How to Install Erosion Control Fabric

Fabrics to control erosion come in several types including coconut fiber and jute backing. Coir is an erosion control fabric made of coconut fiber and may be mixed with straw. This type of erosion control works well where water runoff tends to be heavy. Jute matting is a versatile erosion control fabrics and conforms to most surfaces. Here are some tips to help you install erosion control fabric.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Prepare the surface to be protected by the erosion control fabric. Remove large stones and slope the ground to the desired grade you want when finished. You can use hand tools for a small job or may need to use a tractor or Bobcat for a large job.
2. Add any soil amendments before you install the erosion control fabric. For example, you may need to amend the soil with lime or add fertilizer.
3. Plant the seeds as directed from the grower. Most people plant wild grasses or wildflowers or a combination of both. The rolled type of erosion control fabric is then installed over the seed. Seeds can be broadcast either on top of or under the jute erosion control fabric.
4. Dig a small trench across the top of the slope where you will install the rolls of erosion control fabric. The trench acts as an anchor for the fabric. Dig the trench approximately 6 inches wide by 6 inches deep the full width of the slope.
5. Install the roll of erosion control fabric in the trench you've just dug. Place at least 12 inches of the fabric above the trench, extending up the hill. Install anchoring staples through the fabric and into the bottom of the trench. The staples should be placed no more than a foot apart in the trench. The anchors or staples are usually sold with the erosion control fabric. If the soil is loose or sandy, make sure the anchors are long enough to install deeper in the trench.
6. Backfill the trench with dirt and make sure it's compacted to help hold the erosion control fabric in place. After the soil in the trench has been compacted, seed the dirt covering the trench. Bring the 12 inches of fabric down over the seeded trench and install more stakes or staples, a foot apart, across the length of the fabric.
7. Unroll the remaining erosion control fabric over the slope you've seeded. If you need more than one roll of fabric, install it as you would roof shingles, with an overlap of at least 3 inches.
8. Overlap by at least 3 inches wherever the erosion control fabric ends and another begins, whether horizontally or vertically. Overlap all seams as well.
9. Install staples or stakes at every seam and according to manufacturer directions. Staples that are placed according to directions help decrease the weight and pull on the erosion control fabric.

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