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| Grand Canyon carved from stone by water erosion |
Crabapple LandscapExperts consider and control
water erosion when we assist you with landscaping on the properties you manage.
Recently everyone has seen the impact of storms and
hurricanes (Hurricane Sandy) on shoreline and beach erosion. But did you know?
The annual impact energy of simple raindrops has been estimated to average
approximately 30 billion foot-pounds or the equivalent of 10,000 pounds of TNT
per square mile (!). The Grand Canyon is an extreme example of water erosion, cut out
of stone over time.
Erosion is the process that wears away land surface by
natural agents such as water, wind, ice or gravity. This week, the topic of
wind erosion is highlighted on PBS-TV with Ken Burns' documentary, Dust Bowl, Nov 18-19, 2012.
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| Gully eroding in Georgia red clay |
Crabapple LandscapExperts find that water erosion is
the most pesky and common form of erosion. As water flows over bare soil, it
picks up particles. As velocity increases, the water action makes small rills
and channels that turn into gullies if not stopped.
Vegetative Cover is extremely important, along with slope and soil type.
Role of Plants:
- Absorb energy of raindrops
- Increase water-absorption capacity
- Evaporate water out of their leaves through transpiration (rain garden blog)
- Bind soil particles together into a structure
- Slow velocity of runoff water
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| Vegetative Cover carpets forest |
Crabapple
Strategies
By
limiting the amount of vegetation removed, we can greatly reduce the possibility of soil erosion. We
match the topography and our design plans to avoid unstable soil conditions. We
consciously minimize the length of time that disturbed areas remain exposed. We
work to stabilize impacted areas quickly.
There
are a variety of strategies Crabapple LandscapExperts can use to slow and stop
water erosion on the properties you manage. Talk to your Rep about:
- Creating an undisturbed buffer zone
- Mulch
- Matting or bio-degradable soil blankets
- Hay bales
- Gravel- or rock-fill
- Hydroseeding
- Temporary or permanent plantings
- Retaining wall
- Rough grading (not fine grading) to allow vegetation to get established
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| Crabapple Service Area |
Conquer man-made erosion problems by contacting your
Crabapple LandscapExperts for their expertise in the metro-Atlanta area. 770-740-9739.
Photos Wiki Commons
Forest photo Geri Laufer
For further reading: Environmental ProtectionDivision of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
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