So you want the real honest answer on whether you can hydroseed in July in the Midwest? Well good news we get this question every week all summer long and the real honest answer is – sometimes yes, sometimes not yet, but here’s why – it all depends on the weather.

What a Minnesota and Wisconsin Summer Does To New Grass Seed

Many common grass seeds that are popular in our neck of the woods, like Kentucky bluegrass, Fine Fescue or Perennial Ryegrass, all germinate best when temperatures sit at around 60-75°F. Our typical July temps run well past that, plus over the last few years, we’re seeing temps or heat index soar into the triple digits!

What Does The Summer Heat Do To My Lawn?

Instead of taking days to dry out, we are seeing lawns dry out, turn brown or even burn in just hours! This causes your new hydroseeded lawn to dry out before it even has a chance to take root.

When Hydroseeding in Summer Might Be Best For Your Lawn

Hydroseeding in summer could be the perfect option if you answer yes to any of the following questions. Think of your current lawncare needs, what your goals are and answer honestly. Yes or no, we can find the lawn care solution for you.

1. Do You Have an In-Ground Irrigation System?
   If you have an irrigation system on a timer, that solves the hardest part about summer hydroseeding as you can automate the watering cycles to keep the seeds moist exactly when they need it.
2. How To Stop My Yard Washing Away Constantly?
   Having bare slopes, exposed soil or a new construction site means your property is at risk for washouts and erosion. If we wait until the fall to hydroseed, that is two more months MINIMUM of washouts happening to your property, which can lead to you needing to have soil preparation done prior to hydroseeding or sod installation anyway, which can add on more expenses. Hydroseeding comes with a tackifier that can hold your soil immediately, even if the germination isn’t ideal, it can hold your soil in place from day one.
3. Am I Required To Have Ground Coverage?
   Nearly every city surrounding the Twin Cities requires homes to establish ground cover and if your home is new construction, part of an HOA or susceptible to washouts you are on the clock for getting your lawn established. Check with your city to see the specific requirements needed for your lawn.
   Woodbury, MN | New Richmond, WI | Edina, MN |
4. What’s The Best Weather To Hydroseed In Summer?
   If there is approximately 10 days with perfect temperatures and the possibility of rain, it is the ideal time to install and spray your hydroseed mixture. Hydroseeding in summer is always more of a weather decision versus a calendar decision and knowing the weather forecast in advance can help you prepare.

When We’d Honestly Tell You To Wait To Hydroseed Until Fall or Spring

While it is quite feasible to hydroseed in the summer, there are some conditions that should be viewed as your sign to wait until fall or spring to hydroseed. While some of these may have workarounds, be honest with yourself if you can reasonably commit to a hydroseeded lawn in summer or if you should wait for the fall.

1. Working Your 9-5, In-Office
   If you don’t have in-ground or an automated watering system and are gone during most of the day, you’re missing out on critical watering cycles. This leaves your newly sprayed hydroseed to bake in the sun from 9 to 5 or until you can manually get out there and water it. You could purchase a hose timer on a spigot, which typically runs around $30, to help counter the long work days.
2. Full-Sun or South-Facing Yards
   If you have a yard that’s south-facing or sees full-sun for a majority of the day, your poor lawn will need more water than any other area and especially more so during critical times throughout the day. Make sure you’re able to budget more time for watering during your day!
3. Taking a Vacation in the Next 30 Days
   If you have a vacation planned in the next 30 days, good for you, but bad for your lawn. The first few weeks of germination are critical to getting your hydroseeded lawn established and even a one-week vacation during that can cause your lawn to come to a full stop. Your neighbors, pet sitters or teenagers are not a reliable plan to water your lawn four times a day. Let us know and we can always schedule around your trip too!

Don’t want to wait and want an instantly vibrant lawn now? Check out sod installation as it provides instant cover of your property or prep your lawn now and schedule out your hydroseeding service this fall!

How Often Do I Need To Water My Lawn In Summer?

While it’s possible to hydroseed during the summer months be prepared to water, water and you guessed it, water some more! The secret to watering properly is to watch when and how much you water.

• General Watering Guidance & Frequency
  Plan to water your lawn at least four times a day during hot weather. Short and frequent bursts of watering have a bigger impact than long and infrequent. Avoid watering during peak sun and heat to avoid frying or scalding your lawn.
• The Best Times To Water In Summer
  Watering in the morning and later afternoon is always best. We’d recommend watering at:
  – 7am
  – 11am
  – 2pm
  – 5pm
  But keep an eye on the temperature and humidity before watering and avoid standing water overnight
• Shaded or North-Facing Yards
  If your yard lives under mature trees or on the north side of your home, it means it can hold moisture far longer than any south-facing or exposed parts of your lawn. Same weather, same yard, but totally different microclimates that affect the health of your lawn. Plan to water these areas less frequently and to check if water is needed BEFORE watering to decrease risks.
• New Lawn Dangers Increase at High Temperature AND High Humidity
  If the temps are above 85°F with high humidity, there is a disease called Pythium blight that attacks brand-new grass. It’s a water mold that spreads when water sits on leaves and can take effect almost overnight leaving your new lawn destroyed within two or three days. This means stop watering early enough that your lawn is dry before dark.
  NOTE: Before your grass comes up there are no leaves to infect, so keep to your watering schedule. As soon as you see green, shift your last watering to late-afternoon so the surface can dry before nightfall.

What American Hydroseeding Does Differently During Summer Hydroseeding Applications

We want your hydroseed lawn to not only survive the long days of summer, but to thrive for years to come. When we hydroseed in summer we make sure to utilize a higher-retention mulch load, select the highest quality seeds and plan our application window to reflect the best time according to the weather forecast.

We always offer complimentary aftercare instructions to every customer and provide an aftercare call line to answer all your critical hydroseeding questions.

Common Summer Hydroseeding Questions

• Is it too late to hydroseed this year?
  Absolutely not! Fall is right around the corner and is often the best time to hydroseed your lawn.
• What if I miss the Fall hydroseeding window?
  No worries, you can get on the schedule for spring or early summer to get your lawn hydroseeded.
• Will my hydroseed survive a heat wave?
  If you follow proper watering schedules and keep an eye on the weather, your hydroseeded lawn has a higher chance of surviving a heat wave.

Not Sure When To Hydroseed?

We get it, there is a lot to consider on when is the best time to hydroseed your lawn. When in doubt – talk it out with the Owner, Adam. He’ll answer your questions, set realistic expectations for you and find the best time to hydroseed your lawn.

Get A New Lawn This Fall

Late August through mid-October is one of the best times to hydroseed your lawn. There is cooler air, warm soil and less watering demands made on you. Get your yard on the schedule now!