There can't be many people in Australia who are unaware of the problems caused by soil erosion. Excessive, uncontrolled water runoff can rapidly lead to the removal of the topsoil with all of the essential nutrients that are vital for a sustainable ecosystem. If this happens over a wide area, it doesn't take long for the local ecosystem to collapse and be replaced with a dry, dead environment, entirely devoid of all life.
How does soil erosion happen?
While light rain is essential for life to flourish, heavier rain can often be a problem if it falls too rapidly for it to be absorbed by the ground. If the water flows over the surface of the ground instead of being absorbed deep underground, the soil aggregates are broken up and less water penetration occurs. The power of the flowing water will strip away the topsoil and, if left unchecked, will eventually carve great canyons into the landscape. The only way to prevent this from happening is to institute an erosion control program.
Establishing erosion control measures
If you are concerned about soil erosion on your property, you should start by speaking to your local supplier of blankets and meshes to see what could work on your land. The erosion control meshes assist the soil to retain its original shape while permitting the water to pass through the mesh. While this approach can be highly effective, it can be labour-intensive to install, and it is not always attractive to look at, so it isn't ideal for areas known for their natural beauty.
Has the vegetation already been lost?
If you are faced with an area of land where the vegetation has already been stripped away, the best approach may be to reconsider hydroseeding. Hydroseeding can be effective at revegetating land. While this can be a slow process, it is essentially self-perpetuating as, over time, the vegetation will begin to spread naturally. Hydroseeding works well when you want to stabilise the surface of the soil and is a less labour-intensive way to create a more attractive landscape, even when dealing with steep inclines.
Whatever method of erosion control you are considering, it is always wise to seek expert advice regarding the specific nature of your property. Your supplier will know which products will be best able to cope with high winds, extreme rainfall, and whatever challenges your local weather conditions may present.
While lots of people pay a lot of attention to the interior of their home, they do not pay the same level of attention to the landscaping of the land and gardens which surround their home. I was certainly guilty of this. However, all of this changed when I visited a friend. My friend had spent a lot of time and money landscaping their property. It was very impressive and I decided to have some work carried out on my property. The local landscaping company were fantastic. They helped me to plan the new landscaping project and quickly completed the work.