08/30/2026
Temporary vs. Permanent Stabilization
They might look similar from the road, but temporary and permanent stabilization are designed to do two different jobs.
Temporary stabilization is about getting exposed soil covered quickly while construction is still active. Depending on the project, that could mean temporary seed, mulch, tackifier or a combination of products designed to hold the site until the next phase of work.
Permanent stabilization is the finished product. The seed selection, soil preparation, fertilizer, mulch and application method all need to be selected with long-term establishment in mind.
And this is where hydroseeding becomes more than just spraying something green.
A good stabilization plan considers:
• What does the project specification require?
• How steep is the slope?
• What time of year are we seeding?
• What are the soil conditions?
• Is this temporary or final stabilization?
• How quickly does the area need protection?
The right application for a flat shoulder in August may be completely different from what we'd use on a steep slope in November.
Over the next few weeks, we're going to break down hydroseeding and site stabilization across North Carolina and South Carolina, including seed selection, mulch types, slopes, DOT specifications and what actually goes into getting disturbed ground established.
