Tankload Coverage Chart

The area covered with a tank load of mulch, seed, and fertilizer (the slurry) depends on the way it is applied to the ground.  With a very small nozzle, as much as an acre (43,560 Sq. ft.) can be covered with a single tank load from a small machine. (The appropriate seed for an acre can usually be easily loaded into a small machine.)  However, to obtain seed protecting benefits of the mulch, wood mulch should be applied at a minimum of about 35 lbs per 1,000 square feet.  Higher application rates are frequently needed, depending upon the job site conditions and temperatures. 

To determine how much area can be covered with a tank load, it is first necessary to know the mulch application rate, the type of mulch to be used, and then it must be known how much of the required mulch product can be utilized in one tank load of the machine.

Each line in the chart below lists an amount of mulch to be used in one tank load. Then reading across the page, the area covered by that tank load can be determined by choosing the column headed with the desired mulch application rate.

The ultimate limiting factor determining how much area can be planted with one tank load is the amount of mulch that can be loaded, mixed, and pumped from the machine. 

Most mechanical agitation machines can be loaded with at least 50% more mulch (per gallon of water) than jet agitation machines.  Therefore, a 600 gallon mechanical agitation machine can be loaded with more mulch than a 900 gallon jet agitation machine. The result is that more area can be covered with a given mulch application rate with a 600 gallon mechanical agitation machine than a 900 jet agitation machine.

Mulch Application Rates -  General Guidelines :
15 lbs. / 1,000 square feet is useful to see where seed has been applied.  There is little value for moisture retention or for erosion protection provided by this mulch application.

30 lbs. / 1,000 square feet may be appropriate during very cool planting conditions. If any erosion protection is needed, a tacking agent must be added to the slurry.

46 lbs. / 1,000 square feet is appropriate when daytime temperatures are not expected to exceed about 85 degrees.  This mulch application rate provides some erosion protection. Tackifier is recommended. 

60 lbs. / 1,000 square feet is appropriate when daytime temperatures exceed 85 degrees.  This rate provides some soil moisture retention and erosion protection. Tackifiers always improve erosion protection.

80 lbs. / 1,000 square feet (3,500 lbs/acre) is required on many Bonded Fiber Matrix (BFM) applications.  BFM products are "Super Mulch" products, sometimes used in place of erosion control blankets.  

Bonded Fiber Matrix (BFM) products are quite effective on sites requiring extra erosion control and also, because of the heavier application rates, will germinate and grow grass under dryer and hotter job site conditions.

100 lbs. / 1,000 square feet (4,350 lbs/acre) is a heavy application for a BFM.  However, on some erosion control applications, it will be necessary to make such an application.

Note:  Germination will be slightly slower, but more consistent with heavy wood mulch applications.  Tackifiers will always increase erosion protection, and may speed up germination time.

Caution: Germination may be inhibited when paper mulch is applied at more than 50 lbs/1,000 sq ft.