wasabi
Platinum Member
Has anyone built their own or know of an economical unit to suggest?
Hydroseeding
- Thread starter wasabi
- Start date
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rdbrumfield
Veteran Member
Commercial, or just a bit for yourself?
OP
wasabi
Platinum Member
Just for ourselves....got some roadside banks, woodland trails and upcoming pastures to do. May not go the hydro route, but have read about it and thought it at least worth exploring if it could be done cost effectively.
thcri
Elite Member
Here's what I did. May not work for you but I had good luck with it. I basically worked the soil up good and then got myself a Herdseeder Spreader and filled it up with grass seed. I spread the seed around pretty good and then I took a drag and worked the seed in. In about two weeks I had a pretty good lawn. I did it in the fall when you have cooler temperatures but warm soil yet at night. I also spread some nitrogen on the soil also. This actually worked out better for me than my neighbor who spent lots of dollars on Hydroseeding. My grass is by far thicker than his. I have done this on two different occasions and both times it worked great. The Herdseeder Spreader was around $275.00. And I can use it for spreading fertilizer.
Murph
Murph
Turfman
Gold Member
True hydroseeding is an expensive business to get into. Even the small seeders are 6,000 dollars, with the better units running into 25,000. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
micromike
Silver Member
I looked into this about a year ago and researched it extensively. I believe it is doable in terms of building your own unit for personal use. Essentially what you need is a poly tank about 150 to 300 gallons, a trash pump and some plumbing. A trash pump will pump a slurry of solids. Northern has them in their catalog at reasonable prices.
This site: http://www.turboturf.com/ has a lot of information for the "jet" type of machine that I'm talking about. They will also sell you any of the components you can't find such as the spray nozzle. Their cheapest unit is $1,295 with a 50 gallon tank. Here is a link to their price list. http://www.turboturf.com/Prices_Spec's.htm
This site... http://pub126.ezboard.com/fhydroseedingfrm1
is a message board and has a great deal of information and discussion for the small operator. There is a lot of discussion of what works and what doesn't, what type of mulch, where to get it, application rates, fertizer, techniques etc. It will take a lot of the guess work out of it... If your read back, there is a guy who built his own 300 gallon machine and uses it to do lawn installations. He seems to be doing quite well but says if you want to get into it for a side business you'll eventually want a larger tank. Good luck and let us know if you decide to build one.
Mike
This site: http://www.turboturf.com/ has a lot of information for the "jet" type of machine that I'm talking about. They will also sell you any of the components you can't find such as the spray nozzle. Their cheapest unit is $1,295 with a 50 gallon tank. Here is a link to their price list. http://www.turboturf.com/Prices_Spec's.htm
This site... http://pub126.ezboard.com/fhydroseedingfrm1
is a message board and has a great deal of information and discussion for the small operator. There is a lot of discussion of what works and what doesn't, what type of mulch, where to get it, application rates, fertizer, techniques etc. It will take a lot of the guess work out of it... If your read back, there is a guy who built his own 300 gallon machine and uses it to do lawn installations. He seems to be doing quite well but says if you want to get into it for a side business you'll eventually want a larger tank. Good luck and let us know if you decide to build one.
Mike
Bird
Rest in Peace
I've no experience at all using that kind of equipment, but when I bought my last new house in town, I had it "hydromulched" as they called it. Cost about half the cost of sod. The instructions said to mow and fertilize the 28th to 30th day. I just couldn't wait that long; had to mow it the 21st day. It worked great!! Made a beautiful lawn quick.
Phred
Veteran Member
I have also though about this.
in my case the goal is to be able to reseed some areas that are way to steep to drive on.
How about a pto driven trash pump, and a poly tank?
They seem pretty simple. My understanding is the pump recirculates the solids/water until you get it really well mixed up and then throw a valve and it blows it out the hose.
Key issue is the pump must be able to pump the solids.
Anyone have a source for a pto driven trash pump?
Fred
in my case the goal is to be able to reseed some areas that are way to steep to drive on.
How about a pto driven trash pump, and a poly tank?
They seem pretty simple. My understanding is the pump recirculates the solids/water until you get it really well mixed up and then throw a valve and it blows it out the hose.
Key issue is the pump must be able to pump the solids.
Anyone have a source for a pto driven trash pump?
Fred
OP
wasabi
Platinum Member
Thanks for the Herd suggestion...looks interesting! Hard to beat utility and flexibility at that price. I also like the idea of using a trash pump (mine would have to be hydraulic as PT has no PTO), poly tank and some parts to make an economical hydroseeder....I too have some hard to reach, steep areas that can't drive or even walk on easily /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Phred
Veteran Member
Hydraulic would probably be easier since you don't need gears or pulleys to speed up the 540 rpm pto to the 1700+ the pump wants to see. Although I kind of like the idea of a ~70hp hydro seeder. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
The other thought I was mulling over was to rent a gas powered 3" trash pump and build the rest. The pump is the bulk of the system cost and for casual use the rental cost would be much lower. Most rental yards stock trash pumps for construction compaines.
Fred
The other thought I was mulling over was to rent a gas powered 3" trash pump and build the rest. The pump is the bulk of the system cost and for casual use the rental cost would be much lower. Most rental yards stock trash pumps for construction compaines.
Fred
OP
wasabi
Platinum Member
I'm thinking (without the benefit of first confirming prices of all necessary parts), of a multiple purpose scenario...essentially a mobile hydroseeding, watering and occasional orchard/vineyard spraying unit. That said, unlike the tractor choice, in this case I can't justify sinking money into a big unit for occasional use. More research...
BrettW
Platinum Member
So, Murph,
You didn't hrdro seed at all,correct? You just worked the soil nice and loose , then used the Herdseeder. Do I have this right? thanks, brettw
You didn't hrdro seed at all,correct? You just worked the soil nice and loose , then used the Herdseeder. Do I have this right? thanks, brettw
OP
wasabi
Platinum Member
Micromike,
Please excuse the delayed response...I've been so inspired reading the links you provided that I neglected to thank you! Great info...
Please excuse the delayed response...I've been so inspired reading the links you provided that I neglected to thank you! Great info...
micromike
Silver Member
wasabi
No problem! I so enjoy reading all the posts here and have learned so much I'm just glad I could contribute something of value. Let us know what you decide to do.
Mike
No problem! I so enjoy reading all the posts here and have learned so much I'm just glad I could contribute something of value. Let us know what you decide to do.
Mike
thcri
Elite Member
Brett,
That is exactly right. Working the soil and then getting the seed buried a half inch is really what you are doing with the hydro. You are creating a protectant around the seed. Keeping the seed in a substance that holds moisture. Doing it at a time (in the fall) when you have cooler temperatures during the day but yet warm soil to hold moisture and warmth is a must.
Fall of the year is the best. My neighbor had his hydro seeded. They would not do it during the hotter months of summer. Only in the spring and the fall. Now hydro seeding will protect you better from rains. One of the two areas that I planted I did have to come back and do some repairs where a good rain storm created a trench. But that was simple.
Now my neighbor that did have his hydro seeded, well first time we had a major rain storm and down the hill everything went, that was in the spring. The second time which they would not do until the fall, has come up but is so thin I think he is going to have nothing but weeds filling in. Mine came in so thick doing it the way I did. Any more questions just yell.
Also before you seed and work it in, put some fertilizer down a couple two three days before that has some good nitrogen content. No chemicals such as weed killers and prohibitors. Just plain old fertilizer. Now if you are doing a hill side then you should think about hydro to a point. If the hill is a good hill then you need to go to the batting that you can stake. The batting is doing the same thing again. Holding moisture around the seed. It's what the farmers do!!
Murph
That is exactly right. Working the soil and then getting the seed buried a half inch is really what you are doing with the hydro. You are creating a protectant around the seed. Keeping the seed in a substance that holds moisture. Doing it at a time (in the fall) when you have cooler temperatures during the day but yet warm soil to hold moisture and warmth is a must.
Fall of the year is the best. My neighbor had his hydro seeded. They would not do it during the hotter months of summer. Only in the spring and the fall. Now hydro seeding will protect you better from rains. One of the two areas that I planted I did have to come back and do some repairs where a good rain storm created a trench. But that was simple.
Now my neighbor that did have his hydro seeded, well first time we had a major rain storm and down the hill everything went, that was in the spring. The second time which they would not do until the fall, has come up but is so thin I think he is going to have nothing but weeds filling in. Mine came in so thick doing it the way I did. Any more questions just yell.
Also before you seed and work it in, put some fertilizer down a couple two three days before that has some good nitrogen content. No chemicals such as weed killers and prohibitors. Just plain old fertilizer. Now if you are doing a hill side then you should think about hydro to a point. If the hill is a good hill then you need to go to the batting that you can stake. The batting is doing the same thing again. Holding moisture around the seed. It's what the farmers do!!
Murph
BrettW
Platinum Member
Thanks Murph,
What or how did you drag the seed after spreading? thanks once more, brett
What or how did you drag the seed after spreading? thanks once more, brett
thcri
Elite Member
I had a 4 foot tooth drag that did a pretty good job. The teeth sunk in about two inches. The only problem I didn't like about it was that it kind of put the seeds in a row with 1" spacing. But the grass did fill in eventually. I saw on the internet or you can do a search for rakes or even de-thatchers. I saw one of them that was like a screen with teeth that I thought would work ok also. The second time I did this seeding method I went back over it with a hand rake after I dragged it. That area turned out nicer. Anyway it was a cheap way of doing it and I was able to spend more time on the tractor.
Murph
ps. if i had a picture of it i would send you
Murph
ps. if i had a picture of it i would send you
DannyWilliams
Bronze Member
Well all I can say is this. I purchased a new house on a one acre lot a couple of years ago. There was no grass...just weeds. I sprayed roundup on a section and killed all the weeds. Waited a couple of weeks and began working the soil. Used my box blade with rippers extended approx. 4 inches below the blade...(yes, I acutally welded an extension onto each ripper)...works like a champ. Got the soil worked and leveled...drug a 15' 3"X5" X1/4" angle iron around behind the tractor (BX2200). This process worked really nice. So now I've got an area ready for planting (don't plant more than you can keep watered). I went through this process 5 times....work an area, plant, water, wow, start mowing and preping the next section.
Basically, after getting an area plowed and leveled, I simply used a walk behind spreader and spread some lawn starter fertilizer and then put the seed down the same way. Keep it wet and it's magic...in about 7 to 10 days you'll have grass coming up. Again, keep it watered and you'll be mowing in no time.
I tried different methods as far as covering up the seed after spreading. I drug a piece of chain link fence behind the tractor at first and later I decided to just spread the seed and put the sprinkler on it. It's amazing, the sprinkler action seems to acutally work the seed in deep enough to do the trick. As I recall, the instructions on the seed bag (I used Enviro Bermuda) indicated that the seed needed to be a 1/4" or less below the surface. I had the same results whether I drug something over the seed or just put the sprinkler on it.
So, it's pretty simple....plow it, level it, use a starter fertilizer, spread the seed and most important, KEEP IT WATERED. Do that and IT WILL GROW. I planted mine throughout the summer...it all came up like gang busters. It simply likes warm weather, water and fertilizer.
SOUNDS LIKE A BROKEN RECORD DOSEN'T IT. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Go for it.
Basically, after getting an area plowed and leveled, I simply used a walk behind spreader and spread some lawn starter fertilizer and then put the seed down the same way. Keep it wet and it's magic...in about 7 to 10 days you'll have grass coming up. Again, keep it watered and you'll be mowing in no time.
I tried different methods as far as covering up the seed after spreading. I drug a piece of chain link fence behind the tractor at first and later I decided to just spread the seed and put the sprinkler on it. It's amazing, the sprinkler action seems to acutally work the seed in deep enough to do the trick. As I recall, the instructions on the seed bag (I used Enviro Bermuda) indicated that the seed needed to be a 1/4" or less below the surface. I had the same results whether I drug something over the seed or just put the sprinkler on it.
So, it's pretty simple....plow it, level it, use a starter fertilizer, spread the seed and most important, KEEP IT WATERED. Do that and IT WILL GROW. I planted mine throughout the summer...it all came up like gang busters. It simply likes warm weather, water and fertilizer.
SOUNDS LIKE A BROKEN RECORD DOSEN'T IT. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Go for it.
thcri
Elite Member
I did about a quater of an acre on two different occasions. I did not have to water at all. The trick is in the fall on cooler days and you still had warm soil at night. The normal rain that we got was enough to get everything going. The next spring I did have to water really good as the roots were not very deep yet and the grass started to turn brown. If you let the seed on top of the soil, the sun will burn it unless you sprinkle it. My problem was no one home during the day to move sprinkler and also you can't get it to wet either.
Murph
Murph
