Water-holding Capacity is a Key to Success During a Drought

Periodic drought has plagued large sections of the U.S. for decades.

Recent droughts have been increasingly severe and sustained.

Every indication is that drought conditions will continue to be an issue and a major challenge to vegetation establishment, if not in your region this year, it could well be in yours next year.

Moisture is Vital to Project Success

Some companies claim you can achieve greater productivity and complete application of hydraulic mulches faster using products that hold less water. Don’t be misled. In any dry condition, you need every drop of moisture you can get.

To enhance your chances for project success, you need to choose hydraulic mulches that help optimize as much moisture as possible to support effective seed germination and more rapid vegetation establishment.

The best way to determine which hydraulic mulches provide the highest levels of water-holding performance and effectiveness, you need to look at how the products are constructed. A critical component of this construction is the fiber. What you are about to learn is not all fibers are created equal, yet they make all the difference when moisture is in short supply.

Comparing Fibers and Water-holding Capabilities

Profile^®hydraulically applied mulches are widely recognized for outstanding erosion control and vegetative establishment. A principle reason why is the incorporation of Thermally Refined^® wood fibers. The process employed to produce these fibers combines high heat and pressure. The overall advantage are longer, finer and more highly absorbant fibers. These fibers are proven to provide distinct on-site advantages:

The ability to absorb more water during the mixing process creates a more fluid slurry that stays in suspension longer; benefits include fewer clogs, increased shooting distance and more uniform coverage
This added water in the mulch, and the ability to reabsorb and hold more water once applied, greatly enhances seed germination and vegetation establishment

By way of comparison, competitive wood fiber mulches typically use an atmospherically refined wood process, which creates shorter, coarse fibers that greatly reduce water-holding capacity.

A comparison video provides further proof why the water-holding capacity of Thermally Refined wood fibers is so much greater than competitive fibers—50% greater—a critical factor when choosing which hydraulic mulches to apply, especially in light of current drought.

Additives can Further Improve Water-holding Capacity

Each Profile hydraulic mulch product has properties and performance characteristics that are best suited for different sites, and can be customized to meet specific project requirements. For example, ProPlus^® additives that can be incorporated into hydraulic mulch formulations or into the mulch slurry to increase your odds of project success in dry conditions.

AquaGel™ is an excellent water management tool that works to reduce the amount and frequency of watering.

FlocLoc™ is a flocculating soil stabilizer that increases the water-holding capacity of the hydroseeding slurry and enhances machine performance.

JumpStart™ is a proprietary liquid formulation that improves moisture infiltration and retention for faster, more complete germination and uniform stands of vegetation.

Start with Soil Testing

Water is the most critical factor in seed germination. The second is soil pH. With a soil test, you can determine if pH levels need to be corrected on your project sites to create the right environment to encourage more rapid germination and vegetative growth.

To assist in this process, Profile offers free soil testing that covers not only soil pH but other soil factors that affect the sustainability of vegetation. Once the test is completed, Profile will also help you interpret the results and make agronomic recommendations to create optimal soil conditions and ensure the hydraulic mulch products you chose produce the best results.