Hydroseeding is the process of spraying an area down with a mixture of seeds and mulch with a large amount of water, and is a great way to plant grass and plants over a large area. There are many different types of mulch that can be used in the hydroseeding process, each of which seeks to provide an ideal environment for plant growth but carries a distinct set of advantages and drawbacks with it. Understanding the differences between the main types of hydroseed mulch can help you decide which one is the best fit for your landscaping project's needs.
Wood Fiber Mulch
Wood fiber mulch is the best quality mulch that you can use when hydroseeding. Made out of ground up hardwood, wood fiber mulch that is used in a hydroseeding mixture will retain water for an extremely long period of time, slowly breaking down into nutrients which promote plant growth. Wood fiber mulch will provide the greatest benefit to the seeds that it is used to plant, and will also control erosion to the highest degree when compared to other types of mulches that are commonly used in hydroseeding projects, though it is an expensive option that is not well suited for landscaping projects with tight budgets.
Paper Mulch
Paper mulch is the budget option for most hydroseeding projects. Made out of recycled paper products, paper mulch will hold onto water for the seeds that are included in the mixture. However, since paper is less durable than alternative types of mulch, it will not continue to provide benefits to the area that it is applied to over the long term as it will be quickly washed away with rainfall. This means that paper mulch hydroseeding is only ideal for use if it is being applied to an already existing bed of mulch or soil, or if no other hydroseeding options are within your landscaping budget.
Blended Mulch
Blended mulch is the middle of the road option when it comes to hydroseeding. Made out of a mixture of both paper and wood mulch, blended mulch provides a great balance between price and water retention. The actual blend will vary, but a mixture of 50/50 will provide some degree of erosion control, water retention, and weed suppression while allowing you to stay within your landscaping budget. Further, since it contains a significant amount of wood mulch, the benefits associated with blended mulch hydroseeding will extend into the medium and long term (though obviously not to the same degree as if you used pure wood fiber mulch).
For more information visit Bark Blowers & Hydroseeding Inc's website.
Share26 July 2017
About a year ago, I realized that part of the reason the plants in my yard kept dying was the fact that they were planted in the wrong places. I didn't pay much attention to which plants needed certain amounts of light, and it was costing them their lives. Several of the plants were really struggling to live, and it was really hard to see. I realized that if I ever wanted to make things right, I would need to create a landscaping plan that would work well for the natural landscape of my yard. This blog is all about understanding landscaping.
