Whats the best way to keep topsoil on sloped land from being washed away?
There are a number of things that can be done to minimize topsoil from being washed away. Probably, the best way would mean the use of several ways used in combination. Things that can be done include: • The use of ground covers and plantings: Sunset’s 1995 “Sunset Western Garden Book” says, “Hillsides generally offer a less hospitable environment than do level gardens. Soil may be shallow, poor, or – where the bank is the result of a grading cut – virtually nonexistent. Hillsides also are more difficult to water thoroughly, unless you build watering basins around each new plant or set up a drip-irrigation system that will apply water slowly.” The book then lists a number of shrubs, vines, perennials and ground covers that will put up with marginal soil and generally work to help hold the soil in place. The issue is that unplanted soils are particularly vulnerable to being washed away and the use of ground covers or other plantings is the first line of defense against erosion. For one,
