On average, homeowners can expect to pay between 8 and 20 cents per square foot for hydroseeding, or $3,485 to $8,712 per acre.
Although conventional seeding is the most affordable grass-growing route, you’ll get a new lawn much faster with hydroseeding. Hydroseeding is also much less expensive than installing sod. Your total hydroseeding spending will vary depending on how much grass you need, your yard’s condition, and where you live.
Hydroseeding often leads to other lawn care services. For that reason, our pricing guide covers the national average prices for lawn mowing, fertilization, leaf removal, sprinkler systems, and mulching.
Average Hydroseeding Costs in 2024
- Average Hydroseed Cost Per Square Foot: $0.08 to $0.20
- Average Hydroseed Cost Per Acre: $3,485 to $8,712
The national average cost for hydroseeding ranges between 8 and 20 cents per square foot. This average price includes the hydroseeding slurry mixture and labor costs.
Given that one acre encompasses 43,560 square feet, the hydroseeding cost per acre ranges between $3,485 and $8,712.
Hydroseeding involves spreading a mixture containing seeds, mulch, binding agents, fertilizer, water, and soil amendments over large land areas. The mixture is called “slurry” and must be applied by expensive tools called hydroseeders.
Cost Estimator by Lawn Size
The overall bill for hydroseeding work will be primarily determined by the square footage of your lawn. Hydroseeding costs per square foot usually range between 8 and 20 cents.
Therefore, if you’re dealing with a 1,000-square-foot lawn, the expense can be anywhere between $80 and $200. Conversely, for more extensive properties, say 5,000 square feet, the cost could range between $400 and $1,000.
Do you have acres of land that you need to hydroseed? Although the cost to hydroseed 1 acre is between $3,485 and $8,712, most hydroseeding companies offer discounted rates when hydroseeding a large yard size.
Other Factors That Affect Cost
Hydroseeding prices will also vary depending on your yard’s condition and where you live. While most homeowners pay between 8 and 20 cents per square foot, this cost can dramatically increase if your land is sloped or water is scarce in your region.
Type of Grass
The type of grass selected for your hydroseeding mix can significantly influence the total cost due to the differing needs, characteristics, and prices of various grass species.
Those residing in colder climates might opt for cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass due to its cold tolerance. Conversely, those living in areas prone to drought might prefer grass types like tall fescue, known for its drought resistance.
Each grass type comes with its own set of benefits and corresponding price tags, and different types of grasses will inevitably have different costs. Evaluating your area’s climate and assessing your specific needs are paramount steps to achieve a lush lawn.
Location
On a local scale, hydroseeding prices will vary according to the demand for the service in your region, water scarcity, and fertilizer prices.
If water scarcity is an issue where you live, you likely will pay more for hydroseeding. Since the hydroseeding slurry mixture contains lots of water, pros will adjust their rates according to the local water supply.
If fertilizer is expensive in your area, this might also drive up slurry mixture costs.
Hydroseeding costs vary across the U.S.: We took a random sampling of five lawn care companies and hydroseeder sellers and recorded their estimated prices for the job. Here’s what we found:
- Coventry, RI: 14 cents per square foot
- Monson, MA: 10 to 15 cents per square foot
- Beaver Falls, PA: 10 to 15 cents per square foot, with some pros charging 20 cents per square foot
- Idaho Falls, ID: 9 to 15 cents per square foot
- Grand Rapids, MI:18 cents per square foot
Yard Condition
Sloped yards often require more slurry due to the increased drainage and runoff caused by the slope. If the slope is significant, you could pay double the amount in material costs per square foot.
A yard with a significant slope or bumpy terrain will make any landscaping or lawn care job more difficult, driving up costs.
If you would like to avoid these additional fees, consider resloping your lawn. Homeowners typically spend between $100 and $3,400 on professional land grading, depending on how much work the land needs.
Extra Services
Choosing to hydroseed your lawn is a wise decision for homeowners looking to save money while still achieving a beautiful lawn quickly. But what else might your lawn need for you to enjoy it a little more?
Hiring a pro to mow the lawn will take that chore off your plate, or maybe paying for leaf removal will keep your lawn looking green through autumn. Adding mulch to your yard’s flower beds will also help that green carpet — and the flowers’ colorful blooms — pop.
Mowing
Your new lawn will be ready for its first cutting 4 to 6 weeks after hydroseeding, but if you’d rather not mow, mow, mow your grass, lawn care pros charge on average $35 to $70 per hour to mow the lawn, with most homeowners paying between $30 and $65 for a single cut.
Fertilization
If you want to keep your hydroseeded yard green and healthy, most homeowners spend between $88 and $544 to fertilize their lawns, with an average cost of $380.
Leaf Removal
To keep your green carpet from being covered in a sea of brown, red, yellow, and orange leaves in the fall, homeowners often hire a leaf removal service at a cost between $165 and $485.
Sprinkler System
Installing a sprinkler system means fewer watering chores for you and more hydration for your hydroseeded lawn.
On average, homeowners spend between $2,400 and $4,200 to install a sprinkler system in their yard.
Mulching
Mulch protects your flower and garden beds from soil erosion, insulates your plants in the winter, and adds beautiful texture and color. Organic mulches will even add nutrients to the soil, leading to healthier plants.
Mulch costs between $17 and $68 per cubic yard of mulch or between $2 and $5.50 per bag. Hiring a landscaper to install the mulch typically costs an additional $20 to $45 per cubic yard or $43 to $98 per hour.
Seeding vs. Hydroseeding vs. Sod
Hydroseeding might not always be the ideal option for growing a new lawn. Some homeowners might be working with a smaller budget, making conventional seeding the best option.
On the other hand, if you have the cash and don’t want to wait for the grass to grow, sod can give you a green lawn faster than hydroseeding.
Seeding
Broadcast seeding offers significant cost savings as a DIY project. A bag of grass seed typically costs between $1.50 to $6.40 per pound, depending on the seed’s brand and grass type.
Most homeowners spend $1,085 for professional lawn seeding on an average-sized yard.
Pros:
✓ Least expensive grass-growing option
✓ Easy to apply yourself
✓ Homeowners have a wider array of grass types to choose from
✓ It makes for easy patching or reseeding.
✓ Grass that’s germinated from seed has a healthier root system than sod.
Cons:
✗ It takes about two months before you can mow the grass and as much as a year before your lawn has fully matured.
✗ Grass seeds are vulnerable to competition from weeds
✗ Rain may wash away some seeds in certain areas, creating patches with no growth.
✗ Maintenance is high during the initial stages of growth.
Hydroseeding
Hydroseeding is a smart solution for homeowners who need to grow grass on a large piece of land or a slope. The process is fast and efficient, and the slurry mixture is less susceptible to drainage and erosion than regular grass seeds are.
The hydroseeding seed mix contains fertilizer, mulch, seeds, water, and soil amendments and is sometimes tinted with green dye. The fertilizer boosts growth, and the mulch secures the seeds in the soil and protects them from the wind and rain. Learn more about the disadvantages and benefits of hydroseeding below.
Pros:
✓ Grows faster than a seeded lawn
✓ Cost-effective
✓ Excellent for slopes where regular seeds would be susceptible to erosion
✓ An ideal solution for large areas of land
✓ Results in less patchiness than conventional seeding
✓ You can combine different seed types to create a healthy lawn that best suits your land.
✓ Professionals spray slurry with a hose, making it easy to apply the slurry in hard-to-reach places.
✓ Provides soil erosion control
Cons:
✗ Hydroseeding won’t provide immediate results like sod will
✗ DIY hydroseeding is more complicated than applying grass seed or sod yourself
✗ The hydroseeding process requires lots of water
✗ Requires more initial maintenance than sod
Sod
Sod is a layer of grass growing on a cut piece of soil that’s 1 to 2 inches thick. Professional sod installation can get expensive, but it provides you with a new lawn right away. You’ll need to wait about two weeks for the roots to develop before you can mow the grass.
Homeowners typically spend between $0.87 to $1.76 per square foot for professional sod installation.
Pros:
✓ No waiting time -– sod provides an instant lawn
✓ Unlike grass seed, you don’t need to worry about patches developing with sod
✓ Can walk and play on the lawn in just a few weeks
✓ Provides erosion control
Cons:
✗ Sod costs are on the higher end when compared to seeding and hydroseeding
✗ Installing sod yourself is possible, though it’s not an ideal DIY grass method
✗ You have limited grass-type options
✗ Some areas of the sod might not develop roots
Pro Cost vs. DIY Cost
When it comes to DIY hydroseeding, the chances are good that it will be more expensive than hiring a professional.
For a 2,500-square-foot lawn, most homeowners can expect to pay between $200 and $500 for professional hydroseeding. Attempting hydroseeding yourself will require you to buy a hydroseeding machine, which can cost anywhere between $1,900 and $29,000 or more, or opt to rent one for around $380 a day.
Calculating the correct amount of slurry needed for the job is also a complex and potentially expensive task. Apply too little or too much slurry, and you’ll watch your money — and your new grass seed — go down the drain.
Sloped land will also affect how much slurry is required, which is why you will need to measure your slurry accordingly.
Professionals have the tools and expertise to determine how much slurry to apply tailored to the slope of your yard and your property’s size. Because pros have the means necessary to take the measurements quickly and accurately, it’s much less expensive to hire a professional than to attempt the calculations yourself.
FAQ About Hydroseeding
Are Hydroseeding and Hydromulching the Same Thing?
Hydroseeding and hydromulching are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference between the two. Although we use the term hydroseeding in this pricing guide, we are technically referencing the hydromulching process.
Hydroseeding is the process of spraying a slurry containing water, seed, and fertilizer. With traditional hydroseeding, there are no wood fibers or binding agents in the slurry.
Hydromulching is a similar process. Its slurry contains water, seed, fertilizers, mulch, and a binding agent known as tackifier. The mulch and binding agent help prevent soil erosion. Traditional hydroseeding has no mulch and technically would not help prevent erosion.
Remember, when hydroseeding is referred to in this pricing guide, we are assuming the slurry contains mulch and binding agents.
When is the Best Time to Hydroseed?
Spring and fall are the best times to hydroseed due to the warm soil. Hydroseeding in the summer will require you to use more water during germination.
How Often Should You Water Your Lawn After Hydroseeding?
After a pro applies the slurry, you’ll need to water the hydroseeded area frequently to keep the soil moist. On most days, expect to water three or four times a day, or at minimum twice a day.
How often you water your hydroseeded lawn will vary depending on the weather and temperature. For instance, you’ll need to water the lawn more on days when temperatures are high. If you’re expecting rain, you won’t need to water the hydroseed as much.
Pro Tip: Water the slurry as much as you need to keep the soil moist. Don’t let the seeds dry out, but don’t let them drown in puddles, either.
Once you’re able to cut the lawn (which will be about 4 to 6 weeks after hydroseeding), you can water your lawn less frequently. Your lawn needs about 1 to 2 inches of water per week. The key is to water infrequently but for long periods to help your lawn develop a strong root system.
Can Rain Wash Away the Slurry?
Rain shouldn’t wash away your slurry. The slurry contains mulch, which helps the seeds adhere to the soil, almost like glue. Even during heavy rainfall, the seeds should stay put.
If some of the green slurry appears to have washed away, don’t worry. The rain has likely pushed some of the seeds further into the soil, which is normal.
When to Call a Professional
Hydroseeding offers fast results — you will get a new lawn in weeks — without a steep price tag. Spray your yard with slurry, and you’ll have a uniform, healthy lawn to walk barefoot on (and to mow) in a month or so.
To get the best results, consider hiring a local lawn care professional specializing in hydroseeding near you, relieving you from the hassle of doing it yourself.
If you were wondering, “How much does it cost to hydroseed?” — fret no more. The average cost of hydroseeding is between 8 and 20 cents per square foot for professional hydroseeding services. Prices will vary depending on many factors, including how much land needs new grass, the slope of your yard, and where you live.
Main Photo Credit: EpicManufacturing / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
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