Jordmatta

Jordmatta, literally “earth mat,” is a mat-like product designed to establish and protect vegetation on soil surfaces. It combines a fibrous or synthetic base with a growing substrate, often embedded seeds, and is used to create quick ground cover, stabilize soil, and suppress weeds in landscaping, civil engineering, and horticulture. The term can refer to several related products, including erosion-control mats, vegetation mats, and green-roof mats.

Materials and installation: Jordmattor may be made from natural fibers such as coir (coconut fibre) or jute, or from synthetic fibers like polypropylene or polyester. The substrate can be soil or a peat-based growing medium, sometimes pre-seeded with grasses or wildflowers. They are rolled out over a prepared surface, joints aligned, and secured with pins or staples as needed. Water infiltration is designed to be maintained to support plant establishment.

Applications and benefits: Used on slopes, embankments, construction sites, and on green roofs to reduce erosion, trap moisture, and speed vegetation establishment. They can also provide temporary ground cover during rehabilitation projects and improve aesthetic value and biodiversity compared with bare soil.

Maintenance and considerations: Establishment typically requires regular moisture; vegetation may need mowing or trimming as it grows. Natural-fiber mats may biodegrade over time, while synthetic mats offer longer-term stability but may pose disposal considerations at end of life. Choice depends on climate, project duration, and environmental goals.