Wifey and I are close to being finished with our new home, and in our contract/budget, builder is set to hydramulch the yard.

Seeking advise on whether to move forward or to consider other options. Wifey wants St. Augustine, but the cost and the work to lay sod may be too much (i'm a poor now that the house is almost complete).

Bermuda is the type of hydramulch they will be putting in. Anyone else have this done? Is this type of product conducive to allowing weeds to grow?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Depending on the mulch used, there is usually some type of herbicide mixed in to limit weed growth. Obviously sod is a quicker option to a full lawn, and if you don't have the extra money to spend, hydromulch will be fine if you follow the watering schedule (a LOT of water initially).

As far as surface prep, it shouldn't be much different from one to another. Lawn needs to be smooth and level, no rocks or dirt clumps with a top soil.

Also, the sooner to better for this application. You'll want all summer for that new Bermuda to grow.

Good to know! We have an extremely good producing water well, so watering shouldn't be a major problem. I have always had a St. Augustine lawn, so not sure what to think of Bermuda. Are there better options for a mostly full sun lawn (as it sits now)?

I am open to other grasses, and several can be hydramulched, but just not knowledgeable in this department!

St A shouldn't even be a consideration due to water requirements. Bermuda is a great option for a full sun lawn in TX. Better yet, go native and never water.

What Aggietaco said.

I subcontract our grass on my projects and sod always grows better. The hydromulch works over time. But the growth can be very slow, and the coverage can be real spotty. When watering, it can be washed out as well. Sod stays where it's put and gives uniform growth. We choose sod over hydromulch any day. Our areas to grow grass are usually very large and slopped as well. I would consider hydromulch if your area is fairly flat and not too large where the material could be placed uniformly.

Block sod Bermuda. Seed with the in the winter

Sod is nice, but for us the cost was 4x more than hydromulch.

We didn't hydromulch until too late on the summer (late August) so it didn't come in real well last year, but now that it's getting hot it is really starting to fill in. Our neighbors sodded about the same time and they already have a nice uniform full lawn.

If you are ok with your lawn taking a year or two to look decent and you want to save money, go for it.

Thanks for the input guys! Any one else have any experience with hydramulch?

The lakehouse yard was hydra mulched a few years back with blue fescue. It worked great as it is mostly shaded by live oaks. If I had my choice with a full sun yard I'd put in a native buffalo grass and not worry about watering nearly as much.

Anybody else have recommendations? Experiences?

It's getting to be "nut-cutting" time and a decision needs to be made asap. Just not having a ton of luck finding info on the inter-web.

I did he hydra in the back and sodded the front. The back eventually came in but it's not as pretty as the front.

I eventually laid sod in the thinner places in the back and let it run.

https://www.hydromousse.com/

I saw an ad for this on TV. Is this the product you are talking about?

I was thinking of using it in the backyard next spring under the Oaks, where
i can't seem to grow my St Aug. (Waiting, because I think it will grow better in
early spring when there is more rain and less heat).

Any guidance would be helpful