Hydroseed

Hydroseeds from the truck (Portugal)

Hydroseeding , also hydroseeding or hydroseeding mentioned, is an engineering biological method for fast planting of surfaces. This method is used when there is no topsoil (during recultivation ), on coarse-stone subsoil or on slopes endangered by erosion to quickly stabilize the soil surface.

With hydroseed, seeds , mulch materials , fertilizers , soil additives and organic glue are mixed with water (carrier substance). This mixture is sprayed onto the areas to be greened with a thick matter pump.

Greening in the hydroseeding process is mainly used for problem areas such as embankments , landfills , dams or steep slopes .

The hydroseeding can be supplemented with a mulch cover (not to be confused with the addition of mulch material to the seed), which is applied in a second, separate operation and fixed with organic glue. The mulch cover can consist of straw, hay, chaff, or cellulose . This process accelerates the emergence of the seeds, protects them from drought and frost, regulates the humidity in the germination area and offers protection against downpours. It is particularly recommended for construction sites that are very sunny or at risk of erosion.

Hydroseeder

Hydroseeder are special trucks or Unimogs . These are mostly all-wheel drive vehicles with high off-road capabilities, a twin-shaft agitator and more powerful motors. The wet seed is stored in the container (similar to the concrete mixer) and sprayed onto the planted areas via a spray system. The spray cannons have a range of up to 50 meters. Close to the track, the containers with the wet seeding are attached to a wagon that takes over the transport.

supporting documents

• Forschungsgesellschaft Landschaftsentwicklung Landschaftsbau (Ed.): Recommendations for the greening of problem areas . Bonn 1998.
• Jürgen Zander: Biological engineering construction methods. (PDF; 4.1 MB) (No longer available online.) TU Munich, Faculty of Forest Science, formerly in the original ; accessed on March 13, 2017 (lecture notes).  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )