One of the biggest differences between jet agitated hydroseeding units and mechanically agitated equipment is the type of mulch used. There are a few different types of commonly used mulch:
- Paper Mulch
- Blended Wood and Paper Mulch
- Wood Mulch
- Bonded Fiber Matrix
- Flexible Growth Mediums
The different types of mulch all have different applications in the field and choosing a hydroseeder to fit your needs is important. The main type of mulch used in the jet agitated hydroseeders is paper(cellulose) mulch. If used properly the paper mulch can cover up to a 4:1 slope. This will cover most needs when doing lawn repair work, seeding new lawns, and doing erosion control on slopes that are less than 4:1. The functionality of paper mulch can be up to three months if the weather conditions allow it. Many Landscapers and construction contractors choose the jet agitated hydroseeders because they have few problems and are the most affordable units on the market.
The mulch that we recommend for use in our equipment is the pour-able paper mulch. The paper mulch is compressed into pellets and comes in bags of 40-50#. These bags are easier to deal with and take up less room in your truck or on a trailer. Typically a 40# bag of pour-able mulch will cover a minimum of 1,000 square feet. In order to get a decent end product we suggest that you cover 1,000-1,400 square feet per 100 gallons of hydroseed.
When using paper mulch, tackifier is extremely helpful in strengthening the bond between the cellulose fibers and the soil. So when using paper mulch on a slope tackifier can help your product last longer and prevent erosion. The better that your mulch bonds with the soil, the easier it is for the seed to germinate and take root in the soil.
We have had customers use a blend of paper and wood mulch in our equipment successfully. We do not recommend that customers use wood mulch as the primary mulch because of the risk of clogs in our machines. The wood fibers are bigger than the cellulose fibers and risk clogging in the agitation lines and in the pump.
At the end of the day our customers have to decide what machine and mulch fit their needs and we are here to help answer questions and get you the information you need to make the right decision.
We look forward to hearing from you!