- November 4, 2026
- Posted by: wellcoindustries
- Categories: Erosion Control, Jute Mesh
Jute netting is an open-weave erosion-control material used to help protect prepared soil while grass establishes. It can help reduce surface erosion and retain soil moisture. 1 Successful establishment still depends on seed-to-soil contact, suitable grass seed, and watering. 3
Prepare the seedbed, confirm how seed, mulch, and mesh will be combined, and arrange watering and inspection before laying the netting. This guide explains those establishment tasks; the installation guide linked below covers roll placement and fixing.
Decide whether the seedbed needs jute netting
Start with the problem at the site. Is exposed soil washing away before grass can establish, or is the main difficulty standing water, unsuitable soil, or concentrated runoff?
Jute mesh is a surface treatment. Caltrans identifies rocks and debris that lift the material away from the ground, along with compacted or poorly draining soil, as limitations. Resolve those conditions rather than expecting mesh to compensate for them. Sites with concentrated flow, unstable ground, or stream and channel exposure need a project-specific assessment before a material is selected. 1
Also distinguish an open net from a filled erosion-control blanket. Tacoma’s BMP C122 calls for jute matting to be used with mulch because open nets leave soil exposed between strands. Check the specified combination of seed, mulch, and mesh; do not substitute an open roll for a more complete covering without checking the project requirements. 2
Prepare the soil before covering it
Prepare the seedbed before the mesh makes access more difficult:
- Match the grass to the location. Confirm the species or mixture, planting season, sunlight, and intended use with locally applicable guidance. A planting calendar for one region is not a nationwide schedule.
- Check the soil. Use a soil test to guide amendments instead of adding fertilizer or compost by habit.
- Prepare a seedbed that allows seed-to-soil contact. Remove obstructions and finish the surface before the mesh is secured. Avoid leaving seed suspended on debris or a thick covering layer.
University of Minnesota Extension emphasizes soil preparation and seed-to-soil contact in lawn establishment. Its regional grass choices and dates apply to Minnesota; use the preparation principles alongside advice for the actual project location. 3
Record the seed mixture and application rate before work begins. Use the selected seed’s directions and the project specification, rather than increasing the rate simply because netting will be installed.
Should grass seed go down before or after jute netting?
Seed can be applied before or after the open jute mesh treatment described by Caltrans. 1 Tacoma’s slope detail places seeding or mulching before the net or blanket. 2 Confirm the sequence for the selected product and project before unrolling; the openness of one mesh does not establish the sequence for every net or blanket.
Before unrolling, confirm:
- When seed is applied and how it reaches the prepared soil.
- Whether mulch is required, and where it belongs in the specified assembly.
- How the selected mesh is kept in contact with the ground.
- Which instructions govern anchoring, overlaps, and edge treatment.
Use the product instructions and project detail for installation dimensions. Our jute netting installation guide explains the installation workflow separately.
Manage moisture as the grass establishes
During germination, use light irrigation as needed to maintain moisture at the seeded surface without moving seed or creating runoff. Account for rainfall and reduce watering frequency as roots develop. Minnesota Extension describes this progression in its lawn-seeding guidance. 3
Check the soil beneath the mesh rather than judging moisture from the jute strands. Adjust the watering arrangement for the local grass, soil, and weather; Minnesota’s specific irrigation schedule is not a nationwide prescription. If seed is being displaced or channels form, review how water is reaching the area before continuing the same routine.
Use a field check to decide what needs attention
Inspect at the intervals and after the weather events specified in the project plan. Use this check to distinguish a mesh problem from a seedbed or water-management problem.
| What you see | What to check | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Mesh lifted above the soil | Debris, uneven ground, and the specified fixing arrangement | Restore ground contact using the applicable installation detail. |
| Soil washing out beneath the mesh | The water’s entry point and path across the area | Address the runoff problem and repair the affected surface. |
| Seed displaced into small deposits | Whether rain or irrigation moved it | Review the water source and the need to restore the seedbed and reseed. |
| Sparse growth despite intact mesh | Seed choice, planting conditions, soil, and moisture records | Investigate those inputs before adding more mesh. |
| Loose or exposed netting where mowing is planned | Remaining material, grass establishment, and equipment clearance | Keep equipment away until the condition is assessed against product and equipment instructions. |
Use these observations to choose the next check; they do not confirm a single cause. Follow the selected product’s instructions when repairing or refixing the mesh. The checks draw on Tacoma’s guidance about ground contact and erosion, together with Minnesota Extension’s establishment guidance. 2 3
Plan for mowing and remaining netting
Before mowing, check for loose or exposed netting and confirm the requirements for the specific material and mower. Grass height alone does not establish that mowing over the remaining netting is appropriate.
Tacoma warns that persistent netting in erosion-control blankets can interfere with mowing equipment; its discussion concerns photodegradable netting used with blankets. That warning does not establish the decomposition time of a particular jute product. Check the composition and condition of the material remaining on site. 2
Likewise, decide whether remaining material is retained or removed from the product instructions and site management requirements. Do not assume every product sold as jute netting has the same composition or disappearance time.
For material selection, view our jute netting product details. For an inquiry, send us your requirements: location, coverage area, slope and runoff conditions, seed and mulch plan, quantity, and delivery destination.