After you’ve put in all that effort, you’ll want to ensure your lawn grows well and stays looking great. Here’s how.
First Month of Growth
During the first month of growth, your lawn will need a good amount of care and attention. Be sure to gently water it (we recommend a sprinkler system) to keep the soil moist, preferably in the early morning or evening.
The seeds are in the top layer of the soil, so the first inch of soil has to stay moist at all times, so don’t water so heavily that the water pools anywhere.
In dryer areas, this can mean checking on the lawn and watering for a few minutes 2-3 times a day. We recommend installing a rain catchment system to help reduce mains water use and costs, and it’s great for your grass and the environment too!
Try to keep all traffic off the newly hydroseeded areas, including kids, pets and vehicles. This will help prevent damage to the new grass.
Second and Third Month of Growth
Now that the roots are more firmly established, you can cut down to a gentle watering once a day. Again, this depends on your climate, so if you are in a heatwave or experiencing very dry weather, more frequent watering may be needed.
You can also mow your lawn for the first time during this period. The grass should be 1.5 inches high at a minimum, and it’s best to choose a time when the soil is quite dry.
It’s best to use a lightweight lawn mower rather than a riding mower and tread carefully to prevent damaging the new grass. If possible, use mulching blades as this will help distribute the nutrients from the cuttings back into the soil.
Three Months Onwards
By the 3-month mark, your grass should be fairly well established, and you can reduce your watering to once or twice a week depending on the weather and the grass species.
Your seed mix should tell you how many days it takes for your grass to become fully mature. At this point, we recommend that you give your lawn a good dose of organic fertilizer to boost growth and restore the nutrients the germinating grass used up.
Use a fertilizer spreader or a backpack sprayer if you are using a liquid fertilizer to get a nice, even spread, and gently water the nutrients in. A 10-10-10 fertilizer is generally the best choice for most grass types.
Be sure to remove weed growth frequently throughout this time to reduce competition between weeds and grass. It’s best to do this manually, as a weed killer is likely to kill the grass seed or germinating seeds too.
If you want to use a weed killer, try out a weed and feed product. Going forward, simply maintain your hydroseeded lawn according to the usual recommended practices for lawn care.
