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CLIMATIC FACTORS:
Exposure to wind, sun and extremes of temperature will affect
available moisture for plant growth. Seed retention and ultimate
germination will depend on the roughness of the slope where slight
cracks and crevices provide harbors for the seed. Mulch will shelter
the seed from the sun's heat, and also will absorb the impact of
rain from dislodging the seed.
The practice of hydroseeding promotes the growth of turf on
slopes, especially in situations where equipment and planting
crews are impractical. Hydroseeders are capable of spreading mixtures
of seed, fertilizers, and mulch simultaneously. Be especially
cautious in the fall of the year...Seed the slopes (the seedbed)
before the ground freezes. Root growth will occur over the winter,
and the degree of erosion will be reduced.
Remember that the lighter colored mulches will reflect the sun's
heat while darker colored mulches will absorb heat. Deep mulches
(three to four inches) will insulate the soil against freezing and
thawing better than will thin mulches (one to two inches). Frost
heave results from alternate freezing and thawing. Voids created
by frost heave cause roots of plants to wither and die. The choice
of mulch materials is important, in that the process of decomposition
extracts nitrogen from the soil. Inorganic mulches (asphalt or
fiberglass) will not deplete soil nitrogen needed for plant growth.
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