Dust Suppression

Dust Suppression: Keeping Your Landscape Clean & Comfortable

At Aardvark Bark, we understand that when you order bark and have it blown onto your site, one of the biggest concerns is dust — how much airborne bark dust will settle on your house, car, plants, or neighbors? Our dust suppression process is designed to reduce that mess and make your bark blowing experience as clean, safe, and pleasant as possible.

Why Dust Matters

Bark dust isn’t just an aesthetic issue — it can affect more than you think:

  • Visibility & comfort: Dust flying around looks messy, gets into eyes, noses, windows, and vents.

  • Health concerns: While our bark is natural and should be safe, inhaling a lot of fine particles can irritate lungs, especially for people with asthma, allergies, or respiratory sensitivities.

  • Settling & cleanup: Dust settles on surfaces — patios, siding, windows, cars — meaning extra cleaning and possibly staining.

  • Environmental impact: Fine debris can be carried into gutters, downspouts, and into stormwater systems, which may affect local waterways.

So controlling dust isn’t just about appearance — it’s about safety, comfort, and being a good neighbor.

How Aardvark Bark Reduces Dust During Bark Blowing

We use a layered approach to suppress bark dust. Here’s what we do:

  1. Moisture on the Truck
    Before or during the blowing process, we lightly pre-moisten the bark. The storage or delivery truck has water added to its load. This dampness helps keep the fine particles weighed down so they’re less likely to become airborne.

  2. Controlled Blower Pressure & Hose Technique
    Our blower trucks are operated by experienced drivers who control air pressure, hose distance, and nozzle angles to minimize turbulence. The goal is to deliver the bark precisely where it’s needed, with minimal overspray or drifting.

  3. Weather Considerations
    Whenever possible, deliveries are scheduled when wind is light and humidity is moderate. Dry, windy days tend to spread dust more. If you have scheduling flexibility, choosing calm weather days helps a lot.

  4. Strategic Placement & Protection
    If there are nearby sensitive areas (cars, windows, outdoor furniture, landscaping), we can work with you to protect them (tarps, moving items, covering surfaces). Our team will plan the bark path to avoid blowing over houses or into neighbor’s lots.

Benefits of Dust-Controlled Bark Blowing

When dust suppression is done well, you’ll notice several advantages:

  • Cleaner installation: less dust settling on siding, windows, decks.

  • Reduced health risk: fewer airborne fine particles, which is better for people with allergies or respiratory sensitivities.

  • Less cleanup: saves you time wiping down surfaces, washing vehicles, cleaning off patios.

  • More precise coverage: damp bark tends to stick and settle better, reducing waste and helping the bark stay where you want it.

  • Better neighbor relations: less drift means less chance of complaint or mess spreading beyond your property.

When Dust Suppression Matters Most

Some situations are especially sensitive to dust. In these cases, using our dust-reduction measures is more than just optional — it’s really important:

  • Projects near homes, windows, or patios

  • Areas with outdoor furniture, grills, vehicles in place

  • Locations with air intake vents (HVAC units) or windows you keep open

  • Residential neighborhoods where drift onto sidewalks, driveways, or neighbor’s property can be a concern

  • Sites next to schools, healthcare facilities, or places with people who have asthma or respiratory issues

Client Tips: What You Can Do to Help Reduce Dust

You can help make the installation cleaner. Here are some suggestions:

  • Move cars, furniture, or other belongings out of or away from the area where bark will be blown.

  • Wet down any exposed nearby hardscape (driveways, patios) ahead of time to reduce dust settling afterward.

  • Close windows and vents in nearby structures during the blowing operation.

  • If you know it’ll be windy, choose a calmer day or ask us about buffer zones.

Our Services & Areas for Dust Suppression

We provide dust suppression services with all bark blowing jobs in the Puget Sound region, including Tacoma, Seattle, Olympia, Puyallup, Kent, Auburn, Gig Harbor, and more. Wherever we’re blowing bark, we include moisture control and operator techniques designed to minimize airborne bark dust.

Safety & Environmental Considerations

  • Our bark is untreated, natural, with no chemical dust suppressants. We rely on moisture and careful handling rather than additives.

  • The damp bark will dry out over time (especially on sunny or windy days), but initial dust release is greatly reduced compared to fully dry bark.

  • We use best practices to avoid runoff: dampening the bark, avoiding large piles near impermeable surfaces, and careful placement so water doesn’t carry fines into storm drains.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will wetting the bark cause it to clump or be harder to blow?
A: We use just enough moisture to suppress the dust — not so much that the bark becomes a soggy mess. Fine control in the truck and blower operator helps ensure flow remains good.

Q: How long will the dampness last after installation?
A: Depending on weather (sun, wind, humidity), damp bark should dry enough in a day or two. After drying, there may still be some residual fine particles, but much less than with dry blasting.

Q: Does moisture affect the cost?
A: Moisture control is built into our standard bark-blowing service. There is no extra charge for basic dust suppression. If you request more protective measures (coverings, buffer zones, special logistics) there may be minimal extra cost, which we’ll always quote upfront.

Q: Is damp bark likely to promote mold or fungal growth?
A: Bark is organic and mold/fungi are natural components of the decomposition process. But properly installed bark with good drainage and air flow generally doesn’t lead to problematic mold on surfaces. If you keep bark piled up too heavily against structures or with poor airflow, that’s when issues can develop.

Summary: What You Get with Dust-Reduced Bark Installation

If you choose Aardvark Bark, here’s what dust suppression looks like in practice:

  • Bark arrived with slight moisture → less airborne dust.

  • Blower operator uses moderate pressure & stays as close as needed without creating turbulence.

  • Less mess afterward: fewer dust-settled surfaces, fewer complaints.

  • Cleaner, more precise installation and a better overall experience.

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