Named for its quarries

Hydroseeding in Rocklin, CA

Granite sits close to the surface in parts of Rocklin, and Secret Ravine still shows its Gold Rush scars.

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

Thin Soil, Granite and Grass in Rocklin

A lot of hydroseeding in Rocklin comes down to soil depth. The city was named in 1864 for its granite quarry, granite from Secret Ravine went into the base course of the California Capitol, and quarrying went on until 2004. In the Placer County foothills, the USDA's Andregg soil series, established in Placer County, forms in weathered granodiorite and is typically 20 to 40 inches deep to weathered rock, on slopes from 2 to 75 percent. On lots with shallow, sandy granitic soil, a lawn dries out quickly and roots have little room.

Building a seedbed on granitic ground

The Andregg description calls these soils well drained with moderately rapid permeability. That is good for drainage and hard on new seed, which can dry out between waterings. Before we hydroseed a Rocklin lot with thin decomposed granite, we usually recommend a few inches of imported topsoil, and the hydromulch layer itself helps hold moisture at the surface during germination.

Secret Ravine and old tailings

Secret Ravine runs through Rocklin. Miners sluiced its streams in the 1850s, and dredger tailings are still visible between Roseville and Loomis southeast of Interstate 80. Where yards back onto the ravine or onto tailing piles, the ground is uneven and the soil is coarse, so slope stabilization with bonded fiber matrix or blankets is often a better fit than turf.

Steady new construction

Rocklin added more than 4,000 housing units between 2010 and 2020, going from 22,010 to 26,124, and the population grew 25.7 percent to 71,601. Commercial growth along the Highway 65 corridor and Interstate 80 brings graded pads and landscape slopes that need temporary or permanent seeding. Builders here also need silt fence and inlet protection around active lots through the rainy months.

Rain and heat

Rocklin averages about 22.8 inches of rain a year with cool, wet winters and July highs near 94 degrees. Shallow granitic soil heats and dries faster than valley clay, so summer-seeded lawns here need closer watching than the same lawn in Sacramento. Fall seeding gives the most margin.

What we usually quote in Rocklin

Topsoil and fine grading before new lawns
Hydroseed lawns for new homes
BFM or blankets on ravine-side slopes
Silt fence and fiber rolls for builders

Get a free estimate or call (916) 249-7160.

Rocklin Geology and Growth

Granite quarry town. Rocklin was named for its granite quarry in 1864, and granite mining ended in 2004.
Granitic soil. The Andregg soil series, established in Placer County, forms in weathered granodiorite 20 to 40 inches over rock.
Mining scars. Miners sluiced Secret Ravine in the 1850s, and dredger tailings remain visible between Roseville and Loomis.
Rainfall. Rocklin's average annual precipitation is 22.80 inches, and snow accumulation is very rare.

Silt Fence & Sediment Control in Sacramento, CA

Our Services in Rocklin, CA

Rocklin Questions

Do I need topsoil before hydroseeding in Rocklin?

On thin decomposed granite, usually yes. A few inches of topsoil gives roots room and holds water between waterings. Where the native soil is deeper, we may only need to loosen it.

Can you seed a slope that drops to Secret Ravine?

Yes. We usually suggest bonded fiber matrix or an erosion blanket with a low-water seed mix, and fiber rolls at the base, rather than a mowed lawn.

Why does my lawn brown faster than my friend's in Sacramento?

Sandy granitic soil holds less water than valley clay and heats up faster. More frequent, shorter watering and deeper topsoil help.

Do you install silt fence for builders here?

Yes, along with fiber rolls, inlet protection and seeding of graded pads and slopes.

Free Estimates in Rocklin, CA

Estimates for Rocklin lots, slopes and builders.

Call (916) 249-7160 Free Estimate