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What is it?
Textraw is synthetic pine straw made from recycled polypropylene, which does not absorb water or chemicals. It recycles easily, from bottle scrap, carpet backing, fiber and yarn.
Why was Textraw developed?
In the pine-laden area of the Southeast, good fresh pine straw is in short supply; even when pine straw is available, the color, quality, price, etc. are inconsistent. And as pretty as pine straw is, its only nutritional value is a slight increase in soil Ph. Since it decomposes and is absorbant, it’s an attractive environment for pests, requires additional water and chemicals, and imports weed seeds into the garden.
Who uses Textraw?
Commercial and industrial properties that want high curb appeal and understand landscape maintenance. Homeowners who want the best appearance and health for their plants and flowers. Government facilities, highway ramps requiring erosion control.
Cost
Estimated 4-year life-cycle savings are 40-50%. Textraw has a 4 year warranty. Accelerated weatherometer tests show no fading over this period. With proper maintenance, life-cycle will be significantly extended.
In addition to the pure cost benefits, there are indirect cost benefit considerations:
- No environment for insects means fewer bugs and less insecticides for bug control.
- No weed seeds and mold spores means less allergies and herbicides.
Comparison
Textraw vs. Pine straw
| Feature | Textraw | Pinestraw |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Dependable year-round production | Seasonal; spotty |
| Color | Consistent longleaf pine reddish-brown “spring” needles, the most prized | Inconsistent; depends on season, species, freshness, weather |
| Needle Quality | Consistent mixture of 9-10″ strand lengths to simulate highly-desired old, original longleaf pine needles | Highly variable by species on pine; mostly loblolly and slash, with 6-10″ needles |
| Color Retention | UV-stabilized; tested; warranted to retain color for 4 years | Decomposes immediately; turns brown; bleached gray in 6-12 months |
| Volume Loss | None; does not decompose | 100% loss; most in first six months |
| Installation | Clean, easy, quick | Gloves recommended |
| Maintenance | Turns, fluffs easily; extends life | Crumbles when turned or fluffed; top-dress every 4-6 months |
| Moisture Retention | Passes moisture to soil and helps prevent evaporation; patented concave needle profile funnels all moisture to soil | Needles absorb and trap moisture |
| Abrasion and Crumble Resistance | Highly resistant to foot traffic and handling | Becomes increasingly brittle with age |
| Soil Nutrition | Over years, breaks down into harmless carbon, hydrogen, calcium carbonate and iron oxide | Increases acidity |
| Breathability | Maintains breathability; helps oxygenate soil and deter mold and fungus growth | Mats, thatches and becomes spongy; decomposes and acts like second soil layer, causing roots to grow “up” |
| Contaminants | None, always clean, pure , sterile bales | Even when hand-combed, contains weeds, grass seed, mold spores, pine pollen, insects, fungus, mildew, sticks, twigs, leaves and pine cones |
| Insects | Does not attract insects | Damp environment attracts insects, especially ants, roaches and termites |
| Bed Preparation / Weeds | Rake out old straw once; pre-emerge once; less weeds | Rake out old straw annually; pre-emerge annually; more weeds |
| Flammability | Requires sustained exposure to flame to burn; will melt | Highly flammable when dry |
| Chemical Resistance | Not affected by herbicides or pesticides | Absorbs chemicals |
| Rain / Water Resistance | Will not absorb water; lighter than water and will float; not recommended for low-lying areas subject to flooding or run-off | Will wash-away if used in areas subject to flooding or run-off |
| Environment / Harvesting | Post-industrial recycled product; clean product can be recycled at end of useful life | Unregulated; mechanized raking increases tree mortality; over-harvesting negatively affects forest growth and soil productivity, causes erosion and loss of wildlife habitat |
| Warranty | Yes | No |
| Coverage/Unit | 50 sq ft @ 3.5″ depth | Depends on bale size |