I have a Project that is considering “Hydroseeding” as a permanent landscape design. The method is described as:
“ Hydroseeding in its simplest form is the application of seed by hydraulic process, in other words to apply seed with water as the means of spreading it. However, most hydroseeding applications use a mulch carrier which provides uniform mixing of the seed with the water, and provides other benefits once on the ground.
The mulch carrier can be composed of wood, paper, straw, coconut, synthetic, peatmoss, compost fibres or many different combinations of these.
These fibres are often dyed a green color to offer the hydroseeding applicator the advantage of a color contrast to the ground when spraying, this insures a uniform and even application of the product and seed. Often natural glues or tackifiers are added to the mix to provide better bonding between the soil particles and the mulch fibres, allowing the mulch layer to remain in place during wind and rain events.
The main advantage of hydroseeding over conventional seeding applications if the addition of a mulch layer to the soil. This mulch layer will act to provide protection from birds eating the newly applied seeds, wind from blowing the seed and soil away, retain moisture, and reduce the impact of splash erosion from rain drops and watering which can cause soil crusting, which inhibits plant growth.”
I understand that Hydroseeding can contribute to avoid erosion, but my question is – If we can use it as a permanent landscape design, even if it considers color and glue. Many information sources, describes the method as a lower water consumption.
Can we use this method without any troubles with the credit?
Thank you!
Erin Holdenried
Sustainability Architect125 thumbs up
August 2, 2013 - 4:51 pm
Hi, Jose. This credit is more about the plants themselves, rather than the planting process. It sounds like hydroseeding is a method of applying turf grass. What are you planting? Note that turf grass and monoculture planting areas cannot contribute to this credit. See the FAQs above.
Joseph Ford, AIA
ArchitectRSP Architects Ltd.
17 thumbs up
August 2, 2013 - 5:08 pm
Yes, you can hydroseed and have no issues with the credit. As E H points out, it's more a question of what you plant rather than how you plant it. The credit requires use of native and adapted plants, i.e.: plants that are native to or cultivars that are adapted to the project location.
Hydroseeding can be used to apply any type of seed mix. The highway department in the state where I live commonly uses it to plant a native drought and erosion resistant seed mix on road embankments and medians.