How Long After Hydroseeding Can You Walk On It?

You have recently installed your new lawn or garden through hydroseeding. And you want to ensure that you get optimum results. When deliberating on what to implement for that to happen, there’s one essential thing you need to consider. How long after hydroseeding can you walk on it?

You can walk on your hydroseeding 5 to 6 weeks after its application. In fact, you should keep off any traffic from the area as much as possible to prevent germinating seeds or hydroseeded mulch disruption. Even after germination, walking on it can damage the young grass.

This article addresses this question and other related ones in detail to help you get the best outcome from this seeding technique. Let’s dive in.

How Long After Hydroseeding Can You Walk On It?

You can walk on the hydroseeding after the seeds germinate and the grass is established. That should be after about 5 to 6 weeks after applying it. Even so, judging is the best way to know when you can walk on your hydroseed. It all depends on how well and fast the grass grows. Factors such as weather and grass seed type affect the growth speed.

Keep off pets, children, and any unnecessary traffic from the lawn or garden as much as possible. How? By meshing the area or using other appropriate barriers until the grass is strong enough to withstand the foot traffic pressure.

It’s advisable to allow your grass to get to one or two inches of height before introducing any light use. You’ll have to give it about 10-12 weeks for proper grass establishment for heavy tasks such as playing on the lawn.

The hydroseeded area becomes reasonably fully functional after about three months. However, your lawn can take up to one year to become fully established and complete.

What Happens If You Walk On Hydroseed?

If you walk on hydroseed, you fail to obtain the intended results. For one, there is permanent damage to the seeds or upcoming grass. If a lot of pressure is exerted on the surface, the seed can be crushed or pushed deeper into the ground. As a result, they end up not germinating due to insufficient water, nutrients, and sunlight. After germination, the young plants are delicate; hence, foot traffic can utterly destroy them. It’s for this reason you should know how long after hydroseeing can you walk on it?

Secondly, the freshly hydroseeded area develops depressions if you walk on it because it’s incredibly wet and soft. Also, the form can have bare spots due to heavy traffic.

Can You Walk On Hydroseed To Water It?

Yes, you can walk on hydroseed to water it. Nonetheless, you need to exercise extra care to prevent mulch surface disturbance.

Watering instructions include:

• Water your hydroseed at least three daily watering cycles, 10-20 minutes each. The idea is to keep the area moist throughout the day. It causes the lawn to fill more quickly. Between the second and the seventh day, the green dye fades away.
• Do not water your lawn during dark hours as moist, dark environments encourage fungus development because of the extended wetness hours.  4:00 AM, 11:00 AM, and 4:00 PM are the ideal hydroseed watering hours.
• Make adjustments to suit seasonal changes. Water more during hot seasons and less when it’s cold.
• Keep the seedbed moist to enhance proper germination. However, do not allow your hydroseed to get soggy or flooded.
• 4-6 weeks down the line, you can scale down your watering to 30 minutes daily. Proper watering lets the seeds germinate within 10-14 days.

Will Heavy Rain Wash Away Hydroseed?

No, heavy rain won’t wash away hydroseed. The green mulch may seem to have been washed away, but that’s not the case. The rain will only wash out the dye.  However, your newly hydroseeded lawn will likely be eroded as the grassroots aren’t well-developed. 

More Hydroseed Care And Maintenance Tips

Besides avoiding traffic on your hydroseed and proper watering, there are other ways of keeping it healthy. Let’s look at some of them to help you achieve the ideal results.

• Fertilizing 
• Weed control
• Mowing
• On-Going Care

Read on to know how you should implement these care and maintenance tips.

1. Fertilizing

The ideal time for fertilizer addition to your hydroseed is 30 days after its application. Ensure the lawn is relatively dry before adding the fertilizer, and thoroughly water the area after fertilizing.

Which is the recommended fertilizer? New grass starter fertilizers are best in this case. This top-dresser should be well-balanced or have a slow-release formula. Moreover, a fertilizer with high nitrogen contents yields impressive results as it promotes the growth of many leaves on a plant.

Furthermore, following the application instructions on the packaging of your fertilizer of choice is essential to avoid overuse. Typically, you should fertilize your hydroseed once every season, which translates to about three times a year.

Caution: You shouldn’t add weed control in your fertilizer during the first three months. 

2. Weed Control

Give your hydroseed 3-4 months before introducing any herbicide or weed control product. Why? Such chemicals can damage the delicate young grasses. Bother not about any weed growing in your newly installed hydroseed because the grass will eventually chock the weed as it grows denser and its roots advance.

The remaining weed can be hand-picked or used as a new-grass weed control product after the full establishment of the lawn.

3. Mowing

Wait until the grass gets three inches or more to start mowing, and you shouldn’t mow more than a third of its height. Hence, in the case of three inches, the maximum mowing height should be one inch or less. 

4. On-Going Care

Provide the appropriate care for your hydroseeded lawn. Visit your local and reputable garden center for advice on how to take care of and maintain your lawn continuously.

Why Is Mulch Important In The Hydroseed Mixture?

Mulch is important in the hydroseed mixture as it makes the hydroseeding process achievable. How? Mulch increases the weight of the seed-water combination, making it heavy enough to spray easily. 

Additionally, mulch is beneficial to grass development in various ways, including:

• Minimizing evaporation of the soil moisture.
• Maintaining a uniform soil temperature.
• Reducing weed growth.
• Boosting soil fertility by adding organic matter.

Mulch acts as a cover (blanket) for the hydroseed mixture upon its application and settlement on the ground. Consequently, it keeps the seeds in place, protects them from harsh weather conditions, and promotes faster germination. The ‘blanket’ also protects the seeds from being eroded.

What Types Of Mulches Can You Use In Hydroseeding?

There are several types of mulches you can use in hydroseeding. The specialty you choose depends on the prevailing circumstances, but the commonly used ones include the following:

• Cotton fiber mulch: This mulch is better positioned in seed establishment and grass growth than all the others.  Additionally, it promotes seedlings’ growth and reduces erosion because it’s porous, absorbent, and biodegradable.
• Wood fiber mulch: It’s more expensive than its counterparts but worth it! It stands at a higher edge in erosion prevention and plant development stimulation. It’s ideal for sloping lawns.
• Straw mulch: It needs less water to form the hydroseeding mixture and is easy to put into the tank. Also, it produces a more even cover once it’s sprayed on the ground.
• Paper mulch: A cost-effective mulch ideal for vast flat areas adjacent to industrial zones or highway medians. 
• Erosion prevention mulch: It’s used in erosion-prone areas such as water-adjacent places and slopes. This mulch often includes synthetic polymers and binders to stabilize the soil. 

FAQ

Can You Hydroseed On An Existing Lawn?

No, you can’t hydroseed on an existing lawn. Instead, it’s advisable to undo your old lawn and start over again. Alternatively, you can implement ‘overseeding,’ using a power rake to broadcast the seeds. If you don’t have a rake, visit your nearby hardware store and rent one.

Do You Need Topsoil For Hydroseeding?

Yes, you need topsoil for hydroseeding. Get up to about 4 inches of soil depth, depending on how deep the loose soil is. The ideal soil choice is a loamy compost mix. Generally, you need about eight inches of deep loose topsoil with well-balanced nutrients onto which you spray the hydroseed slurry.

When Is The Best Time To Hydroseed?

The best time to hydroseed is late summer/early fall. Why? Temperatures are decreasing while precipitations increases. Hydroseeding thrives in the spring and fall and performs poorly in hot and cold seasons. It consumes more water in summer as it quickly dries after watering.

Conclusion

What’s the parting shot on how long after Hydroseeding can you walk on it? Allow enough time for the grass to get established before you can walk on it. Also, avoid any traffic from other quarters, such as pets and children, during the first 3 to 4 weeks.

Other maintenance tips include proper watering and fertilizing, weed control, and correct mowing techniques. Also, you should visit a garden center for more advice.

Well, hydroseeding is an excellent way of giving your lawn a new look! Therefore, you need to provide the necessary care it needs to achieve the best results.