Clay country with a pottery past

Hydroseeding in Lincoln, CA

The same clay that built Gladding, McBean makes Lincoln yards slow to drain and quick to crust.

No charge to walk your lot, and every quote in writing
Prep, seed, mulch and erosion control priced as separate lines
A written watering schedule for the season you seed in

Seeding Lincoln's Clay Soils

Hydroseeding in Lincoln means working with clay. In the early 1870s, rich clay deposits of the Ione Formation were found near town, and they became the base of Gladding, McBean & Co., the pottery Lincoln is still known for. Clay that is good for terra cotta is not easy on a new lawn: it drains slowly in winter, bakes hard in summer and crusts over bare seed if it is left smooth and dry.

Preparing clay for seed

On Lincoln lots we loosen the top few inches, work in compost or screened topsoil where the builder left raw subgrade, and leave a lightly roughened surface rather than a polished one. Hydromulch helps here more than with dry broadcast seed, because the fiber layer keeps the surface from sealing and holds moisture against the seed between waterings.

The fastest-growing decade in the country

Lincoln grew 282.1 percent between 2000 and 2010, from 11,205 people to 42,819, the fastest growth of any U.S. city over 10,000 that decade. The town stayed small until the mid-1990s, when Sacramento suburbs spread past Roseville. That surge left thousands of yards that were first landscaped around the same time, and many of those lawns are now ready for renovation or overseeding.

Auburn Ravine and drainage

The original townsite was laid out in 1859 where the railroad bends at Auburn Ravine. Lots that drain toward the ravine or toward its side channels need erosion control after any grading. On clay, runoff starts sooner than on sandy ground, so fiber rolls along the contour and a bonded fiber matrix on banks are more useful than relying on seed alone.

Placer County winter rules

Placer County asks that sites not finished by October 15 be winterized, with BMPs kept in place all winter, and that erosion and sediment control materials stay on site even in the dry season. It also says straw used for erosion protection should be about 2 inches thick and recommends keeping a 5- to 10-foot vegetated strip around the perimeter. For construction phases in and around Lincoln, we plan seeding so slopes are covered before mid-October.

Weather

Lincoln gets about 20.45 inches of rain a year, mostly from October through April, and July highs run in the mid-90s. Fall seeding on prepared clay usually gives the best stand. Get a free estimate or call (916) 249-7160.

Lincoln Soil and Growth Facts

Ione Formation clay. Rich clay deposits of the Ione Formation found in the early 1870s led to Gladding, McBean & Co.
Record growth. Lincoln grew 282.1 percent from 2000 to 2010, the fastest of any U.S. city over 10,000 that decade.
Auburn Ravine. The 1859 townsite was laid out where the railroad line bends at Auburn Ravine.
Winterizing deadline. Placer County says sites not finished by October 15 must be winterized with BMPs kept in place.

Erosion Control & Hydromulch in Sacramento, CA

Our Services in Lincoln, CA

Lincoln Questions

Will hydroseed grow on Lincoln clay?

Yes, with prep. We loosen the surface, add organic matter where the soil is raw subgrade and keep it roughened so the mulch and seed bond to it instead of sliding on a sealed crust.

My lawn went in around 2005 and looks tired. Renovate or overseed?

Many Lincoln lawns from the growth years are at that point. If the turf is mostly alive, aerate and overseed. If weeds and bare spots dominate, a full hydroseed renovation is usually better.

Why does water sit on my yard for days after rain?

Clay drains slowly. A small regrade to move surface water away, sometimes with a drain line, usually fixes it before we seed.

What has to be done before October 15 on a Placer County site?

Placer County expects unfinished sites to be winterized by then, with erosion and sediment controls in place for the season. Seeded slopes, fiber rolls and covered stockpiles are the usual pieces.

Free Estimates in Lincoln, CA

Free estimates on Lincoln lawns and sites.

Call (916) 249-7160 Free Estimate