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Need help covering 17 acre development

dirtmonkey

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2009
Messages
342
Location
norman oklahoma
Occupation
dozer monkey , self employed
Hey guys ! Need some help and lots of suggestions. One of my developers has a 17 acre development that need covered once completed. The local DEQ and city is cracking down on dust control. No open / bare lots any more. I'm looking for a simple low/no maintenance solution. Hydro mulch /seed would be nice but requires to much water and with our droughts and water restrictions they /we would like to stay away from any thing that needs water or any baby sitting for that matter. Some one had a suggestion of using wood chips from local tree crews but that's a s..t load of chips and not to mention labor to lay it down. The best thing I can come up with is a straw blower. I have no experience with this and have no clue how to even estimate the numbers. Any ideas would be GREATLY APPRECIATED !
Thanks, Dirtmonkey.

Ps. What sucks about the hay/ straw is its also subject to supply due to the drought. Not to mention blowing anything in Okla would not be fun. ( keep your mind out of the gutter :nono:cool2 )
 
Last edited:

dirthog

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2006
Messages
393
Location
central pa
Occupation
heavy equipment mechanic
Look at Finns line of bark blowers you can use wood chips in those and they also can be had with a small tank for dust control
 

still learn'n

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 6, 2012
Messages
455
Location
Kansas
you need straw? I could send you some don't know how much you would want if you went that route! Jerry
 

CM1995

Administrator
Joined
Jan 21, 2007
Messages
13,250
Location
Alabama
Occupation
Running what I brung and taking what I win
Dirt glue - https://www.dirtglue.com

I haven't used this before and don't know the price or how long it lasts but might be an option.

The problem with blowing hay is without any water to grow grass underneath it, the hay will just blow away unless you put it down thick and crimp it with a disk.

I have a skid mounted hay blower like this one. It does well and can cover some ground on a flatbed truck or trailer where you can continuously feed bales to it. You'll need 3 people - 1 to drive the truck, 1 to run the blower and 1 to feed. I charge around $1000 an acre but I don't do it for large areas just what's needed on our excavation sites, usually less than an acre.
 

rdj_myhre@yahoo

New Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2012
Messages
4
Location
mn
hay straw probley1.5 -2 ton per ac . wood chips could be spread with manure spreader or litter speader
 

Delmer

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2013
Messages
8,865
Location
WI
Why wouldn't you drill seed? There has to be some plant that will work with your conditions.
 

HATCHEQUIP

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2011
Messages
1,147
Location
VILLANOW GEORGIA
Theirs and old saying in GA if it wasn't for kudzoo GA wouldn't be here, the other one is Baptists and kudzoo both have GA covered.
 

dirtmonkey

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2009
Messages
342
Location
norman oklahoma
Occupation
dozer monkey , self employed
Thanks for your replies. I think straw and crimping would be all this developer would want to do pay for. 90 % of the lots are sold and there are no streets yet. They don't care if it grows anything or not. = CHEAP CHEAP. They just want the DEQ guy to drive by and see they " did something ". Don't know why they keep coming to me to figure this out. Who ever they hired to dig the development should be handling this.
 

Colorado Digger

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2008
Messages
1,169
Location
Carbondale,co
I guess hydroseed is out of the question. If you want anything to grow it will need a gentle ripping and the drill seeded. If he wants cheap maybe he can call the original guy that did the work. Unless he is your top client and he is leaning on you to help him on this it might be better to walk away from it.


Good Luck, BJ
 

dirtmonkey

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2009
Messages
342
Location
norman oklahoma
Occupation
dozer monkey , self employed
This particular developer has been with my family off and on for decades. I've had him for around 8 years and they've always been good to me. They're just clueless has to how the rest of the world has to do things. They've been one of the biggest developers here for decades and have enjoyed the "privileges " that came with the good ole boy system but that is no longer the case. Back to topic.
We've considered hydro seed but the water restrictions are the unknown.
Now , my question is , if we hydro seed one time and not water afterward , will it dry up and blow away or will it stick for awhile. Most of the lots are sold befor the devel is complete anyway. So it might be easier to just spray / spot treat some areas until the builders break ground. I've wanted to add a hydro seeder to my biz for some time but have never had the job to justify it.
 

Acivil

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2010
Messages
154
Location
Tennessee
If you hydroseed with the correct seed mix and tackifier it should germinate without a tremendous amount of watering necessary if you get it done in the next couple of weeks. DEC doesn't care what color it is (I am making some assumptions here) If I were in your situation, I would talk to some seed suppliers, some local engineers, and find out what the most aggressive seed mix that works in your area is, then put it out quick before it gets hot... as long as you get a bit of a root stand, who cares if it all dies off... the roots are the ultimate goal. Just make sure you don't warranty the life of the plants... get them to germinate so there are roots in the ground and move on. The builders will strip it all off when they start building anyway. I have 0% experience with OK soils and regulators, but that concept could work... we hydroseed with seed, fertilizer, and tackifier, then blow straw mulch for 1200/acre... wood fiber mulch is more.
 
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