How Much Does Hydroseeding Cost? (Pricing Per Acre & Square Foot)

Being a homeowner means you not only have to care for the house’s interior, but you must also give some attention to your curb appeal! Who doesn’t want to come home to a lush, green lawn?

When you’re ready to plant new seed on your lawn, you’ve got a few options to choose from. Each technique will come with its own advantages and drawbacks—including the costs.

Hydroseeding, or hydro mulching, is one of the most advanced methods for planting new grass seed, as it enhances the new grass seed with added nutrients from the second it’s applied.

The average hydroseeding cost is between $0.06 to $0.20 per square foot of yard plus labor costs. Depending on the size of the yard and labor costs, homeowners pay an average of $1000 total to pay for hydroseeding. For larger yards, the cost can run upwards $3,000.

Read on to learn more about the true costs of hydroseeding, which factors will impact your final price and the benefits of this technique for growing a beautiful lawn.

Before starting any home improvement project, it’s important to weigh the costs and plan a budget for your services. Fortunately, the cost of hydroseeding is actually pretty affordable for most homeowners. It’s less expensive than laying sod, and often more effective than broadcast seeding.

Hydroseeding costs are determined by the square footage or acreage of your lawn. The bigger the project, the larger the expense. The mulch mixture for hydroseeding can cost around $0.06-0.20 per square foot of yard.

However, your final cost will also include the cost of labor and the required equipment to complete the job.

In addition to the cost of your seed mulch mixture, you must consider the cost of hiring a team of professionals to complete the job. Hydroseeding is an incredibly difficult task for the average homeowner to complete by themselves. That’s why it’s beneficial to hire a professional to help you out.

They’ll have the necessary equipment for the job, as well as the knowledge and expertise to get the application done efficiently. Hydromulching requires the service person to know how to apply the product evenly and work quickly.

Professionals who offer hydroseeding services may charge an additional $0.10/square foot for their work. This price will vary depending on the state you live in, as well as local prices for fertilizer, water, and other materials.

To hydroseed a lawn, homeowners may pay anywhere between 6-20 cents per square foot, plus the additional cost of labor. To estimate your potential costs, start by calculating the square footage of your lawn by multiplying the length times width.

You may need to use more complicated formulas to determine this measurement if your lawn is round or triangular-shaped. During a consultation, a professional contractor can work out measuring your lawn to give you an accurate estimate for services.

Homeowners can pay anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand for hydromulching. Use our hydromulching cost calculator to estimate your cost—like the cost to hydroseed a ¼-acre yard, or roughly 10,000 square feet. Check it out:

The cost of water is a crucial part of determining the cost of hydroseeding. The tanks used by professionals can be filled with up to 1,000 gallons of water. During your seeding job, your contractor may ask to refill their tank at your home. Depending on the size of the lawn, they may need to refill the tank at least once.

If you do not allow them to refill with your home’s water supply, they’ll have to return after getting a refill elsewhere. This can add on mileage and material costs. It may be cheaper to allow them to use the home’s water, but you can, of course, talk about your options when you consult with the contractor.

As for hydroseeding materials, one of the main things you’ll need is the grass seed. Some seed types are more expensive than others. Also, certain grasses will thrive better in certain environments, so it’s important to know which your region uses.

The states with hot summers and cool winters will grow different grass than states with not-so-hot summers. Your local service provider can give you the best recommendation for the proper seeds to grow in your lawn.

Seed density is another factor to consider. This measures how dense or thick your mulch mixture is. This can have an impact on how strong or thick your grass grows. If your lawn has weak soil, your contractor may recommend using a mixture with a higher level of fertilizer.

Do I need to hire a professional to hydroseed my lawn? While this task is certainly possible to do on your own, it can get pretty expensive. Taking the do-it-yourself route means you may pay $1,500-3,000 just to buy the machine necessary to get the job done. You can also search for a hydroseeding rental in your area (which amounts to around $500 per day).

Doing a job like this alone can get expensive and complicated. In the long run, hiring a professional (who already has all the equipment and tools needed) means that you do not have to spare the expense for the costly machinery needed for the job.

Also, professionals will often purchase their supplies wholesale and can get things like seed and fertilizer for a cheaper rate than regular homeowners. And, of course, they have the experience necessary to complete the job safely and efficiently.

Sod is a grass seed that has already been grown and is sold in sections to homeowners. These squares are manufactured to include grass, fertilizer, and soil, all held together by the roots. This method for planting grass is a great way to achieve a healthy lawn almost immediately.

Laying sod on your lawn is one of the easiest, most hands-off approaches. Additionally, it can be done in any season throughout the year, as it does not require as much water as other methods.

However, when you compare the hydroseeding cost vs. sod, you’ll see that sod can be much more expensive than planting traditional seeds. Homeowners can pay between $1,000-2,700 for laying sod, depending on the contractor you work with and the size of your lawn.

With broadcast seeding, dry seeds are placed onto the ground, watered, and then covered with hay. This is often the cheapest option for planting new grass but can come with many drawbacks.

Why not choose broadcast seeding? If you live in a particularly windy area, the wind can blow away a large amount of your seeds—half of them in some cases. So, it’s recommended to cover your seeds with straw to ensure healthy growth after application.

Unfortunately, depending on the quality of the hay you use, you could encourage weeds to grow in your lawn. Also, birds and other animals may be interested in the hay or the seeds you leave behind on your lawn.

Also known as hydraulic mulch seeding or hydro-mulching, hydroseeding uses a tank to pump a mixture of seeds, mulch, and other ingredients all over the ground.

This mixture can include fertilizer, and some professionals even include a green dye to make your lawn appear lush (even before your grass is fully grown). Also, the green color of the product helps the service people to see which areas have already been treated as they work.

The mulch mixture, combined with the moisture within the soil, will protect your seed from the sun, wind, and erosion. When it meets the soil, it will undergo a natural decomposition, as well as more nutrients being delivered to your lawn.

Hydroseeding often requires little to no prep work, especially if you are working from a bare plot of land. If you are not working on virgin soil, however, you will need to clear away any dead grass or other organic debris. Remove rocks, sticks, and other objects that can disrupt your new lawn.

You can either lay fresh topsoil, or work the existing soil if it’s in good condition. Use a rototiller to loosen the soil and get it ready to accept the new seed, making sure it’s free of weeds. Once your working surface is smooth and level, you’re ready to apply your hydroseed.

After application, it’s important to make sure the area dries for 24 hours. Try to plan your hydroseeding project on a relatively dry weather day. After about a month, it will be safe for you and your family to walk comfortably across your grass, and maybe even mow it for the first time!

Related Questions

Will hydroseeding introduce dangerous chemicals into my yard?

Most professionals who offer hydroseeding services will use products and materials with low toxicity ratings. This means these products are safe for humans and pets to be near, but it is still recommended to avoid ingestion. Fortunately, however, pets and other animals may be deterred by the non-appetizing smell, and thus lose interest in it.

When is the best time to hydroseed my lawn?

As hydroseeding is an advanced method of seeding, homeowners have plenty of opportunities to get it done throughout the year. Spring and fall may be the most ideal seasons, as you can save money and conserve water. These seasons are usually not as hot or dry as summer, so it often means less water will be required.Summer is a good choice if you want your grass to grow quickly. This season’s heat helps the seeds to germinate and grow faster than they would in cool temperatures. Talk with your local provider to hear their recommendations for which season is the best for hydroseeding in your neighborhood.

Is hydroseeding worth the cost?

While hydroseeding can be more expensive than traditional broadcast seeding, it can be more cost-effective. In many areas, wind and water can cause seeds to blow away, and in turn, not complete its germination process. However, hydroseeding helps the seed to stay put on the soil and become healthy grass even faster.