Homeowners are often frustrated to find that their lawn is growing in unevenly, with lush areas and dead patches all mixed together for a neglected and unappealing look. Instead of trudging across your lawn and seeding the bare spots by hand, consider the more reliable, affordable and convenient method of hydroseeding. The process for filling in a patchy lawn is slightly different than laying down a new one, but with the right precautions, your grass can come back thicker and healthier than ever before. 

Understanding the Cause of Your Patchy Lawn

Before you invest your time and money to replenish your lawn, you should understand what caused the problem in the first place. Your yard may have a mixture of dirt and less hospitable soil types such as clay, resulting in areas of decreased fertility, or the soil could be chemically compromised by either natural or artificial compounds. Although hydroseeding can help grass take root in even the most hostile environment, amending the soil will improve your chances of success. It may also be wise to rake up the dirt before seeding, which improves oxygen permeation as young roots spread. 

Matching the Existing Grass Blend

When you are adding new grass to a previously established lawn, careful attention should be paid to the seed mix being sown. Planting the wrong variety of grass will cause the formerly bald patches to stick out like a sore thumb. An experienced hydroseeding professional will be able to identify the grass types growing in your yard and create a custom seed mix that will blend into the existing lawn. 

Customizing the Slurry for Your Lawn's Needs

Hydroseeding over live grass also requires a few extra steps to protect the mature plants during the process. Hydroseeding is so effective because it sprays seeds with a potent combination of water and nutrients designed to provide optimal germination conditions. This slurry coats everything it touches, meaning any grass underneath it has a harder time collecting sunlight and oxygen. To compensate for this, most hydroseeders use a thinner slurry mix when sowing over a spotty yard. 

Caring for Your Growing Lawn 

Once the lawn has been treated, follow your hydroseeding technician's instructions closely during the next couple of weeks and months. It is important that you keep a growing lawn watered thoroughly, and avoid walking over the bald spots until the new grass is lush and sturdy. If cared for correctly, your entire lawn should soon be pleasingly vibrant and uniform, with no hint of its former patchiness to trouble your family and guests. 

To learn more about hydroseeding, contact a company like Rainbow Sweepers Inc.