Is soil erosion a huge problem in your yard? Erosion happens when water does not get absorbed into the soil, rather the soil gets carried away by heavy rain and wind that softens and loosens soil. This erosion can be particularly harmful in new homes that may not have grass or can destroy a beautiful flower garden after a rough storm. If you have elements of your yard or home that are impacted by soil erosion, think about planting a few trees in your yard. Not only are trees inherently valuable to the world in general, they are particularly effective at stopping soil erosion for multiple reasons and there are strategies for planting your trees to be more effective for your needs.
Foliage
Foliage on trees acts as a barrier to soften how the rain hits the soil. Rain water that hits leaves on a tree first actually goes down branches and the trunk before getting absorbed into the soil. Since this will only protect the area that the foliage covers, you can select a tree that has broad foliage or plant multiple trees if you have a large area that is affected by erosion.
Root Systems
Roots of trees grow deeper and further out than shrubs or flowers can. Tree root systems have a handful of large roots that branch out into a network of smaller roots that often extend out far beyond their branches do. These root systems prevent erosion by holding the soil in place and improving drainage which helps water get absorbed into the soil instead of just running over the top.
How to Choose a Tree
Since trees need several growing seasons to become effective for reducing erosion, you should look for a rapid growth rate, dense foliage, and trees that don’t mind being crowded, like pine trees or other evergreens. While your tree is becoming established, try to prevent the soil from becoming too saturated to get roots to grow deeper and wider.
How to Plant your Trees
The most effective formation of trees is called a wind break and are rows of trees planted closely together to block strong gusts of wind from eroding your yard during a storm. A wind break formation is most effective with different species of trees at different heights in parallel rows, but in tandem so there are no large gaps between trees.
Tree Care for Every Tree from Nelson Tree Specialist
Nelson Tree Specialist provides specialty arborist services, tree crane services, tree care services, and dead tree removal services. We are well known for our top-notch skills and professionalism. We are members of the International Society of Arboriculture and we are considered certified arborists. We are also an accredited business through the Better Business Bureau and we have great reviews through Angie’s List. To find out how we can help your trees, whether they are exotic and strange or normal and plan, give us a call at (301) 854-2218 (Washington, D.C.) or (202) 909-5662 (Baltimore) or visit us online. For more interesting tree facts and tips, follow us on social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.