What plants have the best root system to halt erosion?
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Kan21307259
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I have runoff from my neighbor plus my own gutters. My yard has deep ruts and feels squishy underfoot. I was thinking about building a berm or planter box with no floor to help absorb some of the moisture.
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I build a water run and garden for the water that comes off of our house - in a small yard they are much easier.
Thank you. That's lovely, but I have a pretty small yard in a modest subdivision. The houses and yards are very close together, which is part of the problem of the runoff. I also have many small grandchildren so open water is not an option.
Maybe you could do something like this just on a more modest scale. http://www.hometalk.com/diy/dry-creek-bed-solves-drainage-problem-from-street-front-yard-atlanta-2340001
Cover crops such as rye and clover send out nets of roots that can help halt erosion. Best of luck!
Dry Creek Bed Solves Drainage Problem From Street, Front Yard Atlanta
I don't know what part of the country that you live in, but a false stream bed is an excellent way to direct rainwater away from your building, reduce the squishiness in your yard and shouldn't be a danger to grandchildren as it would not usually be full of water just a rock bed that slows the progress so that it can log to a more desirable place. I did see an idea for handling a lot of runoff by putting a piece of PVC Pipe fairly large diameter put holes in it and direct the runoff to that pipe so that it carries it away to a more desirable place. What ever you do, you have to decide where you want the water to go, and direct it there or you will never be able to change where it naturally goes which is apparently to your yard. Plants that form a strong root system are Day lilies. I don't know how that would work with excess water on a long term basis, but they might be a plant to try.
We have a pretty flat yard with a gradual grade to the city street. All that was required was to dig a wide shallow trench and plant grass seed. Some of it near the back of the lot has shrubs along the edge. A steeper grade may need the stream bed treatment with rocks for erosion control.