Hello, my name is Tony and this is my concrete installation and maintenance blog. I am not a professional concrete contractor but I am very passionate about DIY. My dad was a contractor and when I was growing up he taught me all kinds of neat tips and tricks. Once time, he took me out into the yard and made me inspect the concrete wall. The concrete was crumbling away, exposing the metal bars beneath. My father explained that this was concrete cancer and then demonstrated how to repair the damage. I hope you find my blog useful and entertaining.
If you are a contractor that frequently works with open land for building homes or commercial buildings, you understand what happens when there is soil erosion. This can lead to bad drainage in the soil, along with various types of soil structure issues. Soil erosion is often the result of the topsoil wearing away from wind, water and other elements. While it is a natural occurrence, you might be able to avoid it with the following methods.
Plant Vegetation
One of the best ways to prevent soil erosion is by keeping the soil compacted with the help of vegetation. The reason soil erodes over time is because there is nothing to hold it in place. Plants and trees are the best way to go since the roots in the ground will keep the soil from moving due to water or heavy winds over time. Of course, if this land needs to remain empty for a future building project, this won't be a good option, but there are other erosion control methods to consider.
Lay Down Mulch or Fertiliser
The next option that might be available to you is to lay down mulch and/or fertiliser in the soil. All you really need to do is have a good layer of mulch on the topsoil, which will allow that mulch to soak up the excess water from rain as opposed to the soil being impacted and eventually eroding. The mulch can also help to restore the pH levels of the soil, which not only helps with preventing erosion but improves its quality if it is to be used for planting later. Since mulch is heavier than soil, this can also keep heavy winds from eroding the soil. Traditional mulch or a straw groundcover both work great for this purpose.
Create Barriers
If you don't want to disturb the soil through planting or laying down mulch, then your other option is to set up barriers around the land to keep water and wind from affecting the soil. There are a few different types of barriers you can use, from retaining walls to silt fences or curtains. A silt curtain is usually one made of geotextile materials. It is typically anchored to the ground with weights, while the curtain itself floats to keep wind from the area. This is also known as a silt fence. They are ideal for hills and mountainsides. For some areas where water is a major risk, you can use retaining walls around the area to keep water from running to the soil.
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