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TURF ESTABLISHMENT
Establishment of turf costs money and takes time. Laying sod usually costs the most and provides good survival and immediate and total coverage. Broadcasting seed on an unprepared area usually costs the least but the amount of turf ultimately established is highly uncertain and the time required for the coverage may be years. Today the budget for turf establishment and the time required for coverage usually determine the method used. There are numerous methods used today which cost less than sod and provide a higher success probability than unsophisticated seeding. Hydroseeding provides a relatively low cost and relatively good success.
Hydroseeding equipment is used to mix the seed, fertilizer, hydro mulch and water. This mixture is sprayed onto the ground through a slurry pump to form a mat of material similar in appearance to green paper mâché’. The mulch resists erosion, retains moisture and enhances initial growth. The fiber decomposes over a period of weeks, organically enriching the soil.
Warmth and water are the factors which promote quick germination. Seed bed conditions will determine the rates after germination. During the warmer months of the year, with daily watering, a hydroseed lawn should have excellent coverage in 15 to 30 days, depending on the seed used. During cooler plating times, a stand of grass equivalent to a total sod job will take longer. Without adequate irrigation the establishment time and coverage will vary substantially. Hydroseeding will usually germinate seed much quicker than broadcast seeding does and will hold the seed in place so that coverage is more uniform.
Any planting requires water, either irrigation or rainfall. In hydroseeding, the fiber mulch, a water retaining agent, makes the process far more effective than broadcast seeding. Even so, poor growth due to lack of water, especially in the extreme heat of summer, is by far the greatest and most difficult problem encountered with hydroseeding. Erosion caused by heavy rains can happen, especially if run-off water from a higher point flow over the newly seeded areas.
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