reducing erosion with vegitation

pcdreams · #1 01/01/10, 10:01 PM

I'm looking for info reguarding using vegitation (in a drainage ditch) to reduce erosion. i've seen info reguarding this but can't locate it.

What we have is there is a gully forming where the co cut for run off that goes through our property and I'd like to get grass or something in there to reduce the damage.

Clearwater · #2 01/01/10, 10:22 PM

I can probably help you, but I need a few questions answered first. Can you estimate the slope (drop in 100 feet) of the gully? About how many acres flow to the gully? How wide is the gully?

PKBoo · #3 01/01/10, 11:08 PM

Has anyone had any experience with vetiver grass? It's a grass native to India that has had great success controlling erosion. It's only hardy to zone 8, so that's limiting, but it has been known to survive 15 degree winters. If the ground is frozen all winter, it will not survive.

rowan57 · #4 01/02/10, 06:55 AM

I would look into a grass similar to Vetiver or Napier, I only have experience with those 2 but neither is suitable for areas with frosts.

You could also look into trees such as Willow or Alder, both of which have deep and extensive root systems, and can also be coppiced for fuelwood purposes. (Alder at least will stand growing in constant water, we grow in along our riverbank and the roots are constantly under water).

In fact depending on the gulley, a combination of a grass and trees would probably be a good combination.

7thswan · #5 01/02/10, 06:58 AM

Vetch.

Old John · #6 01/02/10, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7thswan

Vetch.

A lot of folks & the county sow crown vetch on gully banks and embankments, around here.
It seems to work pretty well. It spreads like crazy, though

ronbre · #7 01/02/10, 09:10 AM

if it remains damp all year you could plant it into a damp or marginally damp garden, look for plants that enjoy wet, like iris, cattail, winterberry, elderberry, etc..you can also use it for a food producing spot with the elderberry and cattail as both are edible, there are other edibles that like wet too, but some require some water moving over them most of the year, like cress.

if it is wet most of the time the cattails will likely establish them selves..if there are some nearby.

if it is dry most of the time but only wet in spring, then you'll have to go with things that don't mind drying out.

bruce2288 · #8 01/02/10, 11:55 AM

Reed canary grass will survive being submerged in water and also very drought tolerant, massive root systems. It is used often in Nebraska. Cheap seed also.

oneokie · #9 01/02/10, 12:29 PM

Kudzu.

fishhead · #10 01/02/10, 02:29 PM

It all depends on your situation. I've got birdsfoot trefoil growing on my pond dikes. It grows so thick it kills my mower. I'll bet that 10" of rain wouldn't faze it a bit. Plus it's a legume and improves the soil. Your extension office should be able to help you find a plant for your area. Hopefully it's a native species.

There are also ways of putting down willow branches to slow erosion until vegetation takes hold.

rscheiderer · #11 01/02/10, 02:51 PM

I don't think kudzu will survive the winters up here...thank God. That stuff is so stinking invasive that there's no getting rid of it. I lived in Tennessee for years and it had overgrown everything.

pcdreams · #12 01/02/10, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clearwater

I can probably help you, but I need a few questions answered first. Can you estimate the slope (drop in 100 feet) of the gully? About how many acres flow to the gully? How wide is the gully?

not really sure. We're at the bottom of a big hill and the cut is from the road. So I imagine a lot of water goes through there when it rains.. dry any other time.

It starts off small at the road and gets 5-6 ft deep along the way (3-4 ft wide) then goes to nearly nothing back where we drive into the property. Probally 3-400 ft in total length. My main concern is to not let it get bigger.

I've seen farmers put something in low area in fields around there but haven't had a chance to see what.

tyusclan · #13 01/02/10, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rscheiderer

I don't think kudzu will survive the winters up here...thank God. That stuff is so stinking invasive that there's no getting rid of it. I lived in Tennessee for years and it had overgrown everything.

I'm sure he was joking. I HOPE he was joking, anyway.

The vegetation doesn't even survive the winters down here, but the roots sure do. It comes back strong in the spring. It has to get pretty cold to completely kill it.

oneokie · #14 01/02/10, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyusclan

I'm sure he was joking. I HOPE he was joking, anyway.

The vegetation doesn't even survive the winters down here, but the roots sure do. It comes back strong in the spring. It has to get pretty cold to completely kill it.

ROTFLOL

Just thought I would throw that out there. It does an excellent job of reducing erosion. Cattle and goats love it in this area.

Clearwater · #15 01/02/10, 04:09 PM

I can only comment based on what you describe - you would be best off getting local advice from someone (engineer or erosion control professional) who can actually see the conditions you are describing. I let my MO engineering license lapse a few years ago but I am still licensed in a number of other states...

From what you describe it sounds as if the runoff velocity will be too high for vegitation to work. A deep, narrow gully is indicative of high velocity. You must first control the velocity and then you can try to get something to grow. There are a variety of ways to control the velocity such as widening the gully, installing rock check dams to increase the depth, or rerouting the flow so it takes a more gradual path down the hill. Once you contol the velocity any deep rooted native vegitation should maintain the soil. Do not introduce non-native invasive species or you will have a whole new problem to deal with.

If the road that it is draining is a county road, check to see if the county highway department will assist in repairing the damage. Your county soil conservation service should also be able to offer some assistance. good luck.

Allen W · #16 01/02/10, 04:09 PM

A Bermuda grass waterway should do the trick. The gully would have to be widened and leveled so the water would slow down and not cut.

meanwhile · #17 01/02/10, 06:33 PM

Could you use old tires and create a "check dam" or two, then plants around that?

plowjockey · #18 01/02/10, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pcdreams

I'm looking for info reguarding using vegitation (in a drainage ditch) to reduce erosion. i've seen info reguarding this but can't locate it.

What we have is there is a gully forming where the co cut for run off that goes through our property and I'd like to get grass or something in there to reduce the damage.

Is it eroding because it is freshly dug and there is nothing planted on it?

If this is the case, look for native grasses or plants. Planting invasive species like crown vetch, kudzu and cattail, will usually end causing more problems than they cure.

texican · #19 01/02/10, 11:17 PM

Get some round rolls of hay and spread over the area... it'll immediately stop the erosion, and come spring, seeds in the hay will sprout and find theirselves in a lush bed of composted hay.

rscheiderer · #20 01/03/10, 09:21 AM

When I lived in Tennessee we had one hill that was really eroded (stupid bulldozer operator!) aand nothing would grow there. I dropped a couple of trees across the worst spots. Even though the trees didn't stop all the water, it slowed it down enough, and once leaves and scrub, an occaisional bale of hay, etc got caught up in in, it stopped it enough to let grass take hold. Around here (Illinois), the farmers let watergrass grow in the ditches, but the ditches have to dug out with a gentle slope so they can keep that grass mowed.