Hydro-seeding

RWEST · Sep 12, 2005

Just had my niece's new lawn power-raked and hydro-seeded end of last week. The seed's a mix consisting primarily of ryegrass, with a little red fescue and bluegrass in there (it's called the "Penn State" mix or something).

I didn't think I'd have enough time to do it the old fashioned (rake, fertilize, seed, cover with straw, re-cover after wind blows straw away, re-cover again, etc..) way, before colder weather sets in. Anyway, we're now having just gorgeous weather, bright sunshine, temps in the 70's-80's, low humidity, and coolish nights here in PA. The hydro-seeder guy told us we'd have to keep the stuff moist, or they wouldn't guarantee it to grow (he told us 10-14 days), and, the sun could bake the seed and kill it. We're all on wells out here, and it's been a really dry/hot summer, so, we're a little nervous about watering 1/2 acre with a garden hose twice a day. Just wondering how long the stuff will keep till we get some natural (rain) water on it. What do you think?

Junkman · Sep 12, 2005

I didn't water mine last summer and it grew after a 21 day dry spell. Some spots were thin, but the one important thing to do is to fertilize it after it comes up. I suggest that as soon as 30 days after it grows enough to cut. Don't forget that lime is also needed usually. Just hope that you don't get flooding rains that wash the seed away. That is what happened to mine originally and they came back and resprayed the entire area.

gsxr1100 · Sep 12, 2005

When I redid my lawn my sprinkers went on 3X a day for 10 per zone @ 3 hour intervals.....(this spring).

Then after sprouting, the sprinkler are set for every 3 days 35 minutes per zone....All-in-all 1" per week of rain is needed for lawns.