Flat ground by the lake

Hydroseeding in Chicago, IL

Grass for city yards, side lots and parkway strips on some of the flattest ground in the metro.

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Seed mix matched to the sun, shade and soil on your lot
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Seeding a Flat City Beside Lake Michigan

Hydroseeding in Chicago is mostly small-lot work: a rebuilt backyard after a garage comes down, a side lot left bare after new construction, a parkway strip torn up by a sewer repair. The city sits on the western shore of Lake Michigan, and Wikipedia notes that most of its ground shows only slight change from its natural flatness, with the lakeshore at about 578 feet and the high point, the Blue Island moraine ridge on the far South Side, at 672 feet.

Flat ground means water has nowhere to go

A lot with almost no fall does not shed rain on its own. Before we spray anything, we check that the finished grade moves water away from the foundation and toward the alley or street, even if the slope is only a fraction of an inch per foot. Seed sprayed on a low spot just sits in a puddle and rots, so a little fine grading and fresh topsoil come first.

Old fill under new lawns

Much of central Chicago was raised to a new grade in the 1800s for the sewer system, and landfill pushed the shoreline out for Navy Pier, Northerly Island and the Museum Campus. On many city lots the top foot is not native soil at all. Brick, cinders and compacted fill turn up when we rake out a yard, and we remove the worst of it and bring in screened topsoil so roots have something to grow in.

What the lake does to timing

The lake keeps waterfront neighborhoods a bit warmer in winter and cooler in summer, and the city is rated USDA zone 6a, shifting to 5b in the suburbs. That buffer can stretch the fall seeding window slightly near the shore compared with the far west suburbs. Most rain arrives in thunderstorms, about 38 a year, so fresh hydromulch on a city lot needs its tackifier to hold through a hard downpour.

Small jobs, tight access

Our hose can run well over a hundred feet from the truck, which matters on a city lot where the only access is a gangway or an alley. We spray the seed, mulch and fertilizer in one pass without dragging equipment across a neighbor's yard.

Get a free estimate or call (312) 598-0845.

Chicago Ground and Weather Facts

Raised city grade. A 19th-century sewer project lifted much of central Chicago to a new grade, with buildings raised on jackscrews.
Lake-built land. Landfill extending into Lake Michigan created ground for Navy Pier, Northerly Island and the Museum Campus.
Hardiness zone. Chicago is rated USDA zone 6a, transitioning to 5b in the suburbs.
Storm-driven rain. Most of the city's rainfall comes from thunderstorms, which average 38 a year.

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Chicago Questions

Can you hydroseed a parkway strip in front of my house?

Yes. Parkways are a good fit because the spray covers a narrow strip evenly without trampling it. Check with the city about any rules for the parkway before work starts.

My yard is full of old brick and cinders. Will seed grow?

Not well. We rake out debris and add screened topsoil so the new grass has a few inches of real soil to root into.

How do you get equipment into a backyard with only gangway access?

We usually do not need to. The hose runs from the truck in the alley or street, so only the hose crosses the gangway.

Does living near the lake change when I should seed?

Slightly. Lakefront areas stay a little milder, which can extend the fall window a bit compared with the outer suburbs.

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