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Hessian

Sep 20 2019

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.

Written by soilerosionst · Categorized: Erosion Control, Geotextile · Tagged: Biodegradable, Erosion Control, Geotextile, Hessian, Jute Netting

Sep 20 2019

How to Use Jute Mesh for Erosion Control

One of the biggest problems gardeners and landscapers face is erosion control. Established plants help hold soil in place, but it can be difficult to get plants to stay on a sloped bank long enough to become established. Erosion control mats are a great way to counteract this problem. Try jute mesh for erosion control in your landscaping.

What Is Jute?

Jute, also called hessian, is a natural fiber that comes from the stem of the jute plant. These plants grow mainly in India, Bangladesh, and other Asian countries. Jute is one of the most widely available natural fibers and alongside coconut coir is one of the most popular natural fibers for ropes, bags, and other materials. The fiber of jute is off-white to brown and 3-10 feet long. Jute fabrics are often called hessian cloth, gunny bags, or burlap. 

Jute Mesh

Made from the woven fibers of the jute plant, jute mesh is a biodegradable, natural, and flexible material used for temporary erosion control and selective plant establishment. Jute mesh has openings in the weaves that 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. 

Jute Mesh for Erosion Control

Jute mesh 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, wetlands and land reclamation, and other land features prone to erosion. To use jute mesh for erosion control correctly, first you must clear away debris and excess weeds from the slope or plain where you plan to place the mesh. 

Lay the jute mesh blankets across the cleared area, securing them in place with stakes every few feet. Once you have secured the mesh, add seeds or grass to prevent erosion. Because it is a natural product, jute mesh will biodegrade within six to 12 months. As an alternative, coir blankets and mats are great natural options for erosion control, especially when you need something that lasts longer and provides more support. 

Coir for Erosion Control

Coir erosion control mats are one of the most popular options for preventing the destruction of vegetation and landscaping. Coir fiber mats and blankets can be used to stabilize a location and prevent slides. They are woven from longer coir fibers, which come from mature brown coconut husks. This particular weave leaves openings that are wide enough to let plants to take root. 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. 

Biodegradable jute mesh and coir mats offer excellent ways to prevent soil erosion while considering the environmental impact of your garden features. They will hold soil and seedlings in place until plants are well-established to prevent erosion. Try these tips to ensure you get the most out of your jute and coir erosion control mats. 

Written by soilerosionst · Categorized: Erosion Control, Geotextile · Tagged: Biodegradeable, Erosion Control, Hessian, Jute Mesh

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