Can I Use Landscape Fabric for Erosion Control?
Yes — on the right slope. Here’s where geotextile fabric works for erosion, where it doesn’t, and what to use instead on steeper ground.
A couple of years ago our neighbors built a new home and worried their hillside would erode with the heavy winter rains during construction. They decided to put down landscape fabric to help mitigate the erosion — but wondered whether landscape fabric is really the best solution for preventing erosion.
Geotextile landscape fabric can help mitigate soil erosion. It’s most effective when buried under 4 inches of soil and used on slopes with a 4:1 or lesser grade (a 4:1 slope is 1’ of elevation for every 4’ of distance). Other products like erosion control blankets or turf reinforcement mats are better suited for higher-sloped areas.
In this guide we’ll cover where erosion control fabric is best used, when it’s not appropriate, and what other materials to consider for various scenarios.
How Does Landscape Fabric Help Prevent Erosion?
Landscape fabric — sometimes called an erosion control product — helps stabilize soil and provides a layer of protection against erosion. The fabric is laid out over the slope or hillside and soil or aggregate is placed on top.
Sandwiching the fabric between soil helps prevent water from easily washing away the slope, and gives grass and vegetation a secure place to grow. Erosion fabric is best suited for applications on gradual grades.
Fabric plays a supporting role: it stabilizes the hillside against rain while giving grasses and vegetation time and space to establish. The greater the slope, the more likely other erosion control solutions are required — the steeper the hill, the harder it is for vegetation to fill in and take root. Those root networks are a crucial part of preventing erosion long-term.
What’s the Best Type of Landscape Fabric for Erosion Control?
There are two primary geotextiles used for landscaping — woven and non-woven fabric. Each is designed with different applications in mind. In general, woven geotextile fabric is used where you need strength and don’t require much drainage (permeability), such as driveway matting. Non-woven fabric is the go-to for hillside stabilization and erosion control.
- Hillside stabilization & erosion control
- French drains and/or drainage fields
- Rip-rap, shorelines, retaining walls
- Pond and water-feature construction
- Aggregate or paved driveway stabilization
- Under patios or hardscaping
- Roads, highways & parking lot construction
- Ground cover
For hillside stabilization and erosion control, non-woven geotextile fabric is the right choice — available in multiple weights and roll sizes with free shipping.
Shop Non-Woven Erosion FabricLandscape Fabric vs. Slope of the Hillside
Understanding your slope is important for knowing whether to use erosion control fabric or something else. Grades range from gradual all the way down to a 2:1 (50%) slope.
For slopes greater than a 4:1 grade, other erosion solutions such as erosion control blankets (ECBs) or turf reinforcement mats (TRMs) are a more appropriate solution.
Slopes over a 4:1 grade (25%) are NOT suitable for landscape fabric — step up to an ECB or TRM instead.
Erosion Control Product Options
Consider these three things to determine whether you should look at other erosion control solutions.
Slope — Is the slope greater than 4:1? If yes, use an Erosion Control Blanket (ECB) or Turf Reinforcement Mat (TRM).
Amount of rainfall — Is your area known for heavy rain or flash flooding? If yes, consider ECB or TRM products.
Intended project duration — Is this temporary or permanent? Depending on the project, consider biodegradable options or synthetic/permanent options as dictated by the project engineer.
Erosion Control Blankets & Turf Reinforcement Mats
Erosion Control Blankets (ECBs)
An erosion control blanket — sometimes called erosion control matting — consists of a matrix of material such as coconut, straw, or wood fiber held together by natural or synthetic netting. They slow the flow of water and give seed a place to grow and re-vegetate the landscape. Many are shorter-term (1–2 years of effective life), staked on hillsides and designed to degrade while grass grows up through the fibrous matrix. Curlex erosion control blankets are made from Great Lakes Aspen curled wood fibers that promote ideal growing conditions while protecting topsoil.
Shop Erosion Control BlanketsTurf Reinforcement Mats (TRMs)
Turf reinforcement mats are similar to ECBs but engineered as a long-term, permanent solution. TRMs are typically constructed of a synthetic polypropylene matrix and netting, placed in higher-sloped areas, and useful in high-traffic areas or places that are hard to maintain or mow. Typical effective life is 2+ years, though most applications are installed with 5+ years in mind. Like ECBs, they’re staked on hillsides and give grass seed great protection to grow through the matrix.
Shop Turf Reinforcement MatsHow to Apply Erosion Control Fabric
Installation isn’t complicated and can be done over a weekend with a bit of work, in three steps:
Lay out the fabric on the slope.
Pin the fabric down with 6″ landscape pins.
Apply 4–6 inches of soil or aggregate on top of the fabric.
Always consult the manufacturer’s installation guide when installing erosion control products. The GEOTEX install guide and non-woven application sheet are good references.
Note: if you’re resurfacing an asphalt road after your project, we also offer paving interlayer fabric — used as a moisture barrier and stress-absorbing interlayer beneath flexible pavements such as asphalt overlays or chip seal.
The Bottom Line
Hillside erosion can be frustrating, but landscape fabric can help stabilize the soil and give grasses and local vegetation time to take root — and those root networks are crucial to keeping your hillside from further erosion. If the area is fairly steep, or gets a lot of rain, then products like erosion control blankets or turf reinforcement mats will be a better fit for your project.
Match the product to your slope: non-woven fabric for gradual grades, blankets or TRMs for steeper hillsides — all with free shipping. Not sure which fits? Our erosion control product finder can help.