Erosion control helps eliminate the risk of damage to landscape caused by water or wind, so it’s crucial to prioritize it.
Imagine spending extensive time and money to perfect your garden, just to have a giant storm blow in and ruin all of your hard work? It’s said that rain is good for your yard and garden. Usually, that’s true. But rainfall that erodes the soil and uproots plants is less than ideal. Erosion control methods can help protect your landscape from damage.
Signs of Erosion
Erosion doesn’t happen all at once. It will usually take several months or even years for the signs of erosion to be visible. Look for the following signs that you need erosion control in your yard and garden:
- Exposed tree roots
- Uprooted bushes and plants
- Soil in motion – running down the driveway or the street
- Gullies and trenches carved through your landscape
Best Methods
There are many methods to control the erosion, depending on the location and the type of erosion that’s occurring. Consider the following for erosion control in your landscape:
- Rain Gardens – Rain gardens usually consist of rock beds placed underneath roof downspouts. The rocks help disperse the water enough to allow it to soak slowly into the ground, avoiding erosion. Water-loving plants can also live in rain gardens where they’ll thrive from the irrigating effects of the rain.
- Mulch – Mulch can help control erosion in flower beds and other landscape features. A 2-3” layer of wood chips, pebbles, or pine needles can help protect the soil from damage due to rainfall and improve water penetration.
- Ground Cover – Certain plants act really well as ground cover and can help with erosion control. In Utah, some of the best ground cover plants include creeping Oregon grape, English ivy, lambs ear, cover junipers, and Periwinkle. These plants can also help choke out weeds when grown properly.
- Retaining Walls – Lawns and gardens with excessive sloping can benefit from a retaining wall. Treated lumber, brick, concrete, or large rocks can make an effective barrier to terrace off a garden or yard. Retaining walls are an attractive solution to erosion, as they allow water to slowly seep into the ground rather than causing trenches by running down the slope.
LaytonScape Can Help
Erosion control can save your garden and landscape from disaster. LaytonScape is a professional landscaper with years of experience in erosion control and other methods of beautifying your lawn and garden. We serve Davis, Morgan, Summit, and Weber Counties in Utah. Give us a call today for a free consultation or to request an estimate!
