Erosion Control on a Budget
These homeowners were frustrated because their grass wouldn’t grow. The lawn care company kept reseeding and it never helped. What was the main problem?
Exhibit A: The lawn is in full shade and the tree roots are proud and exposed. Grass is spotty - even though a professional lawn crew has seeded for multiple years.
Exhibit B: Look at the mid-left side of this photo. The ground appears smooth and nothing grows in this space. Let's look around the corner.
Exhibit C: A downspout. This downspout is one of four on the property. One inch of rainfall will shoot around 150 gallons of water out of this downspout and onto the soil.
This is what happens to soil when water runoff from a roof isn't slowed down.
We needed to slow down the water so the lawn would have a chance. This plan shows white #57 stone in a arch to brighten the space, smooth the exposed tree roots and slow down water from the downspout.
This plan is the second option for the homeowner and also includes the white #57 stone. The path provides erosion control as well as a stable walking surface. The area surrounding the path is amended and dry shade plants are planted.
Work in progress. In the end, the homeowner had the contractor install the first plan due to the higher cost of the second option.
A month later, the client has green grass and an artful, crisp lawn design.
Based on the client's budget, we choose to install plantings at a later date. But, look at the green lawn! An added bonus to slowing down water is that it has more time to naturally absorb into the ground. Rain from impervious surfaces that is diverted into a storm drain does not replenish our aquifer and does cause erosion downstream.