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Soil Erosion Problems and Solutions

Erosion Control

Control Water Runoff with a Compost Filter Sock

Soil erosion is caused by a number of factors, including urban building, natural forces, and heavy traffic. Rain, wind, physical disturbance, and overuse promote soil erosion and water runoff. While it’s not possible to prevent all elements of erosion, there are some things you can do to limit damage and promote root growth. One way to control water runoff in your garden is by using compost filter socks. 

Compost Filter Sock

Also known as silt socks, compost filter socks are commonly used in landscaping and home gardening. They are mesh tubes filled with composted wood chips, bark, and other materials. The socks’ organic build is designed to allow maximum filtration. It also means the socks are very effective at filtering water runoff and controlling sediment loss. Heavy-duty compost filter socks will perform well even under extreme conditions. 

In areas with high sediment flow, filter socks can prevent sediment runoff. While they aren’t the most attractive addition to a garden or landscape, they are certainly some of the most effective.

Filter socks are installed downslope of areas where erosion and sediment control are needed. They can also be used in place of silt fences, on paved areas, near sensitive trees, or on frozen ground. A compost filter sock is a great alternative if you don’t want to dig trenches or disturb the ground in an area where you have established vegetation.

Filter Sock Applications

The most common uses for filter socks include water diversion, perimeter control, slope interruption, ditch check, and as an alternative to silt fences. 

If you are trying to manage rain or stormwater movement, compost filter socks can be used to slow, interrupt, or divert water. This will redirect water away from areas where it could cause damage or erode soil. These socks can also reduce the speed at which water runs down a sloped bank, which helps with erosion control. 

For existing water bodies, such as rivers and ponds, compost filter socks can prevent steeped banks from running into the water. This also helps with land stabilization. Placing filter socks along a channel bed makes for an excellent retaining wall to promote the growth of new and existing vegetation.

Because moving water also tends to carry sediment, filter socks help control both water runoff and sediment erosion. If you’re building up a new area of your garden or landscaping, you can use compost filter socks to create a boundary. This will trap and retain sediment and water, preventing destruction.

Compost filter socks are economically viable options for erosion control and water runoff. There is little cost to install, clean up, or dispose of them. When you no longer need the socks for erosion control, you can cut them open and use the filling as compost directly where they lie. You can simply dispose of the mesh, which requires minimal effort in comparison to dismantling fencing and other alternatives. The organic content in compost filter socks is also good for the environment and will promote new seed growth. 

Wood Excelsior vs Coco Coir

When it comes to controlling erosion, erosion control mats, netting, and blankets provide ample protection for soil in areas that are vulnerable to damage from wind and water erosion. These erosion control mats and blankets are manufactured using many types of materials, including wood excelsior, coco coir, other natural fibers, and synthetic materials. This review will examine wood excelsior and coco coir specifically, as well as uses and applications for erosion control mats and blankets.

Wood Excelsior

Wood excelsior erosion control mats are biodegradable and help maintain areas heavily affected by erosion. Wood excelsior (also known as wood wool) mats are natural products made from tiny slivers of wood fiber. Providing soil stabilization to hills, banks, and shores, wood excelsior mats are an effective means of controlling and alleviating the effects of wind and water erosion. The wood excelsior erosion control mats have short life spans, so once the vegetation begins to grow and flourish, the mat will degrade without interfering with its growth.

Coco Coir

Coco coir erosion control mats and blankets are made from coconut fibers found between the outer coconut shell and the seed within. Coconut fibers are incredibly strong, which enables the coco coir erosion control mats to be durable and nearly indestructible. Coco coir mats can be used repeatedly, so they will last season after season. In addition, coconut fibers are natural products. Thus, coco coir erosion mats are biodegradable and eco-friendly. Coco coir erosion control mats protect, support, and secure the soil, allowing young seedlings to grow unrestricted.

Uses and Applications

Both wood excelsior erosion control mats and coco coir erosion control blankets are used for a variety of gardening, landscaping, agricultural, and large-scale construction projects. Both the wood and coir types of erosion control mats are held together with netting and must be anchored with staples or stakes to the soil during installation. Wood excelsior and coco coir erosion control blankets can be used in any climate or environment.

Wood excelsior erosion control blankets are typically used on slopes to help with slope stabilization as well as hill stabilization. Additionally, wood excelsior erosion control blankets can be used to assist with the growth and support of vegetation in areas affected by erosion. The erosion blanket helps protect the soil and surrounding vegetation from not only wind and water elements but also animals that feed on the plant seeds.

Coco coir erosion control blankets are used for slopes, wetlands, protected environmental areas, and shorelines. Coco coir erosion control blankets help mitigate the effects of erosion by holding the soil in place. This prevents the dirt and vegetation from getting swept away by water or wind.

Whether an erosion control mat or blanket is made of wood excelsior or coco coir, it will help protect the soil and defend against erosion in almost any situation. Wood excelsior and coco coir fibers are similar, and both provide their own set of benefits when used as a method of erosion control in a garden, landscape, or construction site.

What is Excelsior Matting?

Excelsior matting is a type of erosion control product that’s very similar to erosion control mats we’ve discussed in other blog entries. The significant difference between excelsior matting and other types of erosion control mats is that excelsior matting uses a specific kind of wood ‘excelsior’ fiber that provides a robust matrix for vegetation to establish itself in. Excelsior matting is designed primarily for use on sloped surfaces, as its durability makes it ideal for locations that might not work with standard erosion control mats.

Choosing Your Excelsior Matting

There are several types of excelsior matting available. Single-net blankets are the most cost-effective but don’t provide as much stability as double-net blankets. Double-net blankets have netting stitched to both the top and bottom of the excelsior material, while single-net blankets only have mesh on one side. 

One of the things to consider is whether it’s important for you to use ecologically sensitive materials in your project. Excelsior matting is traditionally made with synthetic netting and stitching. While there are biodegradable options available, they can be more expensive and might eliminate the matting’s cost-effective benefits. And if you choose to use excelsior matting with synthetic fibers, it’s important to remember to clean up the netting when/if your excelsior mat has partially or fully decomposed. 

There are also heavier-duty excelsior blankets available, which can last for up to three years before beginning to break down. If you’re seeking an erosion control method that has longevity and can provide stability over an extended period, heavy-duty excelsior blankets might be your best solution.

Excelsior Matting vs. Landscape Fabric

Landscape fabrics are similar to erosion control matting but serve a different function. Generally used as weed control, landscape fabrics are often synthetic and are less concerned with sediment filtration than traditional erosion control methods.

Excelsior matting is a much coarser style of erosion control fabric, with a broader range of uses. And, similar to coir matting, excelsior matting is at least partly biodegradable, whereas landscape fabric is traditionally made of polyethylene and used for hardscape projects with timber, paver stones, or loose gravel. 

Excelsior Matting vs. Coir Erosion Mats

Excelsior matting and coir mats have many similarities. Both are made primarily of biodegradable fibers that are sustainably sourced as natural byproducts of either traditional agriculture or forestry. Both have different gradients of strength and longevity, ranging from three months to three years. And both can be used on flat and sloped surfaces.

Coir erosion control mats are generally made entirely of coir fiber, which means the entire mat is biodegradable without requiring a custom order. And while they’re traditionally more effective in flat areas or on gentle slopes, coir geotextiles have seen great success as natural methods of erosion control. Because coir fiber is resistant to mold, fungus, bacteria, and other inhibitors of successful plant growth, it’s a solid option when you want to reseed a large area. 

You can find coir erosion control materials on our site, whether you’re searching for a residential application or need a large amount of material for a commercial construction project.

Erosion Control Socks: A Natural Solution

When you think about erosion control options, the most commonly used methods include erosion control blankets and straw wattles. Filtration fencing, such as silt fencing, can also be an option but isn’t as useful as blankets and wattles. 

The problem with these options is they’re often designed using synthetic fabrics or materials, which can be challenging to clean up or can leach harmful chemicals into the soil if misused. Erosion control socks, a relatively new product, provide an eco-friendly alternative to the more traditional erosion control methods.

What Are Erosion Control Socks?

Erosion control socks are very similar in function to straw wattles. However, instead of being filled with straw — which can mold — or artificial materials, erosion control socks are filled with compost or vegetation. In some cases, the socks themselves are made of biodegradable material, meaning they require little to no cleanup. 

Benefits of Erosion Control Socks

There are many benefits to using erosion control socks over silt fencing or other traditional erosion control methods. Their ease of installation is a significant reason why people choose them: Simply fill the tube with the vegetation or compost of your choice, and lay the erosion control sock where it’s needed. If you’re working with a sloped surface, you might have to dig a shallow trench, but overall, erosion control socks have far fewer setup and cleanup requirements than traditional erosion control methods.

Erosion control socks also provide a lower profile than silt fencing or traditional straw wattles, allowing for more visibility on your project site. And, depending on the filling you choose for your erosion control sock, you can get multiple uses out of it. Because wood chips, compost, and other organic filler materials are affordable, erosion control socks offer a cost-effective way to prevent sediment transfer into local waterways and ensure your construction project meets local requirements.

Coir as a Filler for Erosion Control Socks

While we often talk about the usability of coir fiber, there’s another coir product that is useful for erosion control socks: coir pith. Coir pith is also referred to as ‘waste-grade coir,’ as it’s the byproduct of coir production. However, it’s still full of nutrients and is available in a natural compost. 

Using coir pith in your erosion control socks can ensure superior water retention and filtration. In addition to being affordable, coir pith carries all the properties of coir mats. It’s resistant to bacteria and fungal growth, breaks down over time, and is incredibly durable. If you’re looking for a sock filler that will allow you to use your erosion control socks for multiple projects, coir pith might be one of your best options.

As the importance of sustainable, eco-friendly erosion control methods continues to grow, research into viable options such as erosion control socks will only increase. Erosion control socks are cost-effective, biodegradable tools to prevent erosion on slopes, on flat construction locations, and in residential gardens and landscapes. Their reusability makes them a perfect tool to add to any project kit. 

Consider using erosion control socks over more traditional methods such as silt fencing or straw wattles. 

How to Use Straw Wattles for Erosion Control

Erosion control is a vital part of both residential and commercial construction and gardening projects. Ensuring your plant life has proper time to grow and preventing topsoil runoff extends the life of your property and increases your water filtration abilities. Traditional straw wattles are an economical option when you’re trying to control erosion on your property. Coir wattles or erosion mats take the convenience of straw wattles and add eco-friendly properties, like biodegradable materials, to the mix.

What Is a Straw Wattle?

Straw wattles, also known as straw worms or straw tubes, are fiber-filled rolls designed to slow or stop water flowing in areas with ditches or significant slopes. While traditionally filled with straw, the coir industry has begun to design coir erosion mats and logs that provide the same benefits as standard straw wattles but have superior water retention and biodegradability.

Why Should You Use a Straw Wattle?

Whether you choose a traditional straw wattle or seek out coir options, straw wattles are vital in land preservation efforts. Because they trap sediment, retain water, and provide a safe barrier for seed germination, straw wattles create spaces for natural plant life to grow. When trying to prevent further erosion of a location, whether it’s a ditch beside a road or a sloping hill in your backyard, encouraging the growth of local plant life is essential.

Coir mats and rolls can be highly beneficial, as they resist fungus and bacteria while providing superior water retention. They’re also biodegradable, meaning you won’t have to manually remove them; in two to five years, your coir straw wattles will break down naturally and add nutrients to your topsoil.

How Do You Install a Straw Wattle?

Proper installation of your straw wattle or mat is a key part of your erosion control project. If your wattle is improperly installed, you may find water pooling or your straw wattle shifting. This lessens or even eliminates the effectiveness of the straw wattle, as your local vegetation no longer has a stable spot to begin growing.

To install your wattle, you’ll first need to mark the locations you want the wattle to go. This generally means running a narrow channel perpendicular to your slope that curves down slightly at the ends to make sure water doesn’t pool in the middle. Digging out a small trench will help keep your straw wattle stable. You may need to use several rows to ensure proper erosion control; in this case, your straw wattles should be parallel to each other. 

Straw wattles, when installed properly and used smartly, are a great way to conserve water and prevent erosion damage to your yard, your construction project, and more. And while traditional straw wattles are certainly adequate, we highly recommend exploring the range of coir products that are more eco-friendly than traditional plastic-wrapped wattles. Coir wattles are fully biodegradable, and coir also comes in erosion-control mats that can aid with water retention and plant growth over a broader area.