The Dust Bowl that affected places like Oklahoma in the 1930s really devastated the land and the economy of the people of Oklahoma. Not only was the fertile topsoil ripped away, there were also huge dust storms that made it even worse. One of the biggest causes of the dust bowl was erosion. There wasn't enough there to anchor down the topsoil, so it was able to blown and/or washed away. Not all soil erosion is that drastic, in fact, most of it isn't. However, the same concerns exist. Erosion rips away the top layers of the soil, which is the most fertile, and that can cause problems with rivers, lakes, and other water sources. There are things that you can do that will help you deal with the problems of erosion, whether it's on a permanent or temporary basis.
Ground Cover
One of the easiest things that you can do is to let Mother Nature help you. You can do that by planting ground cover. Ground cover works really well for both permanent and temporary uses. For example, if you are trying to deal with erosion at a construction site, especially over piles of fill, then planting some quick growing ground cover will help to keep the soil from blowing or washing away. The roots will create a net that anchors the soil. You will want to make sure that you don't plant too many of the starters, because ground cover does tend to spread, and you can always add more. Ask the nursery or landscaper what would work best in your situation and how much you should plant at the beginning. You can keep your ground cover and plant grass over it, if you wish, depending on what kind of ground cover you get.
Erosion Mats
These are mats that you can place directly over the area that you are concerned about. They are generally made out of things like coconut fibers or other biodegradable material. With these mats, you just place them over the area of concern. You will likely need to anchor them down in some way, but that can be as easy as stakes that you just hammer through the mat and down into the soil. Those would be easy for anyone to use.
If you are worried about soil erosion, there are things that you can do that will help to control the situation. Contact a service, like Holleman Hydroseeding & Erosion Control LLC, for more help.
