The definition of erosion is the gradual destruction or reduction and weakening of something. No one wants their land to be gradually destroyed or weakened, so solutions must be found to fight the constant battle the wind and rain wage against us. One of the places erosion is the biggest problem is on hills. Erosion control products such as jute nets and erosion control blankets can be placed on hills to help us fight back against nature and prevent erosion long enough for plants to stabilize the hill side. After a product like these have been installed the next step is planting the plants that will take over the job of erosion control long term.

Jute netting is a biodegradable form of netting. This netting is placed over hills that do not have vegetation growing on them. After jute netting has been placed seeds can be planted on the hillside. The jute netting now serves multiple purposes. It keeps the soil and seeds from washing or blowing way and stores heat while providing partial shade for the seeds. Given these optimal conditions the seeds quickly sprout and grow up though the jute nets. At this point the plants and their roots will stop erosion of the hill and the jute netting simply biodegrades away.

Erosion control blankets are a tight netting made of straw, straw and coconut fiber, or coconut fiber. They are safe for wild life as the netting they are made of has independently floating strands which are hard for animals to get caught in. Erosion control blankets made of straw can last six months before biodegrading and the ones made of pure coconut fiber can last two years. Depending on the steepness of the hill in question erosion control blankets offer the time needed for plants to become well established on the hill side before the blankets biodegrade away.

Grass seeds are a good fast option to plant over jute netting or erosion control blankets. Grass roots will grow quickly providing a quick natural form of erosion control. However, for long term erosion control no other plant will stabilize a hill side like trees with big sturdy roots. Some shrubs and other plants work well also. Keep in mind when picking what plants to put on your slope that they should have roots of varying depth with roots growing deep, shallow and at the surface. Your landscaper will be able to tell you what slower growing plants work best to make sure erosion never becomes a problem again in the future.

The erosion of our hill sides can be a daunting problem. Jute netting and erosion control blankets are two easy and affordable solutions for it though. After one of these products is placed on a hill side they effectively stop erosion. Planting grass seeds over them will stop erosion when they biodegrade away. With the proper fallow up of plants with larger roots systems the hill side can become much more stable and less likely to erode again.