The Best Erosion Control Methods for Your Project

A filter sock is a tubular mesh sleeve that contains a unique compost blend that filters water passing through it to prevent the spread of sediments, nutrients, bacteria, heavy metals, and petroleum hydrocarbons. The socks are usually composed of recycled materials and bio-based materials that are native to the area.

The advantages of filter socks in erosion control are versatility and customization. No trenching is required, which means their use does not disturb the land’s soils or plants. They can be seeded when they are installed to increase filtration and enhance ecosystem restoration. However, not all filter socks can be treated the same. If you don’t pick ones that mesh well with your area, you risk filtering the wrong debris, or even worse, unintentionally spreading foreign materials onto your land.

Super silt fences are important elements of any erosion control strategy because they provide separation between the jobsite and other plots of land. A super silt fence consists of a fabric barricade suspended by wooden stakes and supported by a combination of backfill and metal fencing. The function of these fences is to stop sediment from leaving the jobsite through stormwater runoff. Water can seep through the fence while fine soil particles stay in place, filtering out unwanted particles from entering your land plot.

Super silt fences are a great, budget-friendly option for erosion control. The method has been around for decades, and the practice is well-established in the industry. While silt fences look simple, they commonly fail because they are improperly placed, hastily installed, or poorly maintained. Fabric can become damaged if materials are stored or moved near the fence. If you’re careful with who you choose to handle your erosion control, you wouldn’t have to worry about this.

Hydroseeding is an all-in-one process that distributes grass, fertilizer, and water over an area, producing a healthy lawn in just a few weeks. Hydroseeding is far cheaper than laying sod, and can also consist of a blend of grasses to make any land more biodiverse and ready to fight future disease and erosion concerns.

When you need to plant seed over wide cleared areas or ground that heavily slopes, hydroseeding is the way to go. Because it sprays over the land rather than being firmly installed, it allows for greater flexibility in the process. This being said, having erosion control go airborne can have its own risks. Controlling wind, spread, and growth can present a challenge if not done correctly, making it especially important to choose professionals with the expertise to get the job done right.