Hydroseeding in Rockvale, TN

Building on former farmland

Much of the new housing around Rockvale is going in on what were hay fields and pasture. That has some advantages: the ground often had a decent topsoil layer to start with. The catch is what happens during construction. Site grading strips and stockpiles that topsoil, roads and utilities go in, and heavy equipment compacts the lots. Whether the topsoil goes back on before closing varies from builder to builder.

Before hydroseeding a new Rockvale yard, it is worth checking how much topsoil is actually there. A shovel test in a few spots tells you. If you hit hard clay or rock within an inch or two, plan for topsoil or compost as part of the job.

Larger lots, bigger savings

Rockvale lots are often larger than those closer to Murfreesboro, and some homes sit on an acre or more. That is where hydroseeding really pulls ahead of sod. Sodding an acre runs into the tens of thousands of dollars; hydroseeding the same area typically costs a small fraction of that. Large open lots are also quick for a crew to spray, which keeps the price per square foot down.

For acreage, many homeowners seed a manicured fescue lawn around the house and a lower-maintenance mix, or pasture grass, further out.

Slopes, swales and ponds

The land around Rockvale rolls more than central Murfreesboro, so drainage swales, back-yard banks and farm ponds are common. These are the areas that wash out first. Hydroseeding with a wood fiber mulch holds on moderate slopes; ask about heavier mulch for steep banks and pond dams. See erosion control hydroseeding.

Timing in Rockvale

Same windows as the rest of Middle Tennessee: fescue in September to mid-October, Bermuda in late spring and early summer. If your house closes in winter, a temporary ryegrass cover holds the soil until a proper seeding. More in our grass and timing guide.

Builders in Rockvale

With so many communities under construction, builders here need lots stabilized and seeded on a steady schedule. Builders can get crews who handle recurring lot work and common areas. See builder hydroseeding.

Rockvale questions