Hi, this is Enta!
This time, “Slope Greening"Two Standard Construction Methods"
Seed SowingとVegetation MatAbout the differences and how to choose,
I'll try to write this from a hands-on perspective.
🌾1. What are seed spreaders and soil-blowing machines?
Seed Sowing and Topsoil Blowing WorkThis method involves using a specialized machine (a hydroseeder) to mix seeds, fertilizer, soil amendments (fiber), and base material (leaf mold), and then spraying the mixture onto the slope.
Because it is inexpensive and can be used on large areas, it is often used in public works projects.
✅ Features
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Low initial costs
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Can be applied quickly over a wide area
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It is susceptible to post-installation weather conditions (especially rain and dryness)
- At the Highway Agency, the thicknesses of A spray and B spray differ slightly.
🌿2. What is a vegetation mat installer?
Vegetation MatThis method involves laying and securing mats—which contain seeds, fertilizer, and water-retaining materials—on the slope.
Its strengths include the stability of the seeds and the fact that it is easy to prevent erosion and runoff caused by rain.
✅ Features
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Resistant to wind and rain, and the seeds are less likely to be washed away
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It adheres easily even on steep slopes
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The initial costs are on the high side
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It takes a lot of manpower and time
- The likelihood that each species will be eaten by pests
⚖️3. Comparison Table (Seed Sowing vs. Vegetation Mats)
| Item | Seed Sowing | Vegetation Mat |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Costs | ◎ (Cheap) | △ (High) |
| Construction Speed | ◎ (Fast) | △ (Time-consuming to install) |
| Water-retention capacity | △ (Dries quickly) | ◎ (Contains moisture-retaining agent) |
| Resistance to Wind and Rain | △ (Prone to being swayed) | ◎ (Secured with a mat) |
| Slope Stability | △ (Weak until germination) | ◎ (Cover immediately) |
| Long-term maintenance | ○ | ◎ (Easy to take root) |
🛠️4. Selection Method
-
Areas with a gentle slope and a large surface area → Seed dispersal and topsoil application
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Areas with steep slopes or strong winds and rain → Vegetation mats
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Short construction schedule or tight budget → Seed spreading
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Long-term stability and aesthetic appeal → Vegetation mats
These two methods are used when you want to grow plants in soil where they would likely grow easily, even without using a vegetation substrate spraying process.
Either one is fine, but it's not really worth the cost, lol.
Hydro-seeders, in particular, require a 4-metric-ton truck, yet their unit price is only in the tens of yen!
I can't take this anymore!!?
That kind of level
Also, since there’s a high chance it could be washed away by rain, I’d recommend the mat if I had to choose.
They used to be used at new golf courses, but I feel like they’ve been used much less frequently lately.
I'm thinking maybe vegetation mats are the trend these days.
See you later.
