Planting a lawn could spend most of your time and effort and is also expensive. But now things can be improved with these known technology which is Hydroseeding It is easy to use and very effective.

- The process involves making a mixture of water, seed, fertilizer, cellulose fiber or wood mulch and occasionally lime, in the right proportions in a tank and spraying it on a prepared lawn area using a hose, for the mulch to become a moist coating that retains water for the seeds. It also helps create a bond with the soil, and protects the seeds from erosion, wind and sunlight which allows them to germinate easily.

- When seeds come in contact with water, their germination cycle is triggered and as the seeds sprout, they gain nourishment from the decomposing mulch which adds various nutrients to the soil. The mulch thus does not have to be manually removed and actually adds to the growth process. The grass develops a deep root system and an even leaf-stock pattern, making the lawn lush and carpet-like.

- The mulch coating ensures that the grass growth is healthy and fast: grass usually comes up within a week and is ready for the first mowing in less than a month. Due to the coating of the mulch which prevents erosion, hydroseeding is ideal for planting lawns on slopes or erosion-prone areas. In addition, since the hydroseeding mulch is sprayed on, it is ideal for uneven areas, which are tough to do using other methods. There are no weed seeds in the hydroseeding mulch, which means that the lawn would be initially without any weeds at all. The mixture is usually dyed an organic green making it more visually attractive even before the grass begins to grow as opposed to the straw used in conventional planting.

- The best feature of hydroseeding which actually makes it more attractive than applying sod is the cost. The labor cost is much lower, and one doesn’t have to pay for things like growing, weeding, palletizing and shipping. In addition, hydroseeding can do with less watering because the mulch retains more water and thus saves on water bills. Once the mixture is sprayed, it must be kept moist at all times for the first fortnight. Depending on the weather, the sort of soil and grass being planted, the lawn area will need light sprinklings 2-3 times a day. This would be reduced to watering just once a day after the first two weeks till the first mowing. After this the lawn would need long waterings, but at long intervals so that the grass is able to send down deep roots, and is well established.

- Before the mixture is sprayed however, care should be taken to grade the lawn area and prepare the soil to receive the spray exactly the way it is done before conventional lawn planting or sod application. The hydroseed spraying should only be done just prior to the grass’s prime growing season in order to establish the very best outcome. And after the spraying, once the growth begins to show up, any uneven areas may have to be re-administered with the spray. Whether you are looking to plant a small residential lawn or a commercial area, hydroseeding is recommended because of its efficiency and economy. Plenty of companies offer hydroseeding services, and between them can offer the choice of grass and fertilizers desired for lawns of all types and sizes.

To start new lawns, many people wonder which is better: laying sod or seeding lawns . While laying sod is fast and produces high-quality new lawns, seeding lawns is cheaper and offers a wider variety of grass types. Check with your county extension to learn which grass types are best for your region.

How:
- Remove the old lawn and/or weeds, if any exist. One way to accomplish this is by digging them out with a flat-bladed shovel (make sure you get the roots). Another method is to apply an herbicide, then rent a sod-cutter to remove roots and all. Before proceeding further, have your soil pH tested. Most lawn grasses prefer a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. If the test reveals that you need to adjust the pH, do so in conjunction with Step #2.

- Break up the compacted soil with a tiller. Tillers (also called rototillers) can be rented from your local rental center.

- Spread a starter fertilizer over the now-loosened soil. This type of fertilizer is high in phosphorus, the middle number in the NPK sequence on a fertilizer bag.

- Also spread a soil conditioner over the soil. “Soil conditioner” is often what it’s called at the store, but if you have a good supply of compost at home, it will serve just as well as a soil amendment.

- Again using the tiller, till the starter fertilizer and soil conditioner (or equivalent) into the soil. I know this seems like a lot of work, but good soil preparation is one key in seeding lawns successfully.

- Now rake the soil to begin to level it out, removing any rocks and debris that you find. To avoid problems with excess water-runoff, make sure that any site grading you do allows water to flow away from your house.

- This step requires a roller. Rollers, like tillers, can be rented from your local rental center. Fill the roller’s drum with water, then use the roller to finish leveling the soil. Water the soil lightly.

- For this step you’ll need a seed spreader. Following the recommended seeding rate, spread 1/4 of the seed over the entire lawn area. Then repeat times, each time using 1/4 of the seed. However, each of the 4 times you distribute a load of seed, push the spreader in a different direction, to encourage even dispersal.

- Rake lightly, so as to cover the seed with a thin layer of soil.

- For this step you’ll use the roller again. But first you’ll empty out the water from the drum, because you want it lighter this time. Now roll the lawn surface.

- You’re done seeding the lawn, but you’re not done working! The seeds must be watered properly, in order to germinate. Use just a fine spray, as you don’t want to create a flood! The soil should be kept evenly moist, which may mean several waterings per day (depending on the weather).

- After the grass blades sprout, you’ll still need to water a couple of times per day. If you know your schedule won’t permit this, now’s the time to look into automatic irrigation systems, before starting a new lawn.

Source: Landscaping