Seven Mistakes To Avoid When It Comes To Erosion Control
It's important to control erosion on your land to keep your soil rich and healthy. Unfortunately, some landowners make mistakes that leave their property susceptible to erosion problems. The following are seven mistakes that you need to avoid to ensure proper erosion control on your property.
Failing to invest in drainage
Poor drainage on your land might make it so that rainfall readily washes away your soil. You should invest in drainage features that will channel water away in such a way that your soil will be left undisturbed.
Not having any downspout extensions installed
Downspout extensions make it so that water from your gutters won't form muddy puddles around your home's perimeter when stormwater accumulates. Water that rushes down from your gutters can hit the soil with a hard enough impact to wash the top layer away and create erosion problems.
Downspout extensions help to redirect the flow of stormwater away from your home's foundation to create a space around your house that is protected from erosion.
Allowing too many animals to graze over a particular area
Those who live out in the countryside and have animals grazing over their land may face some unique erosion challenges. Animals can strip the land of vegetation through grazing so that erosion becomes more likely. It's important to manage livestock movement over your land properly to prevent overgrazing that can result in erosion problems.
Allowing soil to become compacted
If the soil becomes compacted, it will not absorb moisture properly. This leads to a situation where erosion is likely. You can minimize the chances that soil will become compacted on your land by avoiding the use of heavy lawn equipment on your land and by periodically aerating your soil.
Removing vegetation
Vegetation including grass and native plants is essential for preventing erosion. Vegetation helps to stabilize soil thanks to the roots that grow beneath it. You should avoid removing vegetation from your land if you are concerned about erosion.
Having no retaining walls in place
Retaining walls are great for stabilizing your land so that erosion becomes less likely. With careful planning, retaining walls can not only prevent erosion but also enhance your landscaping and beautify your yard.
Using a hose to irrigate rather than taking advantage of drip irrigation
Some homeowners make the mistake of causing erosion through their own irrigation equipment. This is especially likely when a hose or sprinklers are used to irrigate flower beds rather than a drip irrigation system. Drip irrigation systems water flower beds and lawn areas more gently so that soil is not washed away through erosion.
Contact a local erosion control service to learn more.