How Using Grass Seed Can Prevent Erosion

Erosion is responsible for roughly $500 million per year in property loss and damages. This affects personal homeowners, golf courses, fields, and pastures every year, and with recent shifts in climate, erosion will only become more prevalent in the future. That is why this guide will help you find excellent hillside erosion control products to help mitigate erosion damage that is costing millions of dollars every year.

Take Consideration of Various Grass Seeds for Erosion Control

There are many types of erosion control grass seeds suitable for growing in North America, but how can you ensure it is the right seed mixture for you? One of the first things to consider when shopping around for erosion control seeds is climate.

The climate is critical because you may be planting in the fall and winter months versus the spring and summer months, as mixes change seasonally. For a more detailed understanding of cool and warm-season grasses, look at the USDA’s Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

Once you understand the climate you are planting erosion control in, it is time to start looking at the various types of erosion control seed. There are many different aspects to consider: how much of the seed you need, water requirements, germination speed, and even how angled is the area you would like to plant the seed.

Generally, grass seed mixes will have three or more types of erosion control grass complementary to their growing habits. Due to the nature of the blend having a variety of seeds, there is quite a bit of science that goes into picking what is best for you. In these situations, it’s best to consult erosion grass seed experts.

Different Types of Erosion Control Grass Seeds

There are four types of grass to consider when looking into erosion control: natural grass, small grains, fescues, and southern grass. Native grass—like the Midwest Sedge—is an excellent choice because, being native, it has ideal growing conditions and will provide a way to work with natural elements for hill and slope stabilization. Small grains like oats and ryegrass are tough, drought-tolerant grass, making them great for wildlife forage, ground cover, and soil erosion prevention.

Fescues also have drought resistance, but they differ from small grains because they are effortless to grow. Fescues can also handle the wear and mowing maintenance required to be a good option in more residential zones. Finally, the southern grasses are different than the previously mentioned grasses because they require quite a bit of water to be most effective. Despite this, they are an excellent choice for your erosion control grass seed mix because they have firm roots and wear tolerance.

These are just some of the plants that are effective in erosion control. For more information on preventing erosion while keeping nutrients in the soil and reducing weed growth, feel free to check out Stover Seed.