Gardening and Landscaping Stack Exchange
Gardening and Landscaping Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [erosion-control]

Controlling soil erosion in a horticultural setting

Soil erosion in a horticultural setting is typically due to water (e.g. erosion by rainwater runoff in a heavy storm) but it can also be gravity (steep slopes) or wind ("dust bowl").

Use this tag for questions about controlling erosion. This may include inert solutions (e.g. wooden barriers) and/or plant solutions (e.g. drought-tolerant long-rooted grasses).

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What are some good plants to hold the edge of a cliff?

What sorts of plants are good at holding the edge of a cliff? I'd prefer to avoid planting tall things in order to still be able to see off of the cliff. The site is in hardiness zone 5 and is high above a large salt-water bay. It sees an average…
user497
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How can I control erosion on a steep trail?

I have a trail about 10' wide going down a hill in the woods behind my house. This particular section has a ~10-15% grade. It receives regular foot, tractor, and log skidding (i.e. behind the tractor) traffic, so there's not much that grows in the…
bstpierre
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What landscaping and erosion control ideas can I use on a hillside with sandy soil?

I am having problems with erosion and can not keep anything on it. I am looking for any ideas to help control this problem. I had a Landscaper come out to look at it and it will cost me up to $50,000 to fix. I just don't have that kind of money.
user3507
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What plants/trees will help (or hinder) bind a river bank together?

Our garden border is defined by a steep bank about 4m high, into a small river - not quite a cliff but so steep you would struggle to climb it. The river bends into our border at one point which raises questions of erosion over time. We're in the…
Mr. Boy
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How can I control erosion and weeds on a rock retaining wall?

I live on a sloped lot in Utah (just north of Salt Lake City, USDA zone 7b) with several rock retaining walls (small boulders 3-5' in diameter). After hard rains I've noticed considerable dirt plumes from drainage between the boulders and I worry…
Mark McClellan
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I found a blue plastic tarp about 6 inches under landscaped area in the front yard. Can I remove it?

I have encountered a curious situation I'm hoping someone can solve. When I started digging a hole to plant a young bush in my front yard, I saw 1-2 inches of wood chip mulch, then a black landscaping fabric, then soil, then TWO MORE layers of…
Bee Gee
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Resolve soil erosion on steep bank

After purchasing a house and clearing the back section and have found soil erosion on a bank beneath some weed matting. How can I shore up this bank? I really don't want to build a retaining wall if possible so looking for alternatives. I was…
redstubble
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Getting grass to grow on top of hill, shady area with possible concrete

I am a relatively new homeowner. The back of our house has a carport with a deck above it, then the back yard has about a yard of flattish ground followed by a decent slope. We noticed that the grass was a bit spotty at the top, but didn't think…
Sean Duggan
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Are there some plant-based erosion control ground cover options for Pacific Northwest US?

Our driveway cuts through the side of a hill. The 'uphill' side in parts is at a perhaps 65 degree angle so steep, and there's a bit of erosion... enough to expose some tree roots. Ideally we'd use some physical retaining wall solution (stone walls…
DA.
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Southern California Sandy Hillside - Stabilization

We recently purchased a home that has a fairly steep hillside in the back. I haven’t measured the grade but I’d say it’s somewhere between 35-45 degrees. You can walk it fairly easily. My question for folks here is pretty broad. I don’t know what I…
Bradley
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Should I use small rocks to disrupt yard erosion?

I'm having a problem where rivulets are forming in the lower section of my yard, giving it a fragmented like appearance. I assume this is caused my runoff from the upper section of my yard, which is sloped downwards towards the flat, lower section.…
WannabeCoder
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How can I perform a Erosion Prevention Project on flat to steep trails?

I am a Boy Scout and is getting ready to do a conservation project. I want to help prevent erosion on trails at a local park. I've been having trouble finding answers on google so came here to ask for help.
Anonymous
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Approach to dealing with sloping bed

The ground in front of my house slopes down fairly aggressively from right to left. This leaves an awkward sloping garden bed between my driveway, house, front steps, and sidewalk. See photo below. There's currently a poorly-constructed retaining…
John Chrysostom
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Drainage problem on sloping driveway

I have a driveway that has a slope. I have a flowerbed right next to the driveway that wraps around the front of the house. The slope causes water to stand after rain or water use and dirt runs onto the driveway in the slope. How can I drain this…
Lindy Frampton Stewart
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Lawn substitutions for yard with active dogs

We have two active Collies and they are destroying the lawn. I don't like grass that much, and it's not holding up to the abuse, even though it's supposed to be a high traffic grass. They are not digging, only running and jumping. Is there a good…
Fleur de Vie
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