Whether you’re building on a slope or gardening on one, you need to address erosion problems. Besides ruining your landscaping, soil erosion jams up water channels, leading to floods and mudslides that affect more than just your property. Soil erosion is also a serious problem for farmers, who need to stabilize the land for harvest and to preserve their topsoil quality.

Hillside erosion prevention begins with making sure the hill has enough vegetation to bind and support the soil. Using mulch, landscaping rocks or ground cover plants that are well-suited to the climate will help prevent soil movement. For extremely steep slopes or construction sites, you may need to install drainage systems or retaining walls.

Hillside Erosion Prevention: Protecting Slopes and Reducing Risks

Northern California Erosion Control is especially vulnerable until the plants take root and fill in both above and below ground level. Erosion control blankets act like mulch but can be secured to the slope with ground staples (follow manufacturer instructions for number and placement). For an even more secure solution, you can purchase jute mesh that looks just like burlap.

You can also bury organic material such as wood chips or shredded leaves to prevent erosion. Just make sure that the mulch doesn’t contain flammable materials, and avoid large wood chips since they will float down the hill during heavy rains. You can also add a layer of northern sea oats or other low-maintenance vegetation to help stabilize the hill and slow down water flow.