Alberta Hydroseeding
Calgary Lawn Solutions Inc. has continued to keep Alberta green. Our qualified and expert land reclamation and land remediation team works with commercial, residential, industrial and municipal clients to re-vegetate existing and new construction sites throughout Alberta.
We have been working with the soil in Alberta for over a decade. Soil conditions can dramatically change the circumstances of how the project should be addressed. We will be able to test and determine the nutrition (or lack of) and pH levels of the soil and adjust our hydroseeding mixture to provide an ideal growing environment.
Hydroseeding is a process of mixing grass seed, fertilizer, tackifier and wood fiber-mulch with water in correct proportions inside a mechanical hydroseeding machine, then spraying the mixture or “slurry” onto the designated soil areas. Calgary Lawn Solutions Hydroseeding uses only top quality wood-based hydro-mulches and tackifiers that are far superior than less expensive paper mulches. The Wood Fiber Mulch provides excelent erosion control, moisture retention and helps prevent pests from getting to the seed to provide an ideal growing environment for the grass seed. Wood fiber hydro-mulches also have a much greater water retention for quick germination and growth, and prevents soil erosion from wind and water. We are proud to provide a generous portion of Canadian Certified Grass Seed that has the highest retaining germination rate in the industry with a 99.9% purity rate to ensure the highest succes rates and reduced weeds. Hydroseeding and hydro-mulching can be used in all types of residential and commercial construction grass seeding projects, oil and gas site reclamation, slope protection and ditch erosion control, or even to replace an old expired lawn. Hydroseeding is a fast, easy and economical alternative to sodding. You can have a beautiful, healthy, durable lawn at a fraction of the cost of sodding.
Before & after Hydroseeding - 28 days elapsed
This map displays the distribution of the main soil types found within the province. The distribution pattern of soils in Alberta is strongly linked to climate and parent materials. Climate affects the location of different soil groups. The driest area in southeastern Alberta is represented by the presence of Brown Chernozems. As one proceeds north and west, the soils and associated vegetation reflect the increase in available moisture.
Chernozemic soils are primarily associated with grassland vegetation. Brown Chernozemic soils occur in the southeast part of the province and are characterized by the presence of a brown surface layer approximately 10 to 12 cm thick that generally contains 3 to 4 percent organic matter. Available moisture is the limiting factor to crop growth with most of the area in native range. With increasing available moisture, there is a transition to Dark Brown Chernozemic soils. These soils are characterized by the presence of a dark brown soil surface layer that is 12 to 15 cm thick that generally contains 4 to 6 percent organic matter. Moisture continues to be a limiting factor to crop production; however, the majority of the area is cultivated. Black Chernozemic soils are associated with grassland areas with the most available moisture and cooler temperatures. These soils are characterized by the presence of a black surface horizon that is 12 to 20 cm thick with organic matter generally in the range of 6 to 10 percent. These are highly productive soils that are used to grow a wide variety of agricultural crops. Dark Gray Chernozemic soils are associated with the transition between grassland and forest vegetation. These soils are similar to Black Chernozems with respect to surface layer thickness and organic matter content; however, the average frost-free period is a more limiting factor for annual agricultural crops.
Luvisolic soils are associated with mixed forest vegetation under native conditions. This vegetative cover reflects an increase in available moisture in conjunction with cooler temperatures. Under native conditions, there is a layer of decomposing litter on the surface of the mineral soil. Upon removal of the forest vegetation for agricultural activities, the organic matter is incorporated into the mineral soil resulting in a dark gray surface colour. The organic matter content of this surface layer generally increases under long-term agricultural activities.
Brunisolic soils within Alberta are generally associated with well-drained landscapes. In Alberta, they occur in high elevation montane, sub-alpine and alpine areas as well as on the Canadian Shield. These soils are characterized by having a thin (2 to 15 cm thick) dark brown to black surface layer of variable organic matter content. Climatic limitations, primarily the frost-free period, limit agricultural activities.
Cryosolic soils have permafrost within one meter of the surface. In Alberta, these soils are associated with the upper reaches of the Caribou Mountains and Cameron Hills. Agricultural activities are not feasible in these areas.
In Alberta, Organic soils generally occur in association with Luvisolic soils. These soils form under wet conditions where the organic layer (greater than 30% organic matter) accumulates faster than it decomposes. The organic layer varies in thickness from 40 to 160+ cm, and under natural conditions, the water table is at or near the surface. In some areas of the province, Organic soils may be artificially drained and used for agricultural production.
Data Sources
The soil group polygons shown on the map represent Alberta Soil Survey information. The information represented by this map is consistent with The Canadian System of Soil Classification, which is the basis for describing soils across the country that was compiled by the Alberta Land Resource Unit, Research Branch of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, in 1995.
Potential Uses
Soils have been classified and grouped based on their similar properties and the factors that contributed to their formation. Familiarity with the soil group of a particular area provides a broad scale overview of the general landscape characteristics, management options and limitations as related to agricultural production potential.
Limitations
The soil groups are broad groupings of the dominant soil types of an area. Within any one area, many other soil types are present. At this map scale, only the most prevalent soil type(s) is described. Boundaries between soil groups are transitional in nature.
