Home Company Profile Plant Species R&D Toyo Tips Contact Us
Landscaping Hydroseeding Erosion Control Products Slope Vegetation System
FAQ about Slope Vegetation Systems
What kind of slope surface can Toyo-Mulching System be applied?
What is the limitation of Toyo-Mulching System on steep slope?
How to carry out weephole inspection after the application of the Toyo-Mulching System?
What is Soil-Factor of Toyo-Mulching System and how does it applied?
Any extra fertilizer is needed for the Toyo-Mulching System?
What kind of plant species are recommended for Toyo-Mulching System?
Can plant grow again after a long period of drought?
Is there any maintenance required for the Systems and how to do it if it is required?
Are there any slopes having grass for more than 60 degrees?
Is the thickness of Soil-Factor the same for all the systems?
1. What is the objective of
Toyo-Mulching System?
The
objective of the Toyo-Mulching System is to establish the vegetation equilibrium
ecology on any slope such that the vegetation can be self-sustained for a long
time with low maintenance. Not only
to improve the microenvironment, by the time of establishment of vegetation
cover, the weathering of earth material and the surface erosion can be
minimized.
2. What is the main
difference
amongst Hydromulching System, Toyo-Mulching System and Soil Creat System?
The
Hydromulching System is used to establish the vegetation ecology on the
soil or non-soil gentle slope with gradient not more than 45o. By
fixing of three dimension of wire mesh and spraying of light weight Soil-Factor, a planting layer is self sustained on the slope and provide the vegetation.
The Toyo-Mulching System is used to establish the vegetation ecology on the
soil or non-soil steep slope with gradient not more than 80o. A double layer of non-woven
fertilizer strip was inserted into the three-dimension wire mesh. The fertilizer strip can provide adequate moisture and
fertilizer to the vegetation on the steep slope.
The
Soil Creat System is to establish a semi-rigid structure and vegetation
ecology to cover the soil or rock slope with gradient not more than 80o.
During the installation work, fixing and tightening wild steel bar on the long
anchors formed a series of square grid pattern of Creat. The wet spraying
machine will be used to spray the ready mix cement motar on the structural
reinforced bar in order to form a rigid structure of grid pattern. This can
provide a structural protection of slope. Consequently, the spraying of Soil-Factor can provide the vegetation ecology on the whole slope surface in
order to achieve the fully vegetation cover in the long run.
3. What is Toyo-Mulching System?
Toyo-Mulching system is modified from the Hydromulching technology by Toyo Greenland Company Limited. The technique of Hydromulching work was invented in Japan for the vegetation on soil and rock slope for over 20 years. It was first introduced in Hong Kong in 1998. As the improved from the aspects of of geo-synthetic strength, bioengineering bonding and horticulture technologies according to the unique slope condition, local climate, vegetation species in Hong Kong. The final version of Toyo-Mulching system was launch by Toyo Greenland Company Limited in 2001.
4.
What kind of slope surface can Toyo-Mulching System be applied?
Toyo-Mulching
System can be widely applied in any kind of non-soil slope
surfaces, including concrete
soil nail head, chunam surface slope, no fines concrete slope, rock slope and sprayed concrete
slope, generally speaking, Toyo-Mulching System does not have any limitation on
slope surfaces. After the application of Toyo-Mulching System,
vegetation of varies grass, ground cover, climber and shrub species can be
established.
5. What is the limitation
Toyo-Mulching System on steep slope?
The
planting layer of Toyo-Mulching
System is Soil-Factor, which is a light weight organic
planting layer with high content of fertilizer, water retaining capacity.
The Soil-Factor can be sprayed and self sustained on the slope with
gradient less than 80o. However, as the more gradient of the slope,
it require the more thickness of the planting layer in order to maintain the
fertilizer and moisture for the plant. Such that it was recommended that the Toyo-Mulching System should be applied on the slope with gradient not more
than 70o in order to guarantee the good and healthy vegetation can be
achieved.
6. How to carry out weephole inspection after the application of the Toyo-Mulching System?
The
existing weephole will be extended to the profile of Soil-Factor layer. Thus
the regular inspection of weephole can be still carried out by the engineers.
7. What is the Soil-Factor of Toyo-Mulching System and how does it applied?
The
Soil-Factor consists of
organic compost, peat moss, bonding agent, fertilizer, water retaining agent
and grass/flower seeds. Water is added
into the
mixture in an appropriate proportion in order to form slurry.
The
wet spraying is
used to spray
the slurry to
the surface until it reaches designed thickness.
8. Any extra fertilizer is needed for the Toyo-Mulching System?
The
system can provide abundant support of the nutrient for the plants to be well
established, it is unnecessary for any extra amount of nutrient to be added it
into this system, it is because after a year of application, the Toyo-Mulching
System has already developed to a self sustained equilibrium.
9. How to carry out maintenance work?
For
the first year following the application, watering is required once per week,
this can ensure the plants to be established and build up their own ecological cycle, once this vegetation
equilibrium is
established, usually after one year, no essential maintenance works need to
carry out.
10. How long can Toyo-Mulching System maintain?
The
duration of the whole process depends on the size of the site, the accessibility
of water source, road and electricity supply; generally speaking, about 500m
will be completed everyday and minimum 7 days of work required.
11. What kind of plant species are recommended for Toyo-Mulching System?
As proved that the non-native species, i.e. Bermuda grass and Bahia grass, can not be established in the steep slope in Hong Kong. Such that the non-native grass is used as pioneer species. It will be germinated and growth very fast and cover the whole area in about 3 months as the temporary vegetation cover. Then, the permanent vegetation is native climber will be establish and take over of grass species in about 6 months. Besides, the local shrub species can be applied with the installation of additional Soil Factor Bag as well.
12. Can plant grow again after a long period of drought?
The most important point is whether the root still alive after drought. The plant can grow again if its root is alive and once water is available.
It also depends on how beautification you required. If natural green is accepted, no watering is required. If evergreen green is required, watering is needed to keep the plant green all year round.
We choose different types of grass species, warm season and cold season grass, they are complementary to each other. During warm season, Bermuda and Bahia grass establish. While during cold season, Rye grass grows well.
13. Is there any maintenance required for the Systems and how to do it if it is required?
It
depends on individual requirement such as a natural vegetation slope or a
manmade landscape slope.
If
a manmade landscape slope is required, i.e. for an evergreen slope, watering,
grass cutting and fertilization are needed to be carried out.
If a natural vegetation slope is satisfied, i.e. some vegetation will wither in dry/winter season, thus no maintenance is needed. As the ecosystem established on the slope, withered vegetation can act as fertilizer and humus for further vegetation growth, natural materials can be recycled to provide sufficient nutrient for plant growth in the coming seasons.
14. Are there any slopes having grass for more than 60 degrees?
According to the GEO guideline, grass will not grow when the slope gradient is greater than 50 degrees. In the Soil Fiber System, no Wedelia is growing. 100 mm Soil-Factor has been sprayed on the slope which increased water and nutrient content. Rhizome can grow since a thicker planting media is provided. Our Soil-Factor has specified to use soil fiber which is rich in organic matter and light. Soil-Factor is light and has bioengineering properties that hold the soil without washout but the topsoil has no organic matter and heavy.
15. Is the thickness of Soil-Factor the same for all the systems?
No. Each system has its own requirements and specification.
Hydromulching System being applied on gentle slope so 50mm Soil-Factor is sufficient for the growth of herbaceous plant.
If shrub is needed, Eco-Bag with 300mm Soil-Factor is required to support the establishment of its rooting system.
100mm Soil-Factor is sufficient for the growth of flower species.