Soil Erosion Solutions

Construction

• Study the landscape itself before you start building. Stopping hillside drainage begins in the construction phase. Any designs you incorporate need to take the slope and angle of the hill into consideration and build harmoniously with it. Gouging into the hillside increases the risk of erosion and can lead to significant runoff, since the soil needs time to settle after you've cut into it. If possible, plan your construction during a dry part of the year, so you can be finished well before the rains come. Cover any bare soil left over after construction quickly, and incorporate plants and drainage into your construction plans as you go. It will save you a great deal of money in the long run.

Drainage

• Proper drainage is absolutely essential for preventing hillside erosion. Look for natural places where the water tends to flow and augment them with trenches, gutters or perforated piping. Pinpoint any areas where water might pool, then fill those areas by using rocks or building up the soil. If you can, use underground tubing to keep the soil from becoming waterlogged. In all cases, make sure you account for all points of water flow and build sturdy drainage out of stone or noncorrosive metal to prevent erosion. Always consult local building codes before planning your drainage and make sure that no runoff water leads to someone else's property.

Plants

• Planting along the hillside helps keep the soil in place and prevents erosion when the rains come. Grass makes an easy filler, and if you don't have time to let the grass grow in before the rains come, you can buy pre-grown sod to place on your hillside. Native plants are another solution to potential hillside erosion: They thrive in your area because they resist being washed away, and maintaining them is easy as they are already adapted to local conditions. In general, any plant with deep roots or extensive surface coverage makes a good defense against potential erosion.

Rocks and Matting

• Rocks and stones are good and bad when it comes to preventing hillside erosion. They can slow the flow or water and tend to resist erosion better, but when they fail, they tend to come down with the soil and cause a lot of damage. Focus on surface stones, which slow down the flow of water and protect the soil beneath them from water erosion. Rocky soil in general tends to resist erosion, but take additional steps such as plant placement and drainage to help it. Where rocks won't work, look for matting made of natural material. It holds the soil in place and gives plants a good foundation in which to grow.