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Soil Erosion Problems and Solutions

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Why You Should Apply Jute Netting to Your Garden

Netting made from jute can be very useful in your home garden or landscaping project as a method to prevent erosion and encourage plant growth. Jute netting helps reduce soil erosion and provides cover for regrowth. Try these tips for using jute erosion control netting in your garden.

Erosion Control Blankets

Erosion control blankets are biodegradable, open-weave blankets that create short-term shelter for seeding and establishing vegetation on bare and sloped landscapes. You might have seen large erosion control blankets on roadsides, where they are often placed to support emergent vegetation (normally grass) for erosion prevention.

These blankets are made of natural, biodegradable fiber — often jute, straw, or coir. The natural material protects bare soil and newly seeded areas against rain and wind. This allows seeds to germinate and grow root systems, which will eventually lead to established plants. As plants or grasses grow through the mesh, they are stabilized. Later, the erosion control netting decomposes to allow further growth. 

Benefits of Jute Netting

Made from the woven fibers of the jute plant, jute netting, or mesh, is a biodegradable, natural, and flexible material used for temporary erosion control and selective plant establishment. Jute mesh has openings in the weaves, which trap seeds and provide a protective environment for germination. This mesh allows light and water to pass through, encouraging strong plant growth and enhanced mineral content in the soil. 

How to Use Jute in Your Garden

Jute netting can help prevent erosion on riverbanks, embankments, slopes, and other landscape features. It is commonly applied to roadside and general landscaping, garden and plant beds, wetland and land reclamation, and to protect other land features prone to erosion. 

Erosion control netting can also be applied alone as an alternative to wood chips or straw, on flat sites as a method of dust control, or to support seed germination. To use jute mesh correctly, first you must clear away debris and excess weeds from the slope or plain where you plan to place the netting. Apply netting up and down the slope, never along the contour. Anchor the netting every few feet as you go, and overlap sections. 

This material doesn’t work in every situation where soil erosion and water runoff is a problem. Jute netting will not be helpful in areas with steep, sandy slopes, very rocky hills, or significant fire-burned vegetation. It should also not be used in areas where runoff is expected to be high. 

You might want to try coir blankets for areas with slightly higher runoff and erosion problems. On average, coir mats provide solid support for up to five years, which is enough time to allow vegetation to take root, grow, and stabilize. In addition, coir blankets and mats are relatively easy to install. 

Most gardeners will find jute erosion control netting useful as a way of protecting their soil from wind and water damage, as seeds take time to germinate and become established. Use these tips when using jute in your garden, and add coir blankets for bigger erosion problems.

Methods for Applying Grass Seed Netting in Your Garden

One of the most important functions of grass is to hold soil in place so that it’s not swept away by wind or water. Under certain conditions, grass seeds need extra help to stay firmly in place, and grass seed netting can be used to ensure they aren’t carried away by turbulent weather.

What Is Grass Seed Netting?

Grass seed netting is a covering that you place over grass seeds to protect them from animals and harsh weather conditions. In addition, grass seed netting is useful for keeping seeds in place if you’ve planted them on a hill or in an area that has been affected by erosion. Grass seed netting can be made of coir, jute, straw, or synthetic fibers.

The Advantages of Using Grass Seed Netting

Grass seed netting protects the seeds by preventing birds and other animals from eating them. Grass seed netting made of coir is sustainable and eco-friendly, and, as the grass grows, the netting will begin to biodegrade on its own. Over time, the coir fibers will decompose and add nutrients to the soil. They are wholly organic and won’t leave behind waste products. Thanks to the highly absorbent coir fibers, coir netting retains valuable moisture that the seeds need to grow. In addition to their absorptive qualities, coir fibers also provide adequate drainage for plants.

Grass seed netting is good tool to control erosion on slopes and hilly terrain. The netting holds the soil and grass in place and stops them from being washed away by water or wind. The netting allows the grass to grow and flourish, and the new growth helps prevent further erosion.

Installation

If you’re using grass seed netting on a flat area, you’ll need to till the area before planting the grass seeds. After you have tilled the ground and planted the seeds, you can cover the area with the grass seed netting. It’s better to start at one end of the installation area and lay out the netting evenly. Anchor the netting to the soil with staples or stakes, and, after this, you’re finished.

Similarly, if you’re planting on a hill or a slope, you’ll need to till the soil before planting the grass seed. After that, dig a trench across the top of the installation area. This is where you’ll anchor the grass seed netting. Next, lay the netting in the trench, anchor it with stakes or staples, and then backfill the trench. 

Unroll the netting across the top of the trench and down the slope, anchor it to the ground, and pull the netting until it is taut. Dig another trench at the bottom of the installation area and anchor the bottom of the netting to that trench. Finally, water the area well so that the grass can grow.

Now that you’re familiar with grass seed netting, its benefits, and the steps involved in installing it, you’re ready to go. Use grass seed netting to keep your seeds in place and control erosion in your garden or landscaping.

Tips for Using Silt Bags for Erosion Control

Erosion is a common problem on construction sites and extensive agricultural projects, and there are numerous ways to control erosion on a large scale. Silt bags have been proven to be an effective way to control erosion on construction sites. This guide will explain how silt bags are used for erosion control and give you a few tips for using silt bags yourself.

What Are Silt Bags?

Silt bags are dewatering products manufactured from geotextile fabrics. Dewatering is the process of removing water from a construction area with water pumps. If an area was flooded in the past, it may be necessary to pump water away from the site before beginning construction or excavation. By controlling the movement of sediment, silt bags help construction sites comply with stringent stormwater regulations. 

Silt bags filter sediment and other materials from water. When you utilize silt bags, water flows through the bags and sediment is trapped inside.

Applications

Silt bags are used to filter water and can be used at construction sites, wastewater treatment plants, and any job site where sediment needs to be controlled. It’s necessary to mitigate erosion around construction sites in order to minimize the amount of sediment that is carried into lakes, rivers, and streams. 

Sediment can carry pollutants that are detrimental to wildlife, so it’s important to manage the movement of sediment when possible. Using silt bags at construction sites will help protect nearby wildlife, bodies of water, and natural resources.

You can use coir mats, logs, or netting in conjunction with silt bags at construction sites. Coconut coir fibers have an unmatched ability to retain and absorb water. After the silt bag filters the sediment from the water, coir mats or logs will absorb the water for the surrounding vegetation. In this way, sediment-free water is able to be absorbed into the soil or go down a storm drain. 

In addition, the coir mats, logs, and nettings secure the soil in place, preventing the filtered water from washing away the existing soil. Coir products are eco-friendly and biodegradable and provide essential nutrients to the soil as they decompose. They are wholly organic and leave behind no waste products.

Tips for Using Silt Bags

When you want to use silt bags for erosion control, you should first assess the area and see how you can protect the soil and surrounding vegetation. To prevent further erosion, you should support and stabilize the area.

Instead of throwing away the contents of the silt bag, you can put the silt and sediment back on the area for stabilization and support as long as they don’t contain pollutants or hazardous materials. Check the silt bags frequently for clogs or other impairments and replace the bag if needed.

If it’s necessary to pump water away from your construction site, it’s a good idea to use silt bags to control erosion and sediment movement. Using silt bags for erosion control is good for the environment and allows construction to take place without harming the existing vegetation or soil.

Top 3 Erosion Control Methods

Water is one of the most powerful forces on Earth. When combined with windy conditions, it can damage even the best-maintained soil and landscapes. Thankfully, there are several erosion control methods you can utilize. By implementing any of these erosion control methods, you can manage erosion and protect the soil and vegetation in your garden or landscaping.

Riprap

Thanks to its durability and ability to withstand adverse weather conditions, riprap is a good erosion control method. Riprap consists of numerous rocks of all shapes and sizes that are tightly locked together. The rocks help hold the soil in place and prevent it from being washed away by water or wind. Riprap can also be used to stabilize the soil around a riverbank or lakeshore, helping keep the bank and shore intact. It is common to see riprap around bridge supports, especially if the bridge is over a body of water.

For landscaping and gardening, rocks can hold the soil in place and mitigate weed growth. If you’re rockscaping, you should use the rocks in conjunction with landscape netting. The combination of rocks and landscape netting will protect the plants and minimize erosion.

Erosion Control Blankets

Erosion control blankets are laid out over areas that have been affected by erosion. These blankets are especially useful when trying to plant on hills or steep slopes. Typically, erosion control blankets are used to protect seeds from scavenging animals and prevent seeds and soil from being swept away by wind or water. In addition, erosion control blankets slow the flow of water, stopping plants and soil from being washed away. Erosion control blankets are versatile and can be adapted to fit any garden or landscape in any climate or environment.

Erosion control blankets are typically made from natural, biodegradable fibers such as coir, but they can also be made from synthetic materials. Coir erosion control blankets are especially good for slopes; the coir fibers absorb and retain water, slowing water as it flows down the slope. The adaptability of coir mats makes them a solid choice for erosion control; they can be used to support and restore banks, shores, and wetlands. Coir is an eco-friendly, organic product, and there is no waste to clean up when you use a coir mat.

Vegetation

Grass, plants, and other types of vegetation are exceptional at controlling erosion. As they grow, the roots from the grass or plants become anchored in the soil, keeping the soil in place. As a plant grows larger, its root system grows larger, and it becomes more able to secure the surrounding soil. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to use supplemental erosion control methods, but the plants themselves function as a natural way to ensure that the soil stays in place.

These erosion control methods can combat erosion in any garden or landscape. If your growing space has been affected by erosion, you should think about utilizing any of these methods to protect your plants and soil.

The Benefits of Silt Fencing

Whether you’re doing residential remodeling or working on a commercial or industrial project, making sure your site is protected is incredibly important. Many locations have laws requiring you to have erosion protection methods established before you ever break ground, as construction projects can be a cause of serious sediment flow.

Silt fencing is the most common method of protecting local waterways from any sediments disturbed by construction projects. It can be purchased with stakes already attached or with separate stakes and is occasionally buried in the ground as well to prevent water from flowing beneath the fencing. Silt fencing is also generally seen as more effective than wattles, as you can create a higher, more sustainable barrier.

Silt Fencing – the Basics

Silt fencing is usually made of synthetic materials specifically chosen to allow water to flow through while keeping sediment back. Generally, silt fencing is designed to withstand the elements wherever it’s being used; however, it’s important to remember that silt fencing is a passive filtration system and often isn’t designed to withstand a considerable weight of water. If you find water pooling more than a few feet deep in the middle of your silt fencing, you run the risk of the fencing collapsing and the filtration system failing.

Silt fencing is designed as dual-purpose protection. Not only do silt fences help with erosion control, but they’re also integral for sediment control. Silt fencing keeps sediment out of waterways and storm drains, preventing flooding issues and other problems with sediment dispersal.

Synthetic vs. Coir Silt Fencing

Coir silt fencing is a relatively new addition to the lineup of silt fencing options, which are traditionally made from synthetic geotextiles and require dismantling post-construction. Because there are often regulations regarding the type of fencing used, synthetic geotextiles are more common.

However, coir silt fencing has been growing in popularity due to its relatively low cost and sustainable nature. As coir is made from the fibers of coconut husks, it’s an all-natural product that works well on construction sites because of its practical design. Coir silt fencing is generally designed in a honeycomb-inspired sheet, which not only filters sediment from the water but can also catch small sediment pieces that may not be heavy enough to settle in front of the fence.

Coir silt fencing is also biodegradable, meaning that it requires less cleanup when construction is finished. It’s available in several customizable sizes, allowing for better ordering control. Because silt fencing is a necessary part of any construction project, it’s important to consider your options. When you can choose an option that’s eco-friendly, cost-effective, and often works better than the traditional alternative, why wouldn’t you?

Coir silt fencing is a great way to ensure sediment and erosion control at your worksite, no matter how large or small it is. And as suppliers continue to improve quality control and provide better products, coir silt fencing will continue to grow in popularity. Try it for your next construction project!