A downpour in spring is not uncommon and most people like it because it gives the outdoors a nice, refreshing atmosphere. But here’s a drawback: spring rains can actually lead to excess soil erosion in your property. When this happens, the topsoil is washed away along with its organic matter and beneficial microorganisms and nutrients. In some cases, soil erosion can even wash away contaminants, such as fertilizers, pesticides and petroleum products, which may end up downstream and into the water supply.
To prevent all these, and keep your landscaping intact, take proactive measures that keep the soil in your property stable. Gutter Helmet® of Northern Minnesota, the area’s premier installer of quality gutter protection systems, shares how.
- Start planting. Stabilizing the soil around your property can be simple and labor-intensive. You can, for instance, just use ground covers and plant perennials to hold it in place. They generally work well if the ground is not particularly steep. But if the ground is sloped, you might need to use clump-forming ornamental grasses and native wildflowers instead. They adapt fairly quickly in steeper areas, allowing you to anchor the soil before any plants you’d like to grow are established.
- Overseed the lawn. If the erosion has affected the soil in your front yard, make sure to consider adding extra seeds to cover the ground and fill in any bare patches. Overseeding the lawn, in fact, helps increase root density, which in turn, keeps the soil firmly in place even when it starts pouring. Not only that, this creates a healthier environment for grasses and flowers to grow.
- Invest in certain erosion control methods. These may include installing barriers, or baffles, which slow down or divert water when it flows downhill, or using riprap, which are rough, loose stones that are spread on slopes to control erosion. You can also have your gutters checked for leaks or alignment issues. When gutters have leaks, water will splash down onto the ground instead of being channeled into a rain barrel or drainage area. The same thing happens when they’re not pitched correctly. To minimize soil erosion, you should take a closer look at your gutters and resolve any issues about their draining performance.
Gutter Helmet® of Northern Minnesota is your one-stop-shop for the highest quality gutter solutions, including the installation of Gutter Helmet® gutter protection systems. We’ll keep your home safe from water damage, and lower the possibility of soil erosion in your property, with our top-tier services. Call us today at (800) 824-3772 or fill out this contact form to schedule your consultation. We serve Duluth, Minnesota, and the surrounding areas.
