Hills, regrades and a dry July

Hydroseeding in Seattle, WA

A city of ridges between Puget Sound and Lake Washington, where most rain falls October through March.

We walk your property first, then put the quote in writing at no charge
Seeding dates planned around Seattle's dry summer and wet winter
One crew for grading, seeding and sediment control

Seeding Lawns on Seattle's Hills

Hydroseeding in Seattle means working on a city that sits on an isthmus between Puget Sound and Lake Washington, with ridges like Capitol Hill, First Hill and Beacon Hill running along it. The highest ground in city limits is 520 feet, at Myrtle Reservoir Park in West Seattle's High Point neighborhood. Lots here are often small, tilted and hard to reach with a sod pallet, which is exactly where a sprayed slurry of seed, mulch and tackifier earns its keep.

A city that has been regraded before

Seattle's downtown topography was reshaped by regrading projects, and the break in the ridge between First Hill and Beacon Hill is man-made. That history matters on some lots: fill soils and cut banks behave differently from undisturbed ground. Before we spray, we check what the top layer really consists of, rake out debris, and bring in topsoil where a cut left little to root into.

The summer gap

Seattle's climate averages show 39.34 inches of precipitation a year, but July averages only 0.60 inches and August 0.97. A new hydroseed lawn sown in late spring needs regular watering through that stretch. Seeding in early fall, once the rain returns, usually saves a lot of hose time. Spring seeding works too if you are ready to irrigate.

Steep yards and planting strips

On banks too steep to mow comfortably, we often suggest a thick hydromulch coat or bonded fiber matrix instead of a lawn mix, or erosion control blankets where runoff concentrates. For a planting strip or a regraded side yard, a standard lawn seeding mix with fiber mulch is normally enough.

Keeping mud off the street

City lots drain fast toward sidewalks and storm drains. On a cleared site we can run silt fence across the downhill side and add inlet protection at nearby catch basins until the grass has knit together.

Common Seattle requests

New lawn installation after a remodel or side-sewer dig
Hillside hydroseeding where mowing is awkward
Overseeding thin, shaded lawns
Sediment control on small infill builds

Get a free estimate or call (206) 208-7934.

Seattle Ground Conditions

Seven hills. Lists of Seattle's hills typically include Capitol Hill, First Hill, West Seattle, Beacon Hill, Queen Anne, Magnolia and the former Denny Hill.
Man-made gap. The break in the ridge between First Hill and Beacon Hill is man-made, part of the regrading that reshaped the city center.
Dry summer months. July averages 0.60 inches of precipitation and August 0.97 inches, against 39.34 inches for the year.
Rare deep cold. Temperatures below about 15 F are rare in Seattle, and average annual snowfall is 6.3 inches.

Slope Stabilization & Erosion Control in Seattle, WA

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Seattle Questions

Is fall or spring better for hydroseeding a Seattle yard?

Early fall usually wins because the rain returns and the soil is still warm. Spring seeding works, but the lawn must be watered through July and August, which are very dry here.

Can you hydroseed a bank that is too steep to mow?

Yes. On steep banks we often use a heavier mulch, a bonded fiber matrix or a low-mow mix rather than a standard lawn blend, and blankets where water concentrates.

My lot is mostly fill from an old regrade. Will grass grow?

Often it does once a few inches of good topsoil are spread and lightly worked in. We check the surface first and tell you if soil needs to come in.

My remodel is small. Does it still need sediment control?

If bare soil can wash toward a sidewalk or catch basin, silt fence and inlet protection are a sensible precaution until the seed takes hold.

Free Estimates in Seattle, WA

Free estimates for Seattle lawns and slopes.

Call (206) 208-7934 Free Estimate