Hydroseeding vs Conventional Seeding

Whether you want to establish an extensive commercial lawn or vegetate a barren landscape, seeding a large area of land starts with one key decision: what is the best and most effective way to get the job done? While conventional seeding was the norm for many years, hydroseeding has now emerged as an efficient alternative.

So can hydroseeding really compare with this tried and tested method? The team at Oliver Brown Ltd is here to compare how the two match up on a number of factors.

What is hydroseeding?

Hydroseeding is a seed planting technique where a slurry, consisting of seed, water and a carrier mulch, is sprayed onto the soil through a high-pressure hose – you can check out our previous article on the subject

here

. This is ideal when seeding slopes, large areas of land and other difficult terrain as it ensures fast coverage while also helping to control erosion. Here at Oliver Brown Ltd, we’ve recently hydroseeded 1,000,000m

2

of embankments along the Border Railway line as a way of stopping erosion.

What is conventional seeding?

In short, conventional seeding is a traditional way of sowing where dry seed is manually or mechanically spread over prepared soil. This method is ideal for patching up bare or thinning areas and keeping costs low. In its most basic form, conventional seeding has been around for centuries, and while the principle remains the same, the method and technology have become much more advanced. At Oliver Brown Ltd, we use highly accurate air seeders to ensure even coverage.

Conventional seeding vs hydroseeding

Cost

It’s hard to give a definite answer as to whether conventional seeding or hydroseeding is cheaper, as it all comes down to the size, location and condition of the site. Usually, conventional seeding will have lower upfront costs as it requires less specialised equipment and uses dry seeds rather than a slurry mixture, meaning it’s a budget-friendly choice for straightforward projects on flat, unchallenging terrain. However, although hydroseeding might have higher initial costs, it may ultimately save you money in the long run as it can reduce the need for reseeding and help to control erosion.

Speed

Hydroseeding is typically much faster than conventional seeding as it allows you to cover a large area of land in relatively little time with minimal preparation required. By contrast, with conventional seeding, the soil must be properly cultivated and then decompacted beforehand to create the right growth conditions. There’s also the seeding process itself, which is usually much slower as the seeds must be precisely spaced and sown. However, at Oliver Brown Ltd, we boast a range of machinery to help speed up this process by combining cultivating and sowing into a ‘one pass’ process.

Accessibility

As conventional drill seeding typically requires the use of tractors and bulky equipment, it’s best suited to flat, accessible land as it becomes much harder to navigate sloped or uneven ground with this heavy machinery. On the other hand, thanks to its spray application, hydroseeding is perfect for trickier projects as it can reach areas that traditional machinery can’t. If you do want to use conventional seeding in a difficult area, Oliver Brown Ltd is equipped with compact machinery and alpine tractors that can handle this terrain.

Germination success

During hydroseeding, the mulch part of the slurry mixture helps to retain moisture around the seed and protect it from any adverse weather, usually resulting in quicker and more successful germination. While conventional seeding can still yield good results if carried out by a trusted professional, it tends to be more vulnerable to heavy rain and wind, and without this protective mulch layer, seeds may be displaced.

Now we’ve talked you through the differences between hydroseeding and conventional seeding, you should have a better understanding of what will work best for your next project. If you need any more support, get in touch with the team at Oliver Brown Ltd, as we offer a range of hydroseeding and conventional seeding to customers across the UK.