Slope matting: erosion control and vegetation establishment

Freshly graded slopes are at their most vulnerable in the weeks between final grading and established vegetation. Slope matting bridges that gap.

What it does

A rolled erosion control blanket laid over prepared, seeded soil absorbs raindrop impact, slows sheet flow, holds seed and topsoil in place, and keeps moisture at the surface so germination happens faster. The result is denser, quicker vegetative cover — which is the permanent erosion control the blanket exists to establish.

Choosing the right product

• Straw blankets — short-term protection on gentle to moderate slopes, degrading within a season
• Straw-coconut and coconut blankets — longer functional life for steeper slopes and slower-establishing seed mixes
• Turf reinforcement mats — permanent synthetic matting for channels and slopes where flow velocity exceeds what vegetation alone can withstand

Installation decides performance

Most blanket failures are installation failures. The soil must be smooth, loose, and seeded first — a blanket over clods leaves voids where water runs underneath. The top edge is anchored in a trench so runoff cannot get beneath the leading edge. Rolls run down the slope, not across it, with overlapped seams shingled in the direction of flow, and staples set at the spacing the manufacturer specifies for that slope.

Then check on it

Inspect after significant rainfall for lifted edges, rills forming under the matting, and bare patches. Repair and reseed early; a small rill left alone becomes a gully.

Matting is inexpensive relative to the cost of re-grading a slope that washed. It is one of the highest-return items on an erosion control plan.