Soil erosion can devastate any landscaping project; it can quickly destroy plants, structures, and walkways and be incredibly difficult to undo. Fortunately, some simple hacks can help minimize erosion and protect your landscaping. From terracing and creating swales to utilizing landscaping materials, here are five landscaping tricks that can help prevent erosion on your property.
1. Use Terracing
Terracing is one of the best tools for preventing erosion. Terracing involves creating a flat, raised surface wide enough to absorb excess water and prevent it from running off. The terrace can be a straight line, curved, or even an angled shape. Adding soil between each terrace can also increase the surface area available for absorption, thus furthering erosion prevention.
Using terracing in your landscaping helps reduce runoff by slowing down water flow. This reduces the amount that would normally pool in one specific place and can also help reduce the amount of sediment carried away in the runoff.
2. Create Swales
Swales are channels dug out of the landscape that allows water to run more slowly. This helps reduce runoff and prevents soil from being washed away. The swales should be shallow, allowing only the top layer of water to run through. When a swale is created, it allows rainfall to be captured and directed to the plants in your landscape. This helps preserve the soil’s moisture and keeps sediments from being carried away.
3. Plant Fillers and Groundcover
Groundcover is an effective way to help prevent erosion. It softens the landscape and limits the amount of exposed soil that can be washed away. Plants are perfect for this as they create a root system that binds the soil in place. If you want to use plants specifically for erosion control, choose species that form dense mats, such as perennials, ground covers, and short shrubs.
4. Use Geotextile Fabrics
Geotextile fabrics are incredibly useful in preventing soil erosion. They are made from synthetic material and have a woven construction that provides strength and flexibility. They are laid over the landscape and held with stakes or stones, providing a barrier that captures sediments and prevents them from being washed away. They also absorb shock, allowing water to permeate the surface and provide protection from the runoff slowly.
Installing geotextile fabrics in your landscape can further reduce erosion, provide excellent drainage, reduce the amount of maintenance required, and help retain soil moisture. They provide a lightweight barrier that can prevent plants from being uprooted by high winds or even heavy rainfall. Geotextile fabrics are also surprisingly affordable and come in various sizes and types, making them an excellent choice for erosion prevention.
5. Utilize Landscaping Materials
Using landscape materials like gravel, rocks, and stones can help prevent erosion on your property. These materials can be used to line pathways, slow the speed of water runoff, and mimic the contours of your landscape. They also add depth and texture to the landscape while also helping to reduce maintenance time. Gravel can absorb the impact of water runoff, reducing the likelihood of soil being washed away. Rocks or stones can be used to line pathways and further reduce the speed of runoff.
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