Nine drumlins and a lot of woods

Hydroseeding in Acton, MA

Clearing a lot in a forested town means stabilizing soil fast.

No-charge yard visit and an itemized quote on paper
Seed blends picked for sun, shade and salt exposure
Watering and first-mow instructions with every job

Turning Wooded Acton Lots Into Lawn

Hydroseeding in Acton usually starts with cleared woods. Almost all of Acton is forested, except where land has been opened up for homes or farming. When a new house or addition goes in, trees come out and the ground underneath has never grown turf.

Forest soil is not lawn soil

The top layer in a wooded lot is mostly leaf litter and roots over glacial till. Once it is cleared, we remove stumps and roots from the surface, grade, and add topsoil so grass has something to grow in. Then the hydroseed slurry goes on in one pass. Without that prep, seed tends to germinate and fade within a month.

Drumlins and till

The last glaciers left Acton about 10,000 years ago and shaped nine drumlins, hills made of glacial till. USDA describes upland till soils like the Paxton series as having a dense, firm layer below where water can perch in late fall to early spring. On drumlin slopes that means fast runoff on top and soggy spots at the bottom. We use extra mulch or a blanket on the slope and watch the low end.

Kettle ponds and brooks

Wills Hole and Grassy Pond are kettle ponds left by melting ice blocks. Two brook systems, Nashoba Brook and Fort Pond Brook, carry water across town to the Assabet River. Lots near any of them get silt fence or compost sock during grading.

Lots of conservation land

The town owns more than 1,650 acres of conservation land, including Great Hill, the Nashoba Brook areas and Heath Hen Meadow. Many yards back onto these parcels. We seed up to the property line and keep spray off the conservation side.

Growth in North Acton

North Acton grew substantially after the late 1970s, especially along Route 2A and 119. Lawns from that era are now old enough to need renovation, and we do that work too.

Get a price for your Acton lot. Get a free estimate or call (617) 812-0882.

Acton Glacial Landscape

Nine drumlins. Acton has nine drumlins, hills of glacial till shaped as the glaciers retreated about 10,000 years ago.
Kettle ponds. Wills Hole and Grassy Pond are kettle ponds formed in depressions left by large ice blocks.
Forest cover. Almost all of Acton is forested except land cleared for homes or farming.
Conservation land. The town owns more than 1,650 acres of conservation land, including the 185-acre Great Hill area.
Till subsoil. USDA notes water may perch on the dense layer of Paxton-type till soils from late fall to early spring.

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Acton Questions

We just cleared trees for an addition. Can you seed right away?

After stumps and surface roots are removed and topsoil is spread. Seeding straight onto forest floor rarely holds.

The bottom of my sloped yard is always wet. Why?

Drumlin till often has a tight layer underneath that holds water. Grading, topsoil and a wet-tolerant blend at the low end help.

Do you work near Nashoba Brook?

Yes. We put a sediment barrier on the brook side and keep it in place until the grass fills in.

Can you renovate a 1980s North Acton lawn?

Yes. We strip the old turf, add compost or topsoil and hydroseed the yard.

Free Estimates in Acton, MA

Free estimates for Acton homes and builders.

Call (617) 812-0882 Free Estimate