Great Circle International Erosion Control Products
Basic Distinctions Between Mulches:
There are three basic types
of hydraulic planting mulch available today: 100% wood fiber
mulch, 100% cellulose mulch and a blend of the two, such as 50%
wood fiber and 50% cellulose. Wood fiber, like Mat-Fiber®,
is manufactured by refining whole wood chips. Cellulose mulches,
commonly referred to as "wood cellulose" or "paper
mulch", are manufactured from scrap materials such as
cardboard, sawdust, newspaper, or residue from pulp or paper
factories. Mat-Blend® has equal parts of whole wood
fiber and clean, recycled newsprint.
Mulches made from mechanically
defibrated whole wood chips have longer fibers because
the manufacturing process is engineered to maximize fiber length.
When applied, the long fibers interlock and cling to each other,
forming a continuous blanket on top of the soil. This mulch
blanket creates a greenhouse effect that is the primary function
of mulches. Because the long wood fibers span soil ridges, more
ground is covered with less wood fiber than paper mulches. For
example, wood fiber requires as much as 35% less material than
paper mulches to achieve the same ground converage.
Cellulose and paper mulches
have shorter fiber lengths than wood fiber mulches because
they are produced from fiber initially manufactured to create
smooth surfaces for paper products and other non-mulch uses. When
applied, the shorter fibers of cellulose products clump rather
than interlock. The particles form a crusted, blotter-like layer,
creating growing conditions just the opposite of the desired
greenhouse effect. Too often, the results of cellulose mulches
are slow and spotty germination.
Blended mulches of 50%
wood fiber and 50% cellulose fiber combine the performance
characteristics of wood fiber, which interlocks for erosion
protection, and the economy of clean, recycled paper fiber for
bulk.