Customer guide
How to care for your new hydroseeded lawn
Watering, first mow, feeding, weeds and pests. Everything you need to do in the first few months to get a lawn you'll be proud of.
Start here
Your lawn is under a blanket of wood-fibre mulch
We've applied a blanket of wood-fibre hydromulch that holds the seed, fertiliser and mulch in place. It makes growing grass easy: after 24 hours, once the glues have set, all you have to do is water it.
The first 21 days matter most. If germinating seedlings dry out, they die, so keep the lawn moist at all times.
Watering schedule
The first month, step by step
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Day 1
Let it set
Leave the lawn alone for 24 hours so the tackifier can bind the mulch to the soil.
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Week 1
Water twice a day
Water early morning and evening every day. Light, frequent sprinkling is best, or soak for 30 minutes until water starts to run off.
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Week 2+
Every other day
Keep watering every other day until the first cut. Never let the surface dry out.
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Week 3–4
First mow
Mow once the grass is 50 to 75 mm tall and the ground is firm enough to leave no heel marks.
Ongoing care
Looking after your lawn once it's established
If you're on our maintenance programme, check your quote. We may already be taking care of some of this for you.
Watering
Water in the early morning, before the sun causes evaporation. An established lawn needs about 25 mm of water a week, soaking at least 150 mm into the soil for deep roots. Impact sprinklers give the best results, and we're happy to advise on irrigation settings.
Mowing
Mow weekly with a catcher, never removing more than a third of the leaf at once. Keep blades sharp to avoid torn, brown tips. Finish at a height of about 40 mm. Mulching and hover mowers aren't recommended.
Fertilising
Your lawn was sown with fertiliser and soil conditioner to give it a healthy start. Once it's established, feed it monthly with a high-quality slow-release lawn fertiliser, which we can supply.
Weeds
Weeds will appear. They grow from seed that was dormant in the soil or blown in by wind and birds. Treat them with a selective lawn herbicide once the grass is established, or ask us to price a treatment.
Pests
Grass grub, porina caterpillar and Argentine stem weevil are the main lawn pests in the region. Use a lawn insecticide registered in New Zealand from your garden centre, or we can treat it for you.
Disease
Region, moisture and soil type all affect lawn disease. A registered turf fungicide will treat most problems, or we can diagnose and treat your lawn.
Using lawn chemicals safely
Always read the label and follow the manufacturer's instructions for any herbicide, insecticide or fungicide. If you'd rather not handle chemicals yourself, our lawn maintenance service can do it for you.
Free, no-obligation quotes
Tell us about your site and we'll come and take a look
Every job starts with a site visit. We check the soil, the slope and the exposure, then recommend the grass blend and method that will actually last.