on dryer areas, and try not to disturb the mulch matt.

Growing tips

You will start to see the new grass emerge within 5 to 14 days, depending on temperatures and moisture. Once the seedlings reach 1.5″ to 3″ high you can reduce frequency of watering, but water for longer periods of time. The roots will only grow as deep as the depth of the water source you provide. So longer watering, less often is acceptable at this stage. 2 to 3 times a week, again, depending on weather. On warmer days, you may want to water more frequently. Be sure not to let the grass dehydrate as it will burn off with direct heat of the sun. You may see some weeds at this point. The materials applied are weed free, however, the existing soil on the ground will likely have weeds present. Not to worry. These are usually annual weeds and will die as they are mowed down. Do not apply any weed killer! Not only will it kill the weeds, it will kill the grass too. The hydroseed mulch is not harmful to pets or children. Be sure to keep traffic to a minimum until the first few mows. Disturbing the mulch will effect the even growth of the grass.

Mowing

Once your grass is approximately 2″ to 3″ inches high you can safely mow it. Your lawn will look “patchy” at this point but it is very important to maintain a regular mowing schedule as this helps the plant roots to spread and grow thicker. Make sure you mow when the grass is dry, and for the first 3 mows it is best to mulch instead of bagging the clippings. The young mulched shoots helps to utilize the fertilizer in the ground. Always ensure the blades of the mower are sharp to prevent bruising and damage to the young blades, as they are susceptible to disease. Each cutting there after, be sure to mow no more than 1/3 of the total length of grass. The general rule for mowing is that the shorter you want to mow the more often you must mow to maintain a healthy lawn.

Fertilizing

There are the three major nutrients required for healthy plant growth, When purchasing fertilizer the nutrients are always in the same order: nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium. (N-P-K) Nitrogen (N) promotes lush top growth, Phosphorus (P) promotes healthy root growth, Potassium (K) guards the plant against diseases and aids in drought protection and cold tolerance. When we apply the hydroseed mulch, a starter fertilizer is in the mixture (16-32-8) high in Phosphorous, to promote healthy root growth during germination and the first few weeks of the juvenile phase. It is important that a regular maintenance of fertilizer is starting as early as the 5th week after your lawn has been hydroseeded. Fertilizing too early or with too high a Nitrogen will burn the new growth, possibly killing it. A well balance fertilizer in necessary at this time. We recommend 18-18-18 as good all around fertilizer. Fertilizing every 6-8 weeks is recommended through the summer. You will know it is time to fertilize, if the new lawn has a light green color. That’s its way of saying its hungry! Deep green means it is well fed. This maintenance program will keep your lawn in top notch good health, with added strength resistant to weed infestation and disease.

Weeding Tips

We do not recommend using any weed control products on your new lawn. The plants are in their infancy at this stage and are vulnerable to any products that you may apply. The grass will react to the chemical and die. The only point where we recommend it to be safe to apply a weed control product is the following year, after the winter and the lawn has been exposed to a full year of natures elements. While the grass seeds used for your lawn are of highest purity and weed free, there are always native weeds inherent in the topsoil. Weeds germinate quicker than grass seed, therefore do not be concerned when weeds appear. Over time the grass seeds will take over, and with regular mowing and care, weeds will be choked out leaving you with a mature beautiful, healthy lawn.