The problem: Several years of high traffic and disturbance left the soils stripped and depleted of microbial activity, nutrients and any form of plant life. Phase one of this site was a rocky hillside that had to be reshaped due to the original destruction from all the work and testing that the equipment went through. The soils were rocky with very little sand or silt to hold any moisture to support any plant life.
The Goal: To reclaim this site with native grasses. Therefore, it was important to re-seed this rocky site with native grass soil amendments and a slow release, long lasting fertilizer that would have the proper nutrients for the native seed to establish and survive in the harsh conditions of hot days and rocky soils with little moisture. The entire site was irrigated for the first 120 days after the seeding. After 120 days, the irrigation lines were removed and it was up to Mother Nature to water the site and the Biosol Forte to provide a slow nutrient source.
Facts: Phase 1 Specification:
Native Seed Mix – 18 lbs/acre
Biosol Forte– 1200 lbs/acre
Wood Fiber Mulch- 1800 lbs/acre
Soil Stabilizer – 55 gal/acre
Color Stain – 35 gal/acre
Phase 2 of the project
The goal for phase two was the same as phase one, which was to reclaim the site with native grass’ so that the site was restored back into its natural condition.
The conditions on phase two’s site presented less challenges. It was a flat sandy surface with the potential to hold more moisture and provide better growing conditions. Soils were more of a high sand content and again, this phase was temporarily irrigated as well for the first 120 days
The second phase of the project was completed by another contractor that decided to use a different fertilizer, soil conditioner and no wood mulch in a cost saving measure. The real difference shows the benefits of using Biosol Forte as a long term fertilizer / soil amendment for long term plant growth and soil health.
Facts: Phase 2 Specifications:
Native Seed Mix – 18 lbs/acre
Wood Fiber Mulch- 1500 lbs/acre
Chemical Fertilizer- 16-20-0
Color Stain – 35 gal/acre
Lessons Learned from the land owner:
Know and state the goals of the project to your contractor. Hire a qualified contractor that understands your goal and has proper product knowledge of the products and the benefits of using them. A small additional cost for using the right products the first time on a site saves money in the long run. Redoing a project is an expensive mistake and one that will end up costing a client much more in the long run.
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