Sustainable Landscaping With Hydroseeders

Hydroseeding, the process of broadcasting seeds, fertilizers, and other soil additives, along with water onto a desired area, has been used for decades to successfully establish grasses and native plants.

The hydroseeding process is especially conducive to revegetate and rehabilitate areas that have been damaged due to activities like heavy construction or widespread erosion. For these reasons, hydroseeding is also being used effectively for sustainable landscaping in order to take advantage of hydroseeding’s environmental benefits.

What Is A ‘Sustainable’ Landscape?

Sustainable landscaping and sustainable landscaping practices rely on methods that protect and enhance the natural environment around the area, so that the resulting landscape is both ecologically and climate-appropriate. These methods help ensure both the success and longevity of landscaping projects, while supporting the greater ecosystem.

For example, sustainable landscaping will often include the use of native plants, water conservation principles, and considerations regarding regional biodiversity. In arid areas, sustainable landscapes may include more usage of rain gardens, while in other areas native plants may be paired with deciduous trees. Hydroseeding can help promote sustainable landscaping in a variety of ways, from controlling erosion to helping conserve water.

Environmental Benefits Of Hydroseeding

Hydroseeding includes numerous environmental benefits and can support sustainable landscaping. From effective erosion control to supporting water conservation and the growth of native plants and grasses, hydroseeding is increasingly being used to support sustainable environmental initiatives. Hydroseeding is especially effective at land reclamation and rehabilitation in sites that have been impacted by heavy construction, degradation, or contamination.

Native Planting

Native plants form the cornerstone of sustainable landscaping, as landscapers rely on these specifically climate-adapted plants to help an area establish well. Hydroseeding with native plants can help support large areas without the need for potentially harmful chemical fertilizers, since these plants are already well adapted to the environment, and have a better chance of establishing before invasive plant or weed growth can occur. Native plants can also generally rely on less water, since they’re adapted to the environment

Enhancing Soil Health

Healthy soil supports healthy, thriving plant growth, and hydroseeding is an effective way to help support soil health quickly. Hydroseeding can apply large amounts of helpful mulches, organic material, supportive soil amendments and fertilizers, as well as other additives that may be needed to restore optimum soil health, over large areas very quickly, making it an ideal candidate to enhance or restore large areas.

The hydroseed slurry can be easily customized to match various soil types, so that soil conditions can be optimized for whatever type of plant or grass seeds will be planted in the area.

Water Conservation Advantages

Compared to traditional planting methods, hydroseed typically requires less water, thanks in part to the moisture-retaining properties of mulch that are applied with the seed. Combining this process with effective water management and appropriate irrigation, can make hydroseeding an especially effective tool at reducing overall water usage in large-scale planting projects.

Erosion Control with Hydroseeding

In addition to reducing water consumption, hydroseeding can also be enormously helpful in controlling and suppressing soil erosion. Hydroseeding helps cover areas prone to erosion quickly with soil stabilizing components like tackifiers and mulches, and can also be used in conjunction with erosion socks or erosion control blankets to support the process. Grass and plant seeds planted via hydroseeding typically establish very quickly, and the process supports robust, deep root systems which binds to the soil and helps stabilize it, while the growing plants themselves help provide a physical barrier to erosive forces.

Hydroseeders: An Earth-Friendly Tool

With these benefits taken together, it can be easy to see why many contractors turn to hydroseeding to support more sustainable landscaping practices. In addition to the sometimes dramatic cost savings hydroseeding can bring to landscaping, the beneficial environmental impact makes it that much more appealing for many small companies and contractors.

People Often Ask:

Is Hydroseeding Toxic?

No. Hydroseeding typically uses non-toxic materials in the slurry including non-toxic mulches, organic matter, and eco-friendly fertilizers.

Starting A Sustainable Landscaping Project?

Whether you have a small, portable hydroseeder, specialized equipment, or are just looking into the advantages of hydroseeding, you can learn a lot more from our friendly professionals about how to create vibrant, sustainable landscape designs with hydroseeders. Contact us, today!