1.
Plant grass and shrubs. Bare soil is easily swept away by wind and water, the two main causes of erosion. Plant roots hold the soil together, while their leaves block rain and stop it breaking the soil apart.[1] Turf, ornamental grass, and low, spreading shrubs work best since they cover the soil completely.
If you have any bare ground, try to establish plant cover as soon as possible to limit erosion.
If the ground is mostly flat (slope of 3:1 or less), this might be enough to solve the problem.[2] Steep slopes erode faster, so they need more protection.
2
Add mulch or rocks. This will weigh down the soil and protect the seeds and young plants underneath from getting washed away. It also slows the absorption of water to reduce runoff. Grass clippings or bark chips work especially well.[3]
If you don’t plant anything, keep the soil covered with mulch. You can also add mulch around plants to add another layer of protection or to keep the soil warm.
Note: If you plant something in the soil, the plant’s roots can hold the soil together, and you may not need mulch or rocks.
3
Build retaining walls. Badly eroded slopes will continue to collapse downhill until they are stabilized. A retaining wall at the base of the slope will block the soil and slow down the collapse. This gives grass or other plants time to grow and help the soil hold together.
Give the wall a 2% slope on the side (perpendicular to the incline) so that water flows off to the side instead of pooling.[7]
You may build the wall from concrete blocks, rock, or wood. Only use wood treated with a preservative to prevent rot.[8]
Use retaining walls around flowerbeds and other raised soil areas as well.
You may need local government approval to build these structures.
4
Improve drainage. All buildings should have gutters or pipes that can drain water effectively out of your garden and into water collection systems. Without adequate drainage, heavy rain could wash away a whole layer of topsoil.
Areas with heavy water runoff may require installing an underground perforated drainage pipe.
5
Plant trees to prevent landslides. Tree roots are powerful tools when soil is too eroded or steep to plant. Plant native trees on steep slopes and riverbanks to reduce soil loss.[9]
Bare ground around the tress still needs to be covered in mulch or grass for best results.
Keep in mind that older trees will be more effective at preventing landslides than new saplings. It may take some time before your tree develops roots that are strong enough
