Critical Area Planting
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Planting Vegetation
Planting grass or other vegetation to protect a severely eroding area from soil erosion.
Description
Grasses and legumes are estabilished in areas with excessive soil erosion, often in places where there is bare ground or steep slopes. The vegetation provides surface cover to stop erosion caused by raindrop splash and helps slow runoff water flow.
Benefits
- Reduces soil erosion.
- Improves water quality by reducing the amount of sediment, nutrients and pesticides running off farmland.
- Protects dams or gullied areas where vegetation may be difficult to establish.
- Vegetation provides nesting cover for birds and small animals.
Planning
- Will the planting provide protection?
- Are proper soil conservation practices installed above teh planting area?
- Will the planting provide wildlife cover?
- Will the planting be used for grazing livestock?
- Can the area be stabilized using other conservation methods?
Tech Notes
- Contact your local soil conservation district for free guidance.
- Plant annual grasses to protect against erosion until permanent cover is established.
- Apply lime and fertilizer, if needed, in the top three inches of the soil before planting.
- Follow recommended seeding rates.
- Severely eroded areas may need a nurse crop like oats. Mow oats before they head out. Mow high to avoid clipping the permanent seeding.
- Areas disturbed during construction on barren slopes 4:1 or steeper should be mulched to provide temporary protection before seeding.
- Mulches include hay grain, straw, or commercially produced wood fiber matting.
Maintenance
- Do not allow grazing the year after planting; prevent overgrazing after permanent cover is established.
- Fence, if needed, and permanently exclude livestock from extremely steep slopes.
- Native or warm season grasses may benefit from periodic burning to reduce and remove competing plants.