Hydroseeding is cheaper than laying sod for a few reasons. Mostly, there are fewer labor costs that go into producing the product. Sod rolls must be harvested, transported and installed usually within 24 hours of cutting it out of the ground. Installing sod requires more laborers than hydroseeding, and laying out individual sod rolls takes longer than spraying down seed. But there are reasons to choose sodding over hydroseeding. After sod is installed, you only need to wait a couple weeks before you can use a riding mower on it and not have to worry about damaging roots or sliding the sod rolls out of place. Hydroseeding usually takes between three to six weeks for grass to fully grow, soon after which it can be maintained as a lawn with regular mowing. Sod also does a better job of suffocating out weeds initially. With hydroseeding, you can expect to see more weeds at first. Usually a few mowing cycles will promote grass development to the point where they out-compete the weeds, but a selective herbicide application is often required shortly after your lawn is first mowed. Overall, the initial cost of hydroseeding and the possibility of additional weed control costs are still lower than the cost of sodding. It often comes down to whether the landowner is ok with waiting a few more weeks for a lush green lawn, or if they want more instant gratification. Both options will produce a lush green lawn if the soil is properly prepared before installation, irrigation is adequate, and mowing is regularly used to promote grass density and root development.

Although these two processes are similar and the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, hydroseeding refers to the process of combing water, seeds, fertilizer or other dissolvable additives in tank and then spraying the mixture onto a prepared soil bed or existing vegetation. Hydromulching uses the same combination of products as hydroseeding, except mulch is added to the tank and mixed up before spraying. There are different kinds of mulch, each with their own benefits, but most mulches used in hydromulching operations are composed of ground up paper, wood, or a combination of the two materials. Sometimes, a two-step application is used where first we hydroseed to ensure good seed to soil contact, and then hydromulch over the top of that to provide a layer of protection and moisture control for the seeds.

A no-till drill is a kind of seeder that is typically used to establish vegetation without disturbing the soil. The benefits of this method of seeding are that soil loss through erosion is eliminated and there are less weeds to deal with immediately after seeding (weeds love disturbed soil sites). This method of planting is ideal for existing pastureland or rangeland, as well as on bare soil.