As mankind has expanded civilization across the planet, erosion has impacted homeowners, businesses, and the landscape. Several effective erosion control methods exist that are appropriate for use in a variety of situations from large-scale farms to the lawns surrounding residential homes.

Simple Erosion Control Techniques

For a home or small property, good erosion control often starts before a project has begun. Prior to starting a landscaping plan, it’s necessary to examine the property and consider issues of drainage, whether the land is stable, and how deep the earth is before rock begins.

One of the biggest enemies of a stable and erosion free landscape is improper drainage. If water moves along a slope, it will slowly erode the hillside and cause erosion. Even if a piece of land doesn’t look like it has a steep grade, a slight hill can still cause some significant problems with erosion.

Using Plants and Grass for Erosion Control

Another issue that can cause erosion is an unstable slope where the earth isn’t secure and is likely to migrate. The best way to prevent a hill or dirt-covered slope from eroding is to use erosion control grass or erosion control plants that will stop movement on the surface. At the very least, a layer of landscaping bark can reduce erosion in the short term.

Even if you’re not working on a hillside, plants are still an effective tool for preventing erosion, particularly when wind is at work removing soil. Landscaping experts usually recommend using a variety of plants to prevent erosion. If the soil is deep, it’s best to use plants that will have deep roots to match the depth of the soil. If the soil is shallower and stops at a layer of rock, plants with short roots will suffice.

Using Irrigation as Erosion Control

You might think of erosion control as the installation of grass and plants to prevent movement of the soil, but effective irrigation can work just as well to prevent erosion. Water is a destabilizing force when it comes to erosion-prone areas, and irrigation can help greatly in preventing erosion problems.

Flat Surfaces and Erosion Control

Many of the special techniques that are necessary for erosion control on slopes don’t apply when a surface is flat, so you have a variety of additional options for preventing erosion if you’re dealing with a relatively flat area like a residential yard, a field on a farm, or a commercial lot.

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For example, grass doesn’t always work when there’s a hillside. Plants, shrubs, and trees with roots are generally preferred on hills. However, flat areas respond well to a covering of grass, which can help prevent erosion due to water and wind.

Further, using an erosion control blanket is also appropriate for flat surfaces, as is a layer of mulch. Sometimes, a mixture of shrubs, plants, and mulch is used to prevent erosion around a protected area.

Why is Erosion Control Important?

The reason soil erosion poses a danger to the environment is because the loss of too much topsoil can actually alter the weather and result in a process called “desertification.” Just like the name might suggest, the loss of vegetation can result in a landscape that mimics a desert and isn’t suitable for growing crops.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, erosion control is important because:

“Erosion is a naturally occurring process that many times is accelerated by earth-disturbing projects. Erosion from these activities may damage the ecosystem and visual environment, increase maintenance costs, increase water treatment costs, and leave the land susceptible to noxious weeds”

All property owners, whether they own a substantial property or a small lot, should be aware of various erosion control methods and how to utilize them.