I live just 75 feet from the bank of a creek that's eroding quickly due to flooding every year. I'm really worried about losing my 100-year-old live oak trees that line the bank, and there's a chance that the roots could end up lifting parts of my foundation if they fall. We've already lost about 2 feet of bank in the 3.5 years I've been here, and I need some advice on what to plant to help slow down this erosion. Any recommendations?
3 Answers
Have you looked into whether your local government offers any programs for stream stabilization? I was able to get some work done on my creek through my town's funding. Also, NCSU has a great resource page that outlines options for yard stream repair. It’s worth checking out!
Willows are a solid choice for stabilizing creek banks. They grow quickly and can really help with erosion control. You can find some good tutorials on YouTube about the planting process if you’re interested!
It sounds like you might want to check upstream to see if anything has changed that's affecting the water flow. It could be something as simple as a fallen tree that’s redirecting the current. As for planting, I've had great success with willow slips; I planted some by my pond three years ago and they're thriving! Just be careful if you decide to dump rocks to stabilize the bank, as that can cause issues downstream during winter flows.