Biochar – Improve Your Brand Value In Landscaping

With all of the great intentions and positive impact that biochar can have in our world it will be very difficult to see it become a commonly used product unless it also has a positive financial impact in business. There is an increase in awareness and use of biochar in landscaping over the past couple of years. The results are showing that biochar can actually help improve a landscape business brand value and make a positive impact on the bottom line. Specifically, using biochar in a mix with compost can create both short term and long term benefits.

In a recent presentation to the ILCA members Wakefield Biochar outlined a few of the ways that biochar can improve brand value.

Makes Your Brand Stronger

• How does it grow your business?
• Competitive advantage
• Reach a different customer base

The Case for Compost

• Bring to market 20% sooner
• Preserve nutrients for longer self-life
• Increase organic carbon
• Decrease weight
• Provide aeration
• Replaces the need for peat and vermiculite
• Provides a clean dark color
• Balances the pH

Business Drivers

• Biochar can bring a new level of product.
• Efficient use of materials.
• Bulk purchases of biochar create cost efficiencies

Certifications

• “Green”
• “Sustainable”
• “Wakefield Biochar is a USDA Certified Biobased Product”
• Safe for children and pets

Application of Biochar Mixtures in Landscaping

Compost

• Range from 3 to 50% by volume biochar/compost
• How is it to be mixed with the soil?
• Final concentration with the soil is sufficient for plant growth.

Top Soil

• Range from 3 to 50% by volume biochar/soil
• What type of soil?
• What is the purpose?
• Remediation
• Plant Growth
• Rule of Thumb – 10%

Biochar for Horticultural Rooting Media – Improvement (Biochar with Peat)

• Biochar reduced shrinkage of peat acting as a stable skeleton.
• Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from peat was captured onto biochar.
• This loading of digestible DOC onto biochar will support microorganisms.
• Increase growth of plants.
• Wood-based biochar can replace at least 20% to 50% v/v of peat.

How To Apply Biochar

Mixes

• Compost
• Fertilizer
• Hydroseed
• Use with liquid solutions
• Minimum 4% mix in water without emulsifiers
• Utilize powders and granules based on application technique

New Lawns with sod or seed

• Remove existing grass
• Determine amount of biochar: 10% biochar, 5 inches deep
• Mix biochar with soil a few days prior to applying seed or sod (if possible)
• Apply seed or sod
• Water

Biochar Only

• Top Dress
  • Chicken feed toss
  • Rake
• Turnover Soil
  • Apply on top and rake
  • Tiller
  • Compost Spreader
  • Best when aeration is needed.