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Hydromulching or hydroseeding is a process by which mulch, seeds, water, plant fiber, and fertilizer are combined into a slurry mixture and then sprayed across the soil using a specialised machine. This seeding method is a quick and easy way to plant grass across large areas. The slurry mixture binds with the soil and makes a protective top coating in which moisture is stored. The mulch protects the seeds until the germination period is reached. Below are some tips and guidelines to have best results in hydromulching: SOIL PREPARATION The soil needs to be tilled thoroughly before you spray your lawn with mulch. Rake up any weed or plant roots you will find, and dispose properly. Then smooth out the surface. Make sure there it's even, with no humps or bumps. Otherwise, your lawn will look uneven once grass have grown. With a lawn roller, get rid of air pockets and flatten the soil. Leave your lawn for a couple of weeks. If there are any weed seeds left in your soil, they will sprout during this period. By the time you see them spring out, pull them off before hydromulching. SEEDING TIME The seeds will grow properly and healthily if they are planted at the tight time of the year. There is no point of hydromulching your lawn then waiting for six months or so (most of the seeds will have died by this time). In general, the best time to hydromulch your lawn is in early autumn, when the summer heat is starting to die. At this time of the year, the soil is still warm enough for the seeds to germinate but not too hot for them to be dehydrated. Hydromulching in Spring is also not always a good idea, as the soil is still cold from winter, and weeds might compete with the grass. These are just general tips, as there are some places where winter seasons are extremely cold that the seedlings are frozen before they even get the chance to mature. WATERING For the first couple of weeks after you hydromulch your lawn, water it at least two times a day. The top coat of the hydromulch slurry helps to warm and germinate the seeds, and protects them from natural elements as well as animal and human activities. It looks porous, as it is mostly ground plant matter. However, it could harden if not watered and kept properly. Then the grass seeds would not be able to grow and break through the top layer. Don't water the mulch too much that puddles form. Too much water could break up the slurry mixture. NEVER TOUCH Once the slurry mixture is sprayed, watering would be your only concern. You don't have to apply fertilizer, as the mulch already has some fertilizer. Let the grass grow long and thick prior to mowing it for the first time. This way, the root system would be more established and better prepared to handle the shock. Never walk on it. The top layer may have hardened, or the grass may have started to sprout, but the topcoat still protects the new grass from cold, air, or wind. Putting weight on the topcoat can either break in open or compress the seeds and interfere with or stop their growth. If you are looking for the best mulch that will give you the greenest and healthiest lawn in your neighbourhood, visit Hydro Spray Grass. Click on the links provided to learn the best techniques in hydromulching in Brisbane.
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