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Unwanted erosion can be a big problem. There are various ways to control and prevent erosion. This blog will discuss using plants as part of the solution and resources you can use to find out which plants are suitable for your situation.
Left unchecked you could end up with your house in your garden, your garden in your house, or both at the bottom of a hill!
What should be considered for erosion prevention?
In order to know what to plant to prevent slope or bank erosion, you need to first assess your site.
Depending on your project this may require the involvement of suitable engineers or consultants. For smaller, less critical situations you may be able to do this yourself. The type of ground, gradient, aspect and exposure will all have to be considered as part of erosion control as will the location and any surrounding hazards or targets.
Planting success and, therefore, erosion control will be affected by how much light, nutrients, moisture and wind the plants get.
These factors can determine how much of a foot hold the plants get and their ability to hold the soil together and intercept rain. It is important to understand your specific environment so that you can select the appropriate species for your bank or slope.
Another factor to consider in site assessment is what are you trying to protect. The plants that you would select to secure the banks of a rural river would be different to those you would choose for an urban garden.
In addition, you need to also consider the scale of the project and the available space.
Ideally the plants that you use should be able to grow to maturity with little or no maintenance whilst still offering suitable levels of protection.
You may also want to consider any existing vegetation on site and whether this is helping the situation or contributing to the problem of erosion. New and existing plants should complement rather than compete in terms of function, ecology and aesthetics.
What are the pros and cons of using native versus exotic plants for erosion control?
When choosing your plants options may be for exotics or natives. Both can have their merits and limitations when it comes to erosion control.
We have previously written a blog on planting native trees which you might find useful to reference in combination with this blog.
If your site has certain environmental protections you may only be allowed to plant natives. Exotic plants can grow more quickly and can be easier to establish. However, they can also outgrow their space, have limited wildlife value, and may be considered as pest species in certain areas. Natives can take longer to establish but have greater ecological value and usually less need for maintenance.
The eventual size of the tree or plant is an important factor to consider and comes back to your site assessment. A tall tree on a steep rocky slope could have the potential to fail further destabilizing the bank. However, it is also important that the vegetation is sufficient to have an extensive root system to hold loose soil together. It must also have adequate leaf cover to intercept rain before it washes it away.
With all these things in mind it is time to consult planting lists to select the right ones for your site. With the information in this blog combined with other external resources you can start to plan how to approach and maintain your slopes or banks for erosion control that is effective and long-lasting.
As mentioned, there are plenty of good resources on the internet. I have listed some below for your reference. Most local councils or regions have lists for suitable plants for erosion control. Using plants suitable for your region will yield the best results and have the greatest environmental benefit.
https://www.boprc.govt.nz/media/29155/LandManagement-090526-Factsheet13.pdf
https://www.hbrc.govt.nz/assets/Document-Library/Information-Sheets/Land/LMNT1.pdf
https://icm.landcareresearch.co.nz/knowledgebase/publications/public/LM_Aug_05_phillips_veg.pdf
Rossy and the Pro Climb Team.
Rossy | 021 508 806
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