Planting for Soil Stabilization

A big concern for any gardener is erosion. Eroded soil can expose the roots of plants, wash away valuable nutrients, and generally weaken the garden. A plan for soil stabilization needs to be part of any garden design.

One of the simplest ways to stabilize the soil is to use the plants themselves to do it. Ground cover plants are an obvious choice, but grasses, shrubs, and even some flowers can also help form a mass of roots that will keep the soil in place. Some plants, such as red clover, can do double duty and also enrich the soil through their nitrogen fixing capacity. (Red clover, however, does have a tendency to run wild and can be difficult to remove once it is established.)

Designing the garden

A design for a garden includes both what goes in the garden and where it is planted. When thinking about stabilizing the soil, the designer will need to consider the soil type and the steepness of the land in addition to what plants will grow well in the particular climate. A perennial garden will need to take into account growth rates and spread of the plants, while for annuals the gardener may need to design a separate winter planting to hold the land down. Mulches will help hold the soil down and prevent weeds while young plants are growing, but they are a temporary solution, not a cure-all.

Sustainable gardening and permaculture approaches, or any form of gardening that is environmentally conscious, take into account consider how to work with the land that is there. Plant with your environment, instead of battling it to grow something that is not suited to the place. Even if your garden includes functional plants to help stabilize the soil, they can still be beautiful and unique.

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