Residential Hydroseeding FAQ's

How much does residential hydroseeding cost?

The best way to get an accurate estimate is to use our online estimate request form. The larger the site and the closer it is to our office, the lower the cost. Residential rough costs are listed below current as of May 2024, and doesn’t include mileage to/from your site beyond 80 miles (RT). Mileage is biller per RT Mile.

Without Ground Preparation
– 3,000 SF| Centipede, $1,289 | Premium Bermuda, $1,266
– 10,000 SF| Centipede, $2,733 | Premium Bermuda, $2,722

– 23,000 SF | Centipede, $4,949 | Premium Bermuda, $4,923
With Ground Preparation
– 3,000 SF| Centipede, $2,640 | Premium Bermuda, $2,657
–10,000 SF| Centipede, $4,013 | Premium Bermuda, $4,002
– 23,000 SF | Centipede, $7,121 | Premium Bermuda, $7,2436

Where can I get a Fire Hydrant Meter?

You can get a fire hydrant meter from your water company. Most water companies will install the meter at the nearest fire hydrant to your address; lead time to get the meter will depend on meter availability but is typically 3-14 days. You can expect us to use 1,500-3,000 gallons for most residential projects. Commercial sites will average around 6,000 gallons per acre.

How can I get a quote?

Fill out the online forms for either a Residential Estimate or a Commercial Estimate.

How long until I see grass?

Simply put, it depends. Marker Grass (rye) will normally germinate at around 7 days, Rye Grain and Brown Top Millet Nurse Crops @ around 14 days. Turf seed will germinate at varying times depending on the turf. Centipede, Carpet Grass, and Bahia are around 30 days; Bermuda will germinate at 14-21 days. Germination times listed are based on adequate irrigation, temperature, and sunlight.

What are the benefits of hydroseeding my home?

Hydroseeding keeps your seed and soil on your site until your grass germinates and begins to establish. When seed costs can approach over $50 per 1,000SF, keeping your seed on site is important. Other benefits include no petroleum based tackifier, ability to add soil amendments that can only be applied with a hydroseeder, and the ability to do it all in a single step/application.

When should I seed?

Warm Season Turfs are optimally seeded in the spring when the ground temperature are at around 70 degrees. The date varies, but 15 March, or when you vehicles are covered with yellow pine tree pollen is a good plan/indicator.

Cool Season grasses are optimally seeded in the fall when the ground temperatures drop to around 70 degrees.

Is hydroseeding safe and environmentally friendly?

Yes. Hydroseeding uses recycled paper or processed wood as a mulch that is mixed with fertilizer, lime, and tackifier (glue). This mixture is biodegradable and adds organic matter to the soil to help plants to thrive.

Can I walk on hydroseeded ground?

Yes, but we recommend minimizing foot traffic until your turf is established; i.e. walk on it to adjust your sprinklers.

Keep wheeled or tracked equipment off your hydroseeded project, both will increase the likeliness of killing seeds and/or destroying your sprayed erosion control mat.

Sod VS Hydroseed, which one should I to choose?

Sod: Provides instant grass and is THE way to go when you want a lawn this year, are getting ready to sale your house, or if you have ground pearls.

Hydroseeding is the most effective technique to establish a lawn from seed and can provide a sod comparative yard in 1 season for cool season turfs and 2-3 seasons for warm season turfs,

For homeowners, one of the largest benefits of hydroseeding vs sod is cost. In 2024 we had a customer that was looking at ~$25K for sod vs ~$6K for hydroseeding his large backyard. Hydroseeding, when established is perfect for your site conditions, but it takes time to establish.

When should I mow my hydroseeded site?

Warm Season Turfs: you should mow your hydroseeded lawn when your nurse or marker grass gets to around 2 inches tall. Adjust mower height for 1st through the 3rd mowing to 1.5 inches tall. After the 3rd mowing you can begin to lower your height to your final turf height (typically 1 to 1.5 inches tall).
Cool Season Turfs: you should mow your hydroseeded lawn for the 1st time when your nurse or marker grass gets to around 2 inches tall. Afterwards, adjust your mower deck to 3 inches and mow to your hearts desire.

Ground preparation, what is needed?

The top 2-6 inches of soil should be disturbed or tilled. This allows water , nutrients, and roots to penetrate into the soil. The disturbed earth also enhances the ability of the hydromulch to bond with the soil, keeping your seeds on your yard. You can do this yourself, or we can do it with one of two attachments for our Ventrac Tractor.

I have a small area (~3,000SF), will you hydroseed it?

Yes, we've purchased a small hydroseeder specifically to for small sites that has a lower base equipment fee; however, mileage fees are the same as our larger seeder and may make local sod a viable alternative. The larger the site, the better the savings.

My sod has died and I have ground pearls, will hydroseeding work?

Not very well. There are groundcovers that may do OK from seed when you've got ground pears; however these typically don't have the traits desired in a home setting. We recommend using SOD in instances where there are ground pearls, preferably an aggressive turf (Bermuda or Zoysia) and follow with an aggressive irrigation and fertilization plan. Ground pearls will typically attack seeded turf roots on germination and survival is limited.

Which Bermuda should I select?

We recommend Bermuda Triangle (a mix) for most residential sites due to is price point and performance. If you have the budget, you can't go wrong with one of our premium bermuda turf options.

How long until I get my "Dream Lawn"?

Simply put it depends. Bermuda can establish in one summer if seeded early in spring and adequately watered and fertilized. Centipede typically takes 2 years/seasons to establish as does Carpet Grass. Bahia can establish in one season, as can Zoysia. All cool season turfs will typically establish in one season.

Temporary Seed, Nurse Crop, or Marker Seed: what's the difference?

The seeds themselves are typically the same, the difference is the intent of the seed and the quantity they are applied. Temporary seeding may require 50 pound per acre, however if used as a nurse crop or marker grass could be applied at rates of 6 pound per acre, or lower. Check out our page on the differences (https://nchydroseeding.com/nurse-temp-marker-seed.html).

Weeds - I've got them, now what?

Whenever you "till" your soil you will uncover dormant weed seeds and those in the "grow zone" will germinate and grow. We recommend that you wait until at least 3 mowing's before you attempt to address the weeds. READ the label, follow the label, and use the minimum recommended rates to address the weeds... you don't want to kill your new lawn.

What is the "Hydroseeding" Season?

Warm season starts when the ground temperatures average around 70 degrees. When the pine pollen starts to cover your car is a good "natural" thermometer and a good time to seed.

Cool season starts when the ground temp drops below 70 degrees. When your tree leaves begin to change color in the fall is a good "natural" thermometer and a good time to seed.

Shade, what should I do?

If you have shade, you need to minimize or eliminate it to establish your turf.
There are NO shade tolerant warm season turfs (period).
St Augustine does OK as do a few Zoysia strains... but they will still be stressed and thin in shade and will need to be installed via SOD.
Seeded warm season turfs will not do well, or establish in shaded areas. Our recommendation is to go with mulch, gravel, or eliminate the shade by cutting trees.

Do you accept credit cards?

Yes; however, we pass the credit card fee's to the buyer. These fee's are typically in the area of 3-4% and will be included in the estimate in most cases (Cash vs CC cost).

What is your guarantee, if you offer one?

We only guarantee that we will install what we estimate/bid. We do not guarantee of an established yard.

Three weeks after seeding, no growth... what's up?

All seeds require the correct temperature, adequate water and sunlight to germinate and grow. When any of these are less than optimal things slow down. Rough germination times:
3-Weeks:Centipede, Bahia, Zoysia, Carpet Grass
2-Weeks: Bermuda, Fescue, Millett, Rye Grain
1-Week: Annual Rye Grass

Can I seed a cool season grass in Eastern NC?

Yes; however, they will be "stressed" each summer and require significant irrigation to survive. You'll probably need to over seed each fall with additional seeds to maintain a good viable turf. We've only see cool season turfs in Eastern NC when homeowners have a shaded site where warm season turfs won't survive and they have irrigation.

Do you provide special offers or discounts?

Yes, active or retired Military, Police, Fire Department, EMT, and Teachers can receive a 5% discount (residential only).

What is the per SF Cost?

A good ball park number is $.25 per SF or hydroseeding.... ground preparation is an additional fee. This assumes that you are within 40 miles of our office and your site is prepared for seeding and relatively large. Our fee's can be as low as $.10 per SF, however that number increases when the site is a long commute, a small project, or requires ground preparation.

Commercial FAQ's

We have graded and tamped the site, is that adequate ground preparation for seeding?

No, the top 2-6 inches of soil need to be disturbed, tilled, raked, or disked to provide adequate water infiltration for roots and nutrients. There is normally an exception on slopes where you have your grading contractor use a bull dozer to track up/down (not parallel) the slope to reduce the potential for erosion. This process also provides grooves in the soil that assist in holding water, seed, and mulch in place.

Do offer an organic matter alternative to dump trucks of Top Soil?

Yes, we offer two alternatives that can be applied by hydroseeder or tractor. Profile Products Proganics (hydroseeder only: hose or cannon) and Black Wonder (hydroseeder cannon or tractor). Both are excellent choices when dealing with poor or clay soils and you are trying to get permanent ground cover established.

What seeds should I specify?

If you are required to meet a proposal specification, specify the seeds required. If you are trying to determine what seeds to specify avoid using cool season grasses in Eastern North Carolina, unless you are seeding in the fall. A good all around Eastern NC Erosion Control mix is 50#/A of Bermuda, 25#/A Bahia, 6#/A Millet, and xxx#/A of Lespedeza. A nice Steep Slope mix is ERNMX-310 for the Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions of NC. This pollinator-friendly mix provides food and cover for wildlife.

What are the differences between mulches, application rates, and tackifiers?

Mulch and tackifier are two components of all turf or erosion seeding. There are multiple mulches and tackifiers available, some are low cost, low performance while other are high cost, high performance. Performance of the mulch and tackifier determines how steep of a slope can be seeded and how long the mulch will hold everything onsite.

For additional info go here: https://nchydroseeding.com/mulch-selection.html

Do you offer NET 30, 60, or accept credit cards?

Yes, however, we charge processing or surcharge fees. Additionally penalty fees + interest are applied for late payments.