Erosion socks are a great way to reduce erosion on a dirt project. Silt fences offer a similar type of protection against soil erosion, but require much more work to install. Erosion socks usually come preassembled, which means all you have to do is roll the product out and stake it. Erosion socks should be staked about ever 8 or 10 feet, depending on the type of erosion control that you are looking for. Erosion socks are constructed of an outer sock like material that allows water to pass through it, but holds solids like dirt and rocks back. The interior of the erosion sock is filled with mulch to help filter the water through the product. This way you are not creating a dam with erosion sock, but blocking solids from running all over the place. Mulch is a great filler because it is low-cost and light weight. Since the mulch does not hold water, but lets it pass through, it dries out relatively fast. Using erosion socks is also good for the environment because the products are biodegradable. Erosion socks can be shortened simply by cutting off a section of the sock, removing a few handfuls of mulch and tying the end shut.
Below are a few types of projects that may require the use of erosion socks.
- New construction jobs that have exposed soil such a new home construction or building expansion projects.
- Projects that involve tearing up the ground such as utility projects.
- Embankments or hill projects can benefit from the use of erosion socks which hold the soil in place until the new grass seed starts to grow.
- Erosion socks can be used to block drainage areas such as sewer intakes, to minimize run off from construction projects.
- Erosion socks can also be used to hold back dirt from new sidewalks and drive way areas until there is sod or seed installed.
