Aftercare
Caring For Your New Lawn
Hydroseeding gets the seed down fast — watering gets it up. Follow this schedule and you'll have a thick, healthy stand of grass.
The golden rule: keep the mulch consistently damp for the first two weeks. Never let it dry out and never let it sit in standing water.
Watering — The First 2 Weeks
Water is everything. Keep the mulch damp at all times, but never puddling. Light watering 2–3 times a day (morning, midday, late afternoon) for about 15–20 minutes per zone is far better than one heavy soaking. If the green mulch turns light and crusty, it's too dry.
Weeks 3–4: Taper Back
Once seedlings are up and about an inch tall, cut back to once a day with a longer soak. This drives roots deeper instead of keeping them shallow at the surface.
After Week 4: Deep & Infrequent
Move to 2–3 deep waterings per week totaling roughly 1 inch of water, including rainfall. Early morning is the best time — evening watering invites disease.
First Mowing
Mow when the grass reaches 3–4 inches, usually 3–5 weeks after application. Use a sharp blade, set the deck to about 3 inches and never remove more than one third of the blade height. Make sure the ground is firm and dry so tires don't rut the new turf.
Fertilizing
Our slurry includes starter fertilizer. Apply a follow-up starter fertilizer around 4–6 weeks after seeding, then move to a normal seasonal program.
Traffic, Pets & Weeds
Keep foot traffic, pets and equipment off the new lawn for at least 4 weeks. Hold off on broadleaf weed control until you've mowed the lawn 3–4 times — early herbicide use will kill young grass along with the weeds.
Watering Schedule At A Glance
| Timeframe | How Often | How Long |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1–14 | 2–3× per day | 15–20 min per zone |
| Weeks 3–4 | 1× per day | 25–30 min per zone |
| Week 5+ | 2–3× per week | ~1 inch total per week |
First mow at 3–4 inches of growth, deck set to about 3 inches.
Aftercare FAQs
- Why is the mulch green (or blue)?
- The dye is a visual tracker so we can see exactly where we've sprayed and guarantee even coverage. It fades within a few weeks and is completely safe for kids, pets and plants.
- When will I see grass?
- Germination typically starts in 7–14 days depending on temperature, seed blend and watering. A full, thick stand usually takes 4–8 weeks.
- What if it rains?
- Rain is great — just skip your scheduled watering if the soil is already saturated. Heavy downpours right after application can wash out low spots; call us and we'll take a look.
- Do I need to rake off the mulch?
- No. The mulch decomposes naturally and adds organic matter back into the soil.
- Can I water too much?
- Yes. Standing water and constant saturation float seed away and rot young roots. Damp, not soaked, is the goal.