Many people think that erosion can only be triggered by rainwater, but this is not strictly the case. Nonetheless, if you are in charge of maintaining a large, outdoor area, you may need to pay close attention to soil stability and think about how you will control erosion, no matter its cause. What do you need to be aware of, and what plant, in particular, can help you achieve your goal?

Causes of Erosion

If members of the public can access your outdoor area, prolonged footfall can wreak as much havoc as a lengthy tropical storm. If you don't protect your topsoil or introduce the wrong type of plant, you may suffer from erosion year-round and risk losing any nutrient-rich soil that you once had in place. Also, if the area is exposed to the prevailing winds and does not have any safeguarding measures in place, you could lose a considerable amount of soil, over and above the water run-off.

Protection Measures

There are many different ways to protect the soil. For example, you could introduce some artificial windbreakers to divert the prevailing wind to other areas. Why not add directional ditches and some French drains to better cope with rainwater as it arrives? You could also add terraces to any undulating sections of land, preventing much of the run-off while giving you individual steps to introduce native plants.

Introducing Perennial Grass

Of course, you could also take an easier route and add a hardy, perennial grass, like poa poiformis. This plant is:

• indigenous to many areas, especially South Australia
• often used to create the "rough" around golf courses or by local authorities to landscape roundabouts, verges, central reservation strips along motorways and other areas
• a first-class tool in the battle against erosion and the quest for soil stabilisation
• perfect for sandy or loamy soil
• okay with drought conditions or a moderate frost
• not very thirsty
• able to deal with salt in both the air and the soil, so it should be perfect if your development is close to the sea.

This type of grass will have a dense root network that will quickly spread out and bind the nutrient soil together.

Crafting Your Plan

Talk with your landscape adviser about poa, also known as coastal tussock grass. They might also suggest other favourites like Swamp Foxtail, African Lily or Imperata grass. No matter what, they are sure to have plenty of ideas that can help you with your erosion control problem.

For more information on erosion control, contact a professional near you.