Hydro Seeding Materials We Suggest for Every Load

Hydro Seeding Mulch — Types of mulch and their application

100% Paper Mulch. This is made from chopped up newspaper with a blue/green dye. It comes in bales wrapped in plastic in 30, 40 & 50 pound sizes. It performs very well and is the best choice for jet agitated hydro seeders. The heavier the bale the more it is compacted. Lighter bales are easier to add to a jet unit than heavier bales because they are more loosely packed. Paper mulch combines high performance with a low price and is a great choice.

Pourable Mulch. These may be a combination of paper and corn or paper and wood. They are ideal for smaller jet machines that have smaller openings. These mulches are basically flakes or pellets that can be poured right into the machine in seconds with no spillage. Pourable mulches are made by two companies: Profile Products (Cover Grow, Seed Aide) and Phoenix Paper (EZ Mulch AF).

Wood Mulches. These mulches are made from wood byproducts; one advantage is that wood mulches retain more water than paper mulch. However they also take longer to absorb water so loads must mix for a longer time. 100% wood mulches are not recommended for use in any jet machine. Wood mulches tend to float more and when the tank gets low the water can leach out of the mulch leaving a thick layer at the bottom. Blended mulches that are 50-50 can be used in jet units 300 gallons and larger; some 70-30 mulches can be used in those jet units. When using any wood mulch it is important to flush out the unit when you are done spraying. HSM's HARV and T series units can spray wood mulches.

High Performance Mulch. For severe erosion control jobs there are many high performance mulches available (BFM's, FGM's). Most are basically wood mulch with additives that make them stick even better. They are expensive (3 to 4 times the price of paper mulch) and must be applied heavily (often 3000 to 4000 pounds per acre). Flexterra and other high performance mulches can be sprayed with HSM's HARV and T series units.

Other Mulches. There are a few other products used in hydro seeding such as straw and cotton.

Seeds Used in Hydro Seeding Applications

Most any seed can be used in a hydroseeder. This includes any grass seed, wildflowers, erosion control seeds such as crown vetch and birdsfoot trefoil. There are some grasses for which there is no commercially available seed (e.g. St Augustine). Commonly hydroseeded are blue grass, fescue, rye grasses, Bermuda, Bahia, centipede, native grasses, wild flowers and more. Hydro seeding does not require special seeds.

Fertilizer for Hydro Seeding

With most hydroseeders you can use any fertilizer you wish — granular, water soluble or liquid. We do not recommend agricultural fertilizer. When hydroseeding we prefer a high phosphorus starter fertilizer but many like a balanced fertilizer such as 19-19-19. Keep in mind the higher the numbers the less filler. Nitrogen is very corrosive; with a metal tank some operators prefer to spread fertilizer as a second step with a spreader. This is usually not a concern with a poly tank.

Hydroseeding Tack (Tackifier)

Tackifiers accomplish two things. They hold the mulch and seed in place in case of rains, even heavy rains. They also lubricate the system and make it slippery, allowing operators to use more mulch per load and helping minimize clogs. Products include polyacrylamide (usually 3 lbs/acre, easy to store and inexpensive) and Guar (from the gum of the Guar tree, usually about 30 lbs/acre).

Optional Products That Can Be Used in a Hydroseeder

Co-Polymer Gel holds 400 times its weight in water and slowly releases it into the seed bed. It can reduce watering requirements by 50%. Ideal for jobs that won't be watered.

Bio-Stimulants — natural additives to help seed germinate and make grass plants healthier. Many people add these to get the best lawn possible.

Herbicides — some can be added to minimize weed competition (e.g. "Drive"). Check state requirements; an applicator's licence may be needed. Drive can reduce Kentucky Bluegrass germination by about 25%; add extra seed if that grass is in the mix.

Lime. We don't recommend ag lime in a hydroseeder — the particles are hard and sharp and can cause excessive pump wear. Apply lime separately, or use Liquid Lime or Profile's Nutra-Lime dry; both are highly concentrated.

Spray-on Topsoil — products like ProGanics (Profile) or Biotic Earth can be sprayed on-site as a topsoil replacement, especially good for steep slopes. Depending on tank size, one load can replace 1 to 3 truckloads of topsoil. Use a T series or HARV series unit to apply.