There are a wide variety of substances that can be used as an erosion control blanket. Most of the current erosion blankets come in roll form. In days gone by most landscapers and contractors applied loose straw to a hill side along with grass seed. The modern applications provide a firm foundation to not only prevent erosion from occurring but invite plant life to flourish.

The modern roll type of erosion control blanket is almost exclusively biodegradable. The length of time necessary for the degrading of the material depends on which type is used. The steeper the slope, the longer the blanket is made to last. Most will degrade from 12 months up to three years from first application and exposure to the elements. The materials come from Mother Nature herself. The right material to use would depend on the amount or angle of the slope that is to be covered.

For an area to be covered with the a slope of 3:1 or less, there are erosion control blankets made out of single layered stray netting that will last up to 12 months. A double-netted blanket consisting of straw can handle a slope of 2:1 which protects the slope for up to 24 months. A blanket that has a little more firmness is one that is made of a combination of straw and coconut fiber. The percentage of the mixture will determine the firmness.

For those that need coverage on a steep 1:1 slope, 100 percent coconut is the best biodegradable material that is natural. This is held together with a double-netted blanket that is also biodegradable. This type of cover will be in place for up to three years.

If a longer period of coverage is needed, there is manmade biodegradable netting available. This is made of a biodegradable poly fiber that can provide protection and stability for over three years.

The right erosion control blanket for your purposes would depend on the slope and conditions of the soil.

There are many erosion control plants to help keep the soil in place on a flat surface and that can stabilize a slope. The most important consideration is can a plant develop a deep root system fast enough and not be part of the problem.

Some erosion control plants that are good on a relatively flat surface is any type of grass that has a tough fast growing root system like Yarrow, Pigeon Point, Monkey Flower and California Fuchsia. The combination of growing fast and having sturdy deep roots will help the soil stay in place no matter how hard it rains or how high the winds might get.

Small shrubs and trees are good for sloping areas that need erosion control plants. Some of the more common ones are Brickell Bush, Apache Plume, Coast Goldenbush, California Buckeye, Southern California Walnut, Coulter Pine, Dogwood and the Wild Rose to name a few.

The main purpose of these plants is to have it so their root systems become so intertwined with the soil, that a reduction in dust and the possibility of runoff due to water and rain is reduced. This is by increasing the soils shear strength.

One of the best plants to increase the shear strength of soil is the King Alfred. This plant was tested and showed that it strengthened the soil by 752 percent. The next best plant known to yield positive results was the Nafray. It strengthened the soil by 475 percent. The tests were conducted by Ozbreed limited and reported in 2008. Both of these plants are native to Australia and may not be available where you live or need them, but there is a substitute that industry experts can be consulted on.

Nature has made erosion control plants for every country if we just replant them, they will work again.