Category Archives: Hydroseeding Benefits

To sod or hydroseed…that is the question! There are pros and cons to both…let’s discuss.

Sod:    is grass with part of the soil beneath it held together by the roots. Usually it comes in rolls from sod/turf farms to be unrolled and installed and consists mainly of high-maintenance Kentucky Bluegrass species of grass.

The most common misconception about sod is that people expect it can be grown anywhere; they expect success in any soil condition with little or no preparation, or under very shady areas. While sod is an established plant it still must be treated as a new lawn and prepared exactly the same way you would if you were seeding a new lawn.

Especially in the newer subdivisions, sod is being planted on top of sometimes pure clay with less than 2 inches of top soil. While the lawns stay alive -barely, they are a permanent yellow, half dead state and they look extremely unhealthy. Some are not so lucky and turn completely brown.

Therefore, we recommend at least 4-6 inches of good quality, manure based topsoil that has been raked and compacted. Sod is comprised of established plants, although they are still being transplanted, which is a big shock to the plant especially in hot weather. Before installing the sod the prepared subsoil should be watered and moist, and fertilized according to soil test recommendations.

Hydroseeding:     (or hydraulic-mulch seeding, hydro-mulching, hydraseeding) is a planting process which utilizes a slurry of seed and mulch in a water base. The slurry is train transported in a tank, either truck or trailer-mounted, and sprayed over prepared ground.

Hydroseeding is a much quicker and cost effective way of installing a lawn and an alternative to sod. Firstly, the lawn area must be prepared the same way as described above; raked, and leveled, etc. However, hydroseeding can be much more useful than sod when dealing with hard to access areas, steep banks, or larger areas (over 2500 sq ft). This is because all that is needed is hose access (up to 200 ft). The seed/slurry is then sprayed accurately onto the desired areas using a special blend of quality seed, or for banks/erosion control wildflower mixes can also be used.

Any seed type can be sprayed out of the hydroseeder onto your lawn area and within 3-4 weeks (in the growing season) you will see some growth and 6-8 weeks it should be ready for the first mow.

Estimates of the cost difference between sod and hydroseeding, peg the latter at 1/2 to a 1/3 the price of sod.

If you’d like to discuss further, please feel free to contact us anytime.

Article compliments of Wallpro Landscaping

Guest blog post from Joe @ Pacocha Landscaping Services, Inc.

My professional opinion on the use of sod is that I will recommend it only when absolutely necessary. The reason we like growing a lawn from seed over sod is that we can choose the best blend of turf grass seed for the specific site/conditions at hand. Please keep in mind that most commercially grown Kentucky Bluegrass blend sod is meant to be installed in areas that have 70% + sun exposure throughout a given day. One important factor rarely exposed by most sod resellers.

When the choice is made to grow a new lawn by seed you will need to intentionally “over prepare” the soil and nurture the seed for optimum germination and deep root establishment to ensure great long term results. Sod on the other hand can be simply laid on a “sub-par” soil surface and kept alive as long as there is adequate and routine irrigation available.

Other factors that can easily stress poorly rooted sod are everyday foot traffic, pet waste, intense heat, insect activity, minimal watering, excessive watering, fungus, sub-par mechanical maintenance, etc. Even though seed will take a growing season or two to fully establish and reach the density levels you are looking for, you will have great long term results with lower maintenance costs thereafter. Sod on the other hand will look great instantly and usually require a greater initial financial investment, but will also continue to cost more over time to maintain (rebuild fading sod density due to limited initial grass variety selection, avoiding constant fungal related threats, continual need to break through dense thatch layer, etc.).

The average sodded lawn retains a non-native soil layer that routinely causes poor air/water/nutrient flow to the lawn’s root zone below. In many cases we are forced to break down this “soil barrier” by performing multiple core aerations, mechanical slit-seeding, power raking/dethatching, etc. each and every growing season to maintain acceptable turf density.

More questions on seeding vs sodding your new lawn? Contact us today!

Cost Effective

Hydroseeding is definitely the most economical choice for establishing the growing results desired without the expense, time consumption, material costs or installation demands of sodding or traditional hand seeding methods. A great looking lawn can also significantly increase the value of your home.

Hydroseeding typically costs 50-80% less than the price of sod, and coupled with labour charges, the overall expenses associated with sodding can be astronomical. With the savings in material costs and installation expenses, a lawn could be fully established for half the price of sod or less.

Hydroseeding is also the cost effective solution over hand seeding as well. While the average hand-sewn lawn takes about half the day, the same area can be hydroseeded to completion in about an hour to an hour and a half. While maintaining even more beautiful results, a healthier lawn, costs savings and faster germination, hydroseeding is truly the cost effective choice and wave of the future.

Quality

The lawn quality that hydroseeding affords is much healthier, greener and longer lasting than sodding or hand seeding applications. The root establishment is grown deeper into the soil and avoids the shock of being transplanted into foreign soils, which is what occurs with sod methods.

Hydroseeding typically yields superior results the first time it is installed and the seeds are more resistant to external problems because it has been adjusted to its present soil conditions. Hydroseeded soils hold moisture better than sod or hand seeded types, therefore the seeds can germinate quicker.

Additionally, hydroseeding includes fewer weed seeds, no layering of soils, and incorporates a tackifier coagulant that will not experience wash out. Consequently, it is fairly common for a peat moss covered seed to wash out in the event of moderate inclement weather.

With hydroseeding, it is possible to customize the application of different grass seed preferences to meet the quality expectations of the client’s aesthetic appeal, traffic needs and surrounding environments.

Coverage

Hydroseeding provides a thicker, more uniform lawn that essentially consists of a mat of interlocking fibers creating the ideal growing environment that doesn’t have the threat of seams showing as with sod or sparse, patchy areas with hand seeding. Hydroseeding creates an evenly covered area that forms a barrier to keep seed stabilized and retain moisture, fertilizer and other healthy growth-enhancing nutrients, while ultimately resulting in a full, lush lawn.

Other beneficial coverage advantages of hydroseeding are its ability to cover large, difficult and inaccessible areas, such as slopes, that are too steep for sod, hard seeding or mat applications. Coupled with increased plant survival and faster germination, hydroseeding is ideal for covering projects ranging from golf courses to roadside erosion control.

Erosion Control

Erosion control is the most prevalent reason for using hydroseeding in an effort to hold moisture and protect against erosion from wind, rain, sun and pests through the binding of seed, mulch, tackifiers and other soil conditioners that encompass the hydroseeding slurry to bind with the ground surface soil.

Versatility & Use

Hydroseeding has become increasing popular, overshadowing both hand seeding and sod, for a wide array of job sites and applications. Some of these uses include residential lawns, erosion control, hillside stabilization, vegetation restoration, wildfire repair, roadsides, national parks, soil renovation, landfills, city parks, airport dust control, and many other versatile uses.

Hydroseeding is used primarily to establish permanent lawns or landscaping, however it is also known for serving as temporary cover for dirt that will eventually be moved. One of the benefits of hydroseeding is that the seed varieties that are added to hydroseeding slurry mix are as unique and varied as the job sites themselves. It is accommodating to be able to mix and match different seed blends to satisfy the needs of the clients and job. One of the main separations between hydroseeding and other methods of seeding is its ability to economically seed large, hard-to-reach areas where alternative seeding methods may not be easily accomplished.

Health

Hydroseeding creates the ideal microenvironment for germinating seed because the slurry materials enhance the seeds germination process and stimulates the seeds to grow a healthy, deep-rooted system in the ground where moisture is at its greatest.

In comparison to sod, hydroseeding is grown right at ones home, rather than some distant sod farm, so the threat of transplant shock or soil adaptation problems are not an issue. A hydroseeded yard maintains full growth and resists disease and weeds.

Because the hydroseeding slurry is a combination of different elements to help maximize seed growth, each of those individual elements adds various benefits to the hydroseeding process. Mulch fiber helps prevent wind and water erosion, while simultaneously protecting the surface from sun damage and soil temperature fluctuation. Ultimately the mulch fiber decomposes and adds nourishment to the soil to enhance the germination process. Working together with the mulch, fertilizers have high phosphorus content to enhance the root growth and soil amendments improve the pH levels of the soil.

Traditional hand seeding methods will have considerably less grass growth than a hydroseeded yard because hydroseeding provides a moisture retaining mulch that allows the undisturbed seed to germinate and root faster.

Speed

Although hydroseeding doesn’t afford the “instant lawn” gratification, such as sod, the combination of cost, quality, coverage, erosion control and health definitely tip the scales in favour of the plentiful benefits of hydroseeding.

Hydroseeding is faster and easier to install than sod, and this rapid application is managed without the downfall of outstanding labour expenditures. A properly hydroseeded and watered lawn will start to grow in about 7 days, and under normal conditions, will be fully established and ready to mow in 3-4 weeks. In comparison to other methods of seeding, seed applied in a hydroseeding mix will generally show growth and develop turf faster than if it was applied in a broadcast fashion.

Safety

Hydroseeding is a completely safe and non-toxic method of growing grass that is harmless to kids, pets, wildlife and the environment.

Labour

One of the major advantages of hydroseeding hydroseeding is simply manpower. In a typical hydroseeding application, one can fully depend on less than 3 men to accomplish what is would take 6 workers to fulfill given the same amount of work time using erosion blankets or sod. Not only is hydroseeding the ideal seeding application to attain a beautiful lawn at a fraction of the material cost and labour expenses as sod, but ultimately it requires very little intense labour to install.

In addition to sod, hand seeding can be even more labour intensive and physically demanding, and usually results in lumpy, inconsistent results that don’t warrant the challenge of the installation.

Water Retention

With hydroseeding’s ability to retain up to 10 times its weight in water, it’s definitely proved to be the best method for fast, healthy germination, high plant survival and protection of seeds with a moisture sealant. No other method of growing grass, whether sod or hand seeding, has the advantages of hydroseeding when it comes to water retention. In the hydroseeding mix, fiber mulch and tackifiers are used to anchor the mixture to slopes and help seal in moisture. The water is then slowly released, along with nutrients, to the root system to constantly replenish itself until the next rainfall. A hydroseeded ground starts growing grass from the root first, allowing the root system to go deep into the ground where moisture is at its greatest, making a very drought-tolerant lawn. On the contrary, when using sod, the ground has a difficult time establishing a root system making it weak in drought type conditions, and with hand seeding, the watering demands are twice as much as a hydroseeded lawn.

Some soils are prone to erosion because it lacks vegetation to resist rainfall and water runoff. Plants and grass roots hold soil together and contain water, preventing the soil from breaking apart and running off with the stream. Erosion happens when the soil is weak to stand gravity, running water or even strong wind. So it’s obvious that to keep the soil solid and strong, maintaining vegetation is important.

However, it is not as simple and easy as it appears. Some areas cannot obtain vegetation because it contains poor soils that simply cannot support plant growth. Soils that have been dried out of nutrients for industrial use or soils that are naturally not suitable for planting, for example, cannot achieve organic development without human and chemical intervention. Left on their own, it will take hundreds of years for these types to develop topsoil. And, layering them with at least inches-thick of good soil would not be economically viable for landowners.

The most cost-effective solution for extremely difficult soil is Verdyol’s Biotic Earth Black. It is a mulch and growth medium that contains specially processed straw, flexible flax fibers with Canadian Sphagnum peat moss. It features the most effective ingredients for strong soil building, which includes Triacontonal growth stimulant, mycorrhizae, micronutrients and soil conditioners. When applied with Biotic Earth Black, dry and unhealthy soil can absorb water and retain moist better. The product enhances soil structure and promotes plant growth even in the most intricate types of soil.

Biotic Earth Black is most effective in controlling the wearing of soil when it is applied with other erosion control product. In a highly successful vegetation project in Milner Ridge, single and double sided blankets were used to prevent erosion in a slope. The blankets helped held together the soil up to one year for the vegetation to fully mature. The result was absolute success. Over 90% of the large area obtained vegetation with only two instances of minor erosions during the whole project. The company also saved money in terms of cost by utilizing Biotic Earth Black rather than filling the area with topsoil.

For many hydroseeding contractors and erosion control specialists the development of Flexible Growth Mediums could just be the next big innovation; hydroseeding contractors can now hydraulically apply an erosion control solution that outstrips the performance of other techniques, offering superior results whilst achieving major labour savings.

FGM’s are at the cutting edge of soil erosion technology, bettering the performance of high quality Bonded Fire Matrix products and erosion control blankets. This has strengthened the position of specialist hydroseeding contractors in the soil erosion marketplace, who can now use the hydroseeding equipment they already own to carry out market leading erosion control works.

For hydroseeding contractors and clients the major benefits of this new technique include.

• Effective application-bonds directly to the soil
• Stellar erosion control-99% effective in major testing laboratories
• Rapid turf establishment-vegetation can grow eight times faster than bare soil and twice as fast as blankets
• Quicker to lay and lower installed costs than blankets
• Seduced soil preparation required
• Safe for wildlife-no nets, threads or staples to snare wildlife or become caught in mowing equipment

Once a hydroseeding contractor has applied FGM it effectively acts to seal off the soil from the impact of rain and concentrated flows, to out performing erosion control blankets in rainfall simulation tests. Once applied the FGM is able to hold on to water and maintain air space, this results in superior and accelerated growth.

A combination of Thermally Refined® wood fibres, crimped man-made fibres and performance-enhancing additives form an interlocking matrix that creates air space and water-absorbing cavities to accelerate germination, reduce the impact of raindrop energy and minimize soil loss once hydroseeding is complete. After hydroseeding Water-resistant tackifiers and flocculants chemically bond the matrix to the soil surface, absorbing water and enabling superior vegetation establishment. Some FGM’s are able to achieve 98% effectiveness just 2 hours after hydroseeding and are proven to be 99% effective once cured.

As with BFM’s, Flexible Growth Mediums hydraulically using a range of hydroseeding equipment. This hydraulic application carries all of the cost saving benefits of hydroseeding and BFM products by keeping labour and ground preparation requirements minimal.

Recently Profile Products has introduced the new Flexterra high-performance, flexible growth medium (HP-FGM). This is designed to be used by hydroseeding contractors and is capable of achieving 600-percent greater initial seed germination and more than a 250-percent greater biomass than its predecessor, whilst being totally biodegradable.

The original Flexterra FGM, initially set the standard in the market and it was widely used by hydroseeding contractors; It led the march towards hydraulically applied techniques that could be delivered using hydraulic machinery.

Tests following EPA protocol concluded the product is completely safe for aquatic and terrestrial life forms and after hydroseeding it immediately bonds to the soil surface to reduce turbidity of runoff for up to 18 months.

These products have revolutionised the market and changed the direction of erosion control solutions from blankets towards hydroseeding and has strengthened the position of the hydroseeding contractor in the market place.

Oliver Brown, Managing Director of Oliver Brown Ltd, Specialists in Hydroseeding and Erosion Control

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5918983