While walking or hanging out on the Quad over the past few weeks, University of Alabama students have probably noticed an odd blue-green substance covering patches of worn grass.
In order to keep the grass as green as possible, University Grounds is using a hydro-seeding technique to reseed large areas of bare ground on campus.
Duane Lamb, assistant vice president of facilities and grounds, said this is hardly a new system. The University has used the colored hydro-seeding for about two years to reseed large areas of bare ground on campus.
“Hydro-seed mix germinates faster than traditional seeding, and it adheres to the ground better when mixed with mulch, giving it a better chance to grow,” Lamb said.
The grass seed, mulch and water are all applied in one fast easy step, keeping it protected from birds and squirrels.
To combat problem areas on the Quad such as hillsides and narrow spaces between sidewalks, hydro-seeding is the ideal technique to successfully apply and grow grass seed, Lamb said.
According to Finn Corporation, the company that invented the Hydro-seeder machine in the 1950s, this seeding method is not only the most cost-effective way to create land coverage, but also completely non-toxic to people, animals and the environment.
Despite these facts, some students are still concerned with the immediate effects hydro-seeding has on the campus’s appearance.
Parker Graham, a junior majoring in chemical engineering, explains his concerns with the look of the Quad, especially on game days.
“I love the fact that the University is making environmentally-friendly and economically smart decisions, but aesthetic appeal is still important,” Graham said. “It would be ideal if the mixture could be applied earlier in the week so the campus looks great for visitors over the weekend.”
Another student, Margaret Coats, a senior majoring in management and marketing, said the University should increase its willingness to spend if cost is the issue.
“We need the Quad to look great constantly because we have prospective students and families visiting campus all the time,” Coats said. “While sodding might be more expensive temporarily, why should we bother with grass seed since we know it’s going to be ruined after every game day?”
