Planting in an Erosion Control Blanket

I have never done this, but I found two products that claim to support plantings within the mesh.

http://www.greenfix.co.uk/page.php?id=12 and http://www.nagreen.com/erosion-control-products/bionet-ecbs.php

The second link is a US-based company. They don’t have details on their site, but I’m sure you can contact the rep in your area and they can help you out. Of course the success of any system will depend on your need for temporary vs permanent erosion blanket and what kind of sheer stresses and flow velocities you will encounter. Another option might be live staking. Willow is commonly used in the midwest for steambank restoration/stabilization, and can be used in conjunction with other erosion control BMPs.

Where on the east coast? Northern or Southern? Southern exposure?

I’ve used low-bush blueberry sod (V. angustifolium) for instant and extremely effective erosion/bank planting. Its likely a bit expensive, but available! Typically harvested in square foot sizes by blueberry farmers in Maine to supplement their income in the slow times of the production year. The gentleman I use will deliver a long distance for a substantial order size. It was around $2.75 – 3/sq.ft delivered a couple years ago. Not sure if it still is. The name of the farm is Sunkhaze, and they’re out of Greenbush, Maine. They worked alot with UMaine developing sustainable harvest methods, etc.

I highly recommend the blueberry sod route. It eliminates the need for an erosion mat, provides instant stability, can be integrated into local farming, has immense wildlife value, is drought tolerant (once rooted in…typically one growing season if planted in spring), helps a northern farmer get through the slow periods, and is stunning in fall color.

Good luck!

I must have missed the 2:1 part. Have you considered a short wall to take up some of that grade and flatten your slope? 2:1 is pretty severe. Are you planning to mulch under shrubs or all groundcover? Do you plan to irrigate? What about the poor maintenance person who has to get out there to trim/deadhead; or even the crew that gets to install? If you could flatten to a 3 or 4:1 perhaps you could get away without a mat at all depending on the length of the slope, or at least a biodegradable one that wouldn’t look all holey for the next 20 years.

In arid regions of the country 2:1 manufactured slopes are common place.  In areas with higher precipitation rate 3:1 is generally the recommended max.  However in overpass construction, slope and shoreline restoration 2:1 can be common to meet and connect to existing stable slopes.

As a general rule, if you are specifying any company’s product like this you should not detail it out in your plans, but instead write “install per manufacture’s specifications and recommendations.” Provide manufacture’s contact info, preferably the rep you are dealing with. You don’t want that liability.

Are you talking about an erosion control blanket (temporary and biodegradable lasts a season allowing plant establishment) or a geotextile fabric (permanent non-biodegradable)?

How long is you slope going to be?  You may need temporary wattles to slow water down and other BMPs.   

I prefer to use the coconut fiber erosion blanket in lieu of straw because I seem to have much better results.  Tensar has a great product I started using for slopes that is 100% organic and biodegradable.  Otherwise Coir, Curlex and Futerra products are pretty standard. One other thing you may need to consider, not all erosion control blankets are created equal.  Some are rated for short term (less than 12 months), and some are rated long term 18 and 24 months.  

If you have a turf or native grass application that requires permanent erosion control, Tensar has Permanent Turf Reinforcement Mats that work great.  Installation is critical for this application.  

If you are looking for permanent geotextile erosion control, take a look at Geotextile Systems by Propex.  They would be one of the industry standard products.   

Tensar and Geotextile Systems by Propex are both good place to start. Both sites have lots of valuable information.

Planting shrubs and trees through erosion control blanket or geotextile fabric is really no different than planting in landscape fabric.   Unless the contractor is doing something stupid, I won’t tell them how to cut a hole or what to install first.  Make sure the contractor is using enough staples and installing blanket or geotextile fabric per manufacture’s recommendations.  Live staking is also common depending on plant species you are planning to use. 

If budget allows you could use a Geocell, Geogrid or Geoweb product!  This all really depends on the length of slope, transitions, benches, how much water is going fall on and flow over the slope area and what drainage steps have been taken.   

I went to a presentation this evening at a local college, and the local rep who handles this stuff was there presenting. I’m sold on it, and if I have a project that requires stabilization, will give it a try. They had some pretty impressive local projects.

The system is a stabilized compost/mulch that is blown onto the hillside at a depth of 2″. I can be less depending on the application. Seed is added to the mix as it is blown onto the ground. The mulch grabs the slope, knits itself together, and actually filters any water that goes through it. It also actaully accelerates the growth of the groundcover. They also have a berm that takes the place of erosion control fabric/ silt fence that just winds up in a landfill.

http://www.rexius.com/erosion_control.html

There are a number of installers nationwide.

Sara,

We have done this many times.  With a standard soil cloth, the incisions are dictated by the size of hole you need to dig to plant.  

I would second many of the other comments.  Soil cloth will not stop the soil from eroding underneath, so the plants you choose will need to do this job.  And any ground cover which spreads from the root should not be used with soil cloth.