No! Hydroseeding has been around for almost 50 years. Its recent popularity is due to the production of smaller, less expensive equipment.

2) WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HYDROSEEDING AND HYDROMULCHING?

Hydroseeding is the generic term used to describe the application of a slurry, which is a mixture of water, grass seed, fertilizer, and fiber mulch to a site where turf is desired. Hydromulching is the same process, except it denotes using a heavier slurry, which only mechanical agitation machines can achieve. Hydroseeding generally refers to recirculating jet agitating type machines.

3) IS HYDROSEEDING A SUPERIOR METHOD OF PLANTING GRASS AS COMPARED TO STRAW MULCHING OR SOD?

There are many variables to consider when determining how turf should be established on a site. There are advantages and disadvantages to each method.

STRAW...Blown straw is far superior to hand shaken straw. Blowing straw is usually faster and cheaper, but more labor intensive than Hydromulching. Straw also includes weed seed that is not present in hydromulch. After the grass germinates, hand shaken straw must always be raked up so that it does not smother the grass or impede it's growth. Straw that is blown will usually decompose in less than a year. Blown straw saves 20% over hand shaken straw. Straw is generally considered better when hot weather and lack of water are factors.

HYDROMULCHING...Seed, fertilizer and mulch are applied in one step. No weed seeds are in the mulch and you get better erosion control (especially on slopes). The major factor to consider when hydromulching is water. Availability of water, travel distance, water pressure and flow need to be considered when pricing a job. The faster you can cycle a load, the faster you can do a job. Overseeding, watering and tacking straw are additional uses for a hydromulching machine.

SOD...Immediate grass. Sod is expensive to buy; very labor intensive to install and it requires extensive watering to become established.

4) IS HYDROMULCHING EXPENSIVE?

Not really! The hydroseeding application costs about $.02 / sq. ft. (seed, fertilizer, and mulch)

5) WHICH MULCH IS BETTER? WOOD FIBER OR PAPER FIBER?

Wood fiber is superior to paper because it allows the seed to breathe. Paper, when applied at heavier rates forms a crust that can smother seed. Many people use a blended mulch of wood and paper fibers.

6) HOW MUCH AREA WILL A HYDROMULCHING MACHINE COVER?

This will depend on the type of job you are doing and how heavy a mat you need to lay. As a rule of thumb, figure 11-sq. ft. per gallon on new seeding and double that for overseeding. In spring and fall a tank load will cover more area because you do not need to lay as heavy a mat to protect the seed. In summer and on erosion prone areas the coverage will decrease as a heavier mat is needed to protect the seed and prevent evaporation and erosion. In the summer you will need to shoot multiple layers with a recirculating machine to lay a mat as thick as a mechanical agitated machine can shoot in one pass.

7) WHICH IS BETTER - A MECHANICALLY AGITATED MACHINE OR RECIRCULATING TYPE MACHINE?

Mechanically agitated machines are far superior to recirculating type machines. Mechanical machines mix and shoot faster, have a greater range, more power and handle heavier mulch loads than any recirculating machine. Most recirculating type machines have plastic tanks and can only handle thinner slurries. Mechanical machines mix 2 to 3 times faster and handle 50% more mulch than recirculating type machines. Time is money - You can hydromulch more area per day with a mechanically agitated machine.

8) IS A MECHANICALLY AGITATED MACHINE MORE EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN THAN A RECIRCULATING TYPE MACHINE?

NO!!! A recirculating type machine must run at very high RPM in order to mix and pump a slurry. This high RPM, the gallons of slurry passing through the pump and the abrasion from the fertilizer in each load causes excessive wear on the pump. Mechanically agitated machines run the pump slower and pump the slurry only once for spraying. The steel tank and agitator are coated with epoxy paint to protect them from rust. Proper clean-up is important and the machine can last more than ten years. A steel tank is repairable.

9) WHICH TYPE OF MACHINE IS MORE EXPENSIVE?

The recirculating type machine is generally less expensive to purchase. When you consider the cost to operate and the lower production rate, it is more expensive than the mechanically agitated model. A mechanically agitated machine is less expensive to own because it lasts longer, sprays more area, and has less down time from clogging.

10)WHAT IS A BONDED FIBER MATRIX?

Bonded Fiber Matrix is a new class of erosion control products, pioneered by Weyerhaeuser with the introduction of Soil Guard®. The term is being accepted within the erosion control industry to categorize hydraulically applied products, which are designed, tested and proven to match or exceed the performance of erosion control blankets.

A bonded fiber matrix is a continuous layer of elongated fiber strands held together by a water-resistant bonding agent. It eliminates direct raindrop impact on soil (it has no holes greater than one millimeter in size), it allows no gaps between the product and the soil and it has a high water-holding capacity. A bonded fiber matrix will not form a water-insensitive crust that can inhibit plant growth, and it will biodegrade completely into materials known to be beneficial to plant growth.