Visual attenuation compositions and methods of using the same

1. A visually-attenuated sprayable mulch composition for hydraulic application to a landscape, comprising:

at least one fiber selected from the group consisting of natural fibers that are crimped or non-crimped, synthetic fibers that are crimped or non-crimped, and combinations thereof, the at least one fiber including polylactic acid; and

a colorant to visually attenuate or camouflage the mulch composition as applied to the landscape to approximate color characteristics of a surrounding natural terrain, the colorant being selected from the group consisting of a pigment, a dye, and combinations thereof.

2. The visually-attenuated mulch composition of claim 1 , wherein the colorant provides a color of green to the mulch composition as applied and the color of green substantially remains for a period of up to 2 to 8 weeks.

3. The visually-attenuated mulch composition of claim 2 , wherein the colorant includes at least one of phthalocyanine and copperthalocyanide.

4. The visually-attenuated mulch composition of claim 1 , wherein the colorant is selected to approximate, for a period of up to 2 to 6 months, the surrounding terrain's color characteristics of being red, yellow, blue, white, black, green, brown, pink, and combinations thereof, and the colorant includes at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of arsenic pigments, carbon pigments, cadmium pigments, iron oxide pigments, chromium pigments, cobalt pigments, lead pigments, copper pigments, titanium pigments, ultramarine pigments, mercury pigments, zinc pigments, clay earth pigments, iron oxides, pigments of biological origin, organic pigments, and combinations thereof.

5. The visually-attenuated mulch composition of claim 1 further comprising at least one manmade biodegradable crimped or non-crimped fiber.

6. The visually-attenuated mulch composition of claim 1 further comprising at least one particulate component selected from the group consisting of porous particles, non-porous particles, and combinations thereof.

7. The visually-attenuated mulch composition of claim 6 , wherein the at least one particulate component includes porous particles selected from the group consisting of porous ceramic particle, smectite clay, perlite, vermiculite, zeolite, Fuller's earth, diatomatious earth, and combinations thereof.

8. The visually-attenuated mulch composition of claim 1 further comprising a mordant to impart colorfastness of the mulch composition for a period of up to 2 to 6 months.

9. The visually-attenuated mulch composition of claim 1 further comprising a suspending agent selected from the group consisting of agar, carrageenan, gelatin, pectin, guar gum, polyoxyethylene polyether, a polyacrylamide, a sodium polyacryalte, psyllium, chitosan, starch, bean mills, and combinations thereof.

10. The visually-attenuated mulch composition of claim 9 , wherein the suspending agent is provided in an amount of no greater than 15% by weight of the total solids of the mulch composition.

11. A visually-attenuated mulch composition comprising:

at least one fiber selected from the group consisting of natural fibers that are crimped or non-crimped, synthetic fibers that are crimped or non-crimped, and combinations thereof, the at least one fiber including polylactic acid;

at least one grass seed; and

a colorant providing a color to the mulch composition as applied and the color substantially remains for a period of up to 2 to 8 weeks for seed germination, wherein the colorant is selected from the group consisting of a pigment, a dye, and combinations thereof.

12. The visually-attenuated mulch composition of claim 11 further comprising at least one fertilizer.

13. The visually-attenuated mulch composition of claim 11 , wherein the colorant substantially effectuates a color of green or a color of brown to the mulch composition as applied.

14. The visually-attenuated mulch composition of claim 11 formulated as dry flakes.

15. A visually-attenuated sprayable soil treatment composition for hydraulic application to a landscape, comprising at least one fiber including polylactic acid:

at least one symbiotic microorganism selected from the group consisting of symbiotic fungi, symbiotic bacterial, and combinations thereof;

at least one particulate component supporting the at least one symbiotic microorganism; and

a colorant to visually attenuate or camouflage the soil treatment composition as applied to the landscape to approximate color characteristics of a surrounding natural terrain, the colorant being selected from the group consisting of a pigment, a dye, and combinations thereof.

16. The visually-attenuated sprayable soil treatment composition of claim 15 further comprising a mordant to impart colorfastness of the soil treatment composition for a period of up to 2 to 6 months.

17. The visually-attenuated sprayable soil treatment composition of claim 15 further comprising at least one of a humic acid and a carbohydrate source.

18. The visually-attenuated sprayable soil treatment composition of claim 15 , wherein the colorant is selected to approximate, for a period of up to 2 to 6 months, the surrounding terrain's color characteristics of being red, yellow, blue, white, black, green, brown, pink, and combinations thereof, and the colorant includes at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of arsenic pigments, carbon pigments, cadmium pigments, iron oxide pigments, chromium pigments, cobalt pigments, lead pigments, copper pigments, titanium pigments, ultramarine pigments, mercury pigments, zinc pigments, clay earth pigments, iron oxides, pigments of biological origin, organic pigments, and combinations thereof.

19. A method for visually attenuating or camouflaging a soil treatment product as applied onto a landscape, comprising:

contacting the soil treatment product as applied with a visual attenuation composition including a colorant selected from the group consisting of a pigment, a dye, and combinations thereof to approximate color characteristics of a surrounding natural terrain, the soil treatment product being at least one of a mulch composition of claim 1 , or a mulch composition of claim 11 , or a soil treatment composition of claim 15 .

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the colorant is selected to approximate, for a period of 2 to 6 months, the surrounding terrain's color characteristics of being red, yellow, blue, white, black, green, brown, pink, and combinations thereof, and the colorant includes at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of arsenic pigments, carbon pigments, cadmium pigments, iron oxide pigments, chromium pigments, cobalt pigments, lead pigments, copper pigments, titanium pigments, ultramarine pigments, mercury pigments, zinc pigments, clay earth pigments, iron oxides, pigments of biological origin, organic pigments, and combinations thereof.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the contacting is carried out via a spray application using a pump sprayer, a hydro seeder, a hydromulcher, a water truck, a spray rig, or combinations thereof.

22. The method of claim 19 , wherein the visual attenuation composition further comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of a flocculant, a tackifier, a stabilizer, and combinations thereof.

23. The method of claim 19 , wherein the visual attenuation composition further comprises a mordant to impart colorfastness of the soil treatment product as applied for a period of up to 2 to 6 months.

24. A method for providing mulch to a landscape while visually attenuating or camouflaging the landscape, comprising:

providing a mulch composition containing at least one fiber selected from the group consisting of natural fibers that are crimped or non-crimped, synthetic fibers that are crimped or non-crimped, and combinations thereof, the at least one fiber including polylactic acid;

combining the mulch composition with a visual attenuation composition including a colorant selected from the group consisting of a pigment, a dye, and combinations thereof to form a visually-attenuated mulch composition to approximate color characteristics of a surrounding natural terrain; and

contacting the landscape with the visually attenuated porous mulch composition by hydraulic application.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the step of combining is carried out by an end user at the site of application.

26. The method of claim 24 , wherein the step of combining is carried out at a manufacturing plant.

27. The method of claim 24 , wherein the hydraulic application for the step of contacting is carried out by the use of a pump sprayer, a hydroseeder, a hydromulcher, a water truck, a spray rig, or combinations thereof.

28. A method of providing biological soil treatment to a landscape while visually attenuating or camouflaging the landscape, comprising:

providing a biological soil treatment containing at least one particulate component, at least one fiber including polylactic acid, and at least one symbiotic microorganism supported on the at least one particulate component and being selected from the group consisting of symbiotic fungi, symbiotic bacterial, and combinations thereof;

combining the biological soil treatment composition with a visual attenuation composition including a colorant selected from the group consisting of a pigment, a dye, and combinations thereof to form a visually attenuated biological soil treatment composition to approximate color characteristics of a surrounding natural terrain; and

contacting the landscape with the visually attenuated biological soil treatment composition by hydraulic application.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the step of combining is carried out by an end user at the site of application.

30. The method of claim 28 , wherein the step of combining is carried out at a manufacturing plant.

31. The method of claim 28 , wherein the hydraulic application for the step of contacting is carried out by the use of a pump sprayer, a hydroseeder, a hydromulcher, a water truck, a spray rig, or combinations thereof.