Hydro-mulching is the process of mixing mulch, seed, fertilizer and water in the tank of a hydro-mulching machine and then spraying the slurry mixture on soil. The hydro-mulch can provide a full-coverage growth of wildflowers or grass in three to four weeks.

“Hydro-mulching can be much more economical than conventional sodding and regular seeding,” says Danny Wasser of Wasser & Wasser Landscape Management. “It’s good for coverage on fields and large lawns, as well as areas found on a slope.”

Once hydro-mulch is applied to soil, the materials enhance the initial growth of grass or wildflowers by providing a micro-environment beneficial to seed germination while reducing moisture evaporation from the soil.

Often hydro-mulching is used for erosion resistance on slopes or hillsides. Mulch holds soil in place and reduces the possibility of the seeds being washed away. Once wildflowers or grass begins growing, the growth provides a stable area as well as a beautiful hillside.

At Longhorn Pest Control in El Paso, Chris Vogel provides hydro-mulching services, including a mixture of specially blended wildflowers like cosmos, red poppy, purple coneflower, gloriosa and 22 other wildflowers able to handle the southwest weather.

While hydro-mulch has been commonly used in larger commercial projects like athletic fields, construction sites, highway construction and mine reclamation sites, the ease and cost efficiency has caught the attention of homeowners and their individual lawns.

In the desert southwest, more mulch is needed for hot conditions. During the summer, 65 to 80 pounds of wood mulch per 1,000 square feet provides the best protection during the hot and dry seasons. In the spring and fall, only 45 pounds of mulch are needed per 1,000 square feet.