Erosion Control - Hydromulch

Hydromulch

The industry has always approached the control of erosion based upon “Best Management Practice” (BMP) and has related product selection based upon price and performance.  Several companies have created product pyramids to help relate product to performance/value.

Traditionally, hydromulch has been considered one of the materials at the bottom/low end of the pyramid.  Manufactured from recycled paper, blends of paper and wood, 100% wood or straw are low cost but of suspect value in heavy rain events and steep slope applications.  This perception is changing with the introduction of longer lasting, more flexible products to compete with the various rolled erosion control products in the market.

Reed & Graham is pleased to provide our customers with the widest variety of hydromulch materials on the market today.  This allows the customer to choose the proper product for each specific application. 

Fiberwood Recycled Hydromulch.

Fiberwood’s mulch is a blend of natural fibers mixed with water and hydraulically applied to the prepared ground.  The product is a four component mixture of recycled natural fibers, water, green-nontoxic dye and a surfactant.  This mixture is applied to the bare ground and is used for forest fire remediation, landfill cover, erosion control, highway construction and landscape.  This covering resists erosion, retains moisture and enhances seed germination and growth.  The fiber is ecologically safe and decomposes over time, organically enriching the soil. 

Profile Products.

Profile is the largest producer of wood based mulches in the United States with a manufacturing plant in California.  Thermally refined wood fiber makes this unique mulch the leading product in the industry.

Profile manufactures premium mulches to take on even the toughest terrain and steepest slopes.  When selecting the proper product the following three factors should be evaluated:  Functional longevity, slope length and slope gradient.

Stabilized Fiber Matrix:  Used for flat pads up to a 2:1 slope and will last in the 3-6 month range

Bonded Fiber Matrix:  Used for flat pads up to a 1:1 slope and will last up to a year.  This product meets CALTRANS specification for temporary hydraulic mulch section 20-2.07 Fiber.

Flexterra-FGM.  This product may be used on any slope and will establish turf the fastest of any mulch on the market.  Flexterra may be installed in light rain so no drying time is needed compared to the 1-2 days for BFM’s and SFM’s.  This product will last 12-18 months.

CocoFlex-ET-FGM.  This is an extended term version of Flexterra with the addition of Coconut fibers this product will extend the life to 18-24 months. 

Green Armor.  This is the combination of Enkamat 7010 or 7020 with Flexterra for those extremely steep slopes or channel applications where the shear stresses or water velocity is such that a permanent Turf Reinforcement Mat is required.  The green armor produces vegetation very quickly and entangles the root mass in the TRM immediately while standing up to any unexpected rain event prior to final turf establishment.