Erosion occurs when water or wind moves soil from one location to another. This is most often seen on slopes where no vegetation is present. Wind or water will move the soil down the slope leaving washouts and little to no topsoil on the slope. The key to erosion control is vegetation. Without vegetation, there are no roots to hold the soil in place.
How it works
When dealing with erosion, the first step is to fix the washouts. We often see slopes with little to no topsoil on them, which leaves rock or clay exposed and all the topsoil at the bottom of the slope. In this case we will fill in our washouts with the rock or clay and then bring the topsoil back up the slope where it belongs. This involves dirt work with some type of equipment. By moving the topsoil back up the slopes, we are able to create a seedbed for vegetation to start growing. Topsoil is a key factor when dealing with erosion. Without topsoil, vegetation will have a hard time establishing itself.
Planting seed is the next step once the topsoil is spread. Hydroseeding is one of the best ways to quickly establish vegetation to prevent future erosion. Hydroseeding is a planting process that uses a slurry of seed and mulch. The slurry is transported in a trailer-mounted tank and sprayed over the prepared topsoil. Hydroseeding is an alternative to the traditional process of broadcasting or sowing dry seed. The slurry often has other ingredients including fertilizer, tackifying agents, fiber mulch, and green dye. The slurry instantly stabilizes the soil to prevent future erosion while the seed germinates.
When land clearing with one of our hydro ax mulchers, the remaining mulch provides excellent material to reduce erosion control. Over time, the mulch will break down and add organic matter into your topsoil, providing a better seed bed for your native or artificial grasses to grow in.