Seven hills, three rivers

Hydroseeding in Providence, RI

Small yards, steep streets and old filled land at the head of Narragansett Bay.

No-charge site visit, then an itemized quote in writing
Seed mix picked for the sun, shade and slope on your lot
A printed aftercare sheet: when to water and when to mow for the first time

Seeding Lawns Inside the Capital City

Hydroseeding in Providence is mostly small-lot work: a side yard behind a triple-decker, a regraded front bank on one of the city's hills, or the bare ground left after a sewer or foundation job. The city covers about 18.4 square miles of land at the head of Narragansett Bay, and much of the flat ground downtown was made by people rather than by nature. A hose-applied slurry of seed, mulch and tackifier suits these jobs because we can reach a narrow yard from the street without driving equipment across it.

Filled ground near the rivers

The Woonasquatucket and Moshassuck meet downtown to form the Providence River. Two centuries ago the Woonasquatucket emptied into the Great Salt Cove, and fill placed from around 1780 onward created much of the flat land in that part of the city. Filled lots often hold brick, cinders or gravel a few inches down. Before we spray, we rake out debris and bring in screened topsoil so roots have something better than rubble to grow into.

Hills and short, steep banks

Providence is one of many cities said to sit on seven hills. Short, steep front banks between a sidewalk and a house are common, and they are the spots where grass seed washes into the gutter after the first storm. On those banks we use a heavier hydromulch rate or a bonded fiber matrix, and on the worst pitches we pin down an erosion control blanket first.

Weather we plan around

The 1991 to 2020 normals at T. F. Green Airport show about 47.5 inches of precipitation a year spread over roughly 127 wet days. That spread is good for germination but means a fresh hydroseed lawn will almost always see rain in its first week, so the mulch layer has to hold. We aim for late summer and early fall seeding, with spring as the second window.

Construction and city work

Redevelopment keeps going: the Iway project relocated I-195, and the city's Great Streets plan calls for bike lanes and greenways. Builders on infill parcels often need silt fence, inlet protection at nearby catch basins and a fast cover crop once grading is done.

What we handle in Providence

New lawn installation after renovations or teardowns
Hydroseed on short banks and terraces
Silt fence and catch basin protection for infill builds
Topsoil, fine grading and lawn repair

Get a free estimate or call (401) 271-4843.

Providence Ground Conditions

Made land. Fill placed from around 1780 onward turned the old Great Salt Cove into much of the flat ground near the Woonasquatucket.
Rivers downtown. The Woonasquatucket and Moshassuck Rivers join downtown to form the Providence River, which runs into Narragansett Bay.
Rainfall. About 47.54 inches of precipitation falls in a normal year, measured at T. F. Green Airport over 1991 to 2020.
Park acreage. The city park system covers about 1,200 acres, and Roger Williams Park alone has seven lakes covering about 98 acres.
Population. Providence counted 190,934 residents in the 2020 census.

Slope & Erosion Control in Providence, RI

Our Services in Providence, RI

Providence Questions

My yard is mostly old fill. Can grass still grow there?

Yes, if the top few inches are cleaned up. We remove brick and cinders we find while raking and add screened topsoil so the seed has a real root zone.

Can you seed a yard with no driveway access?

Usually. The hose on our truck reaches well over a hundred feet, so we can spray a rear yard from the street without crossing the lawn.

Will the slurry stain my sidewalk or siding?

The mulch dye can mark concrete and siding. We mask edges and rinse any overspray before we leave.

Is a short front bank too steep for hydroseed?

Most are fine with a heavier mulch or a bonded fiber matrix. Very steep pitches get a blanket underneath for extra hold.

Do you install catch basin protection for city projects?

Yes. Inlet protection and silt fence go in before grading so sediment stays off the street.

Free Estimates in Providence, RI

Free estimates for Providence yards, banks and building sites.

Call (401) 271-4843 Free Estimate