Site preparation and installation & Pre-Emergent treatment

Stripping vs. Top-dressing.

Textraw recommends coverage of 1/2 pound per square foot. This produces an installed depth of 3 to 3 1/2 inches. Each roll of Textraw covers 40 sq ft. The old decomposing mulch should be removed, and the soil treated with pre-emergent, to kill any ungerminated weed seeds.

• If Textraw is applied as a top-dress over old natural straw, seeds in the old straw will continue to germinate, requiring repeated treatments to control weeds. This decomposing material also blocks airflow to roots, impedes evaporation, and promotes a welcoming environment for termites, roaches, mold, and mildew. That means more labor and chemical treatments.
• While the installation may look good initially, the needles cannot be fluffed without mixing the two layers, and the only option will be to continually add layers of Textraw top-dressing.

Tuck & Roll / Borders.

Along all border areas, Textraw should be tucked and rolled for optimal appearance. Borders and edges should be clearly defined, to prevent grass runners from impinging on planted areas, and to assist edging and mowing.

Slopes.

Textraw stays in place very well on steep slopes. On slopes over 30 degrees, we recommend an overspray of Textraw Stay-Put.

Stay-Put .

Stay-Put is a water-soluble, environmentally friendly tackifier that cures in 24 hours, and will increase the surface adhesion of Textraw. It is dispensed from a standard back-pack sprayer. Stay-Put is also recommended for:

• border areas, where it will maintain the integrity of the border edge
• around the base of trees in the construction of tree surrounds
• in areas where there is leaf-fall or pruning.

With Stay-Put, leaves can be blown or vacuumed without disturbing the Textraw needles.