Soil Retention

[SamSipEt]

I’m in the process of designing a lake to become the centre piece of our garden. The lake will be in the region of 1 rai in size. The garden has a slight slope to it so the soil that is dug out will make the retaining wall on the lower side of the slope. This earth bank will probably be 2 meters high at it its highest point and will be thick enough so that the downward slope is not too steep. My question is what plants would you recommend are planted on the downward slope to help to hold the soil in place? So far I have been told that banana trees and lemongrass plants are good for this purpose but any other ideas would be gratefully received.

[lingling]

I’m in the process of designing a lake to become the centre piece of our garden. The lake will be in the region of 1 rai in size. The garden has a slight slope to it so the soil that is dug out will make the retaining wall on the lower side of the slope. This earth bank will probably be 2 meters high at it its highest point and will be thick enough so that the downward slope is not too steep. My question is what plants would you recommend are planted on the downward slope to help to hold the soil in place? So far I have been told that banana trees and lemongrass plants are good for this purpose but any other ideas would be gratefully received.

Close to the water: Lampuu (ลำพู, Sonneratia caseolaris)

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_en...caseolaris.html

http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/sonneratia.htm

...attracts fireflies and fruit bats.

...coconuts is another popular alternative.

[SamSipEt]

Thanks for the suggestions and trees that attract the wildlife are a plus as well - obviously within limitations but fireflies and fruit bats don’t present any immediate problems to me and the boss will probably eat them sautéed in chilli and garlic.

[lingling]

Another nice one that likes to grow on the banks (at least at our pond): Magok Naam (มะกอกน้ำ), Ellaeocarpus hygrophilus. Not sure how good it is at binding the soil but it sure likes to grow there so I guess it must have a decent root system. It gives a lot of fruit once per year. I don't have a good closeup pic but I cut the attached one from a photo taken from a distance. Right now it is flowering so it has a lot of small white flowers (and is packed with bees).

Update: Found this closeup pic when I goggled it:

http://www.sarapad.com/026/showing.asp?images=w102.jpg

Edited June 5, 2006 by lingling

[TBWG]

Thanks for the suggestions and trees that attract the wildlife are a plus as well - obviously within limitations but fireflies and fruit bats don’t present any immediate problems to me and the boss will probably eat them sautéed in chilli and garlic.

What about some bamboo?

TBWG

[lingling]

What about some bamboo?

Yup, they make excellent "background plants" but don't overdo them as they will spread out (takes a bit of machete work every now and then) and will kill all nearby plants (dries out surrounding soil so nothing else will grow close to bamboo). Also popular with wildlife (birds, snakes etc) and it is nice to have nearly ready to use fishing poles growing next to the pond.

[SamSipEt]

Another nice one that likes to grow on the banks (at least at our pond): Magok Naam (มะกอกน้ำ), Ellaeocarpus hygrophilus. Not sure how good it is at binding the soil but it sure likes to grow there so I guess it must have a decent root system. It gives a lot of fruit once per year.

This looks good and it makes sense that it has a pretty good root structure given its preferred location

What about some bamboo?

Bamboo would certainly be on the list but we have three clumps of it already elsewhere in the garden.

Thanks for the ideas.

[TBWG]

I’m in the process of designing a lake to become the centre piece of our garden. The lake will be in the region of 1 rai in size. The garden has a slight slope to it so the soil that is dug out will make the retaining wall on the lower side of the slope. This earth bank will probably be 2 meters high at it its highest point and will be thick enough so that the downward slope is not too steep. My question is what plants would you recommend are planted on the downward slope to help to hold the soil in place? So far I have been told that banana trees and lemongrass plants are good for this purpose but any other ideas would be gratefully received.

็Hi Samsipet

Interested to hear you are designing a lake, but how do you intend to retain the water?

I at present have a pond about 20 meters by 30 meters with a max depth of about 4 meters, yes it looks very nice at the end of the wet season when it is nearly full, but the rest of the time it looks an eyesore. It does have a natural spring feeding it but even this dwindles during the dry season.

I like keeping fish and enjoy the wildlife that is attracted to it, but it would be nice if it retained the water better.

It is really just a hole in the ground with no special treatment, what do you intend to do to retain the water?

TBWG

[lingling]

I at present have a pond about 20 meters by 30 meters with a max depth of about 4 meters, yes it looks very nice at the end of the wet season when it is nearly full, but the rest of the time it looks an eyesore. It does have a natural spring feeding it but even this dwindles during the dry season.

I like keeping fish and enjoy the wildlife that is attracted to it, but it would be nice if it retained the water better.

It is really just a hole in the ground with no special treatment, what do you intend to do to retain the water?

That depends on the ground conditions. We have a ~1 rai man homemade pond and thanks to the soil being almost entirely thick clay and a high local water table we don't have the same problem. Sure, there are small variations in the water level but those are very minor (±½m) and quickly adjusted by filling up from a klong running along the border.

If the water table is low and the soil is well drained you may need to line it with concrete to keep the water. There are also a kind of plastic sheets for the same purpose but I am not sure if they are available locally. See http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Feature/backyard/BkPond.html

Edited June 8, 2006 by lingling

[udon]

You're not setting up a mosquito farm, are you?

[tigerbeer]

You're not setting up a mosquito farm, are you?

SamSipEt is ! and harvest the mosquitos for sale in the local market.

[lingling]

You're not setting up a mosquito farm, are you?

It has the opposite effect - mosquitos and a lot of other insects turn into fish food so we have less mosquitos near the pond than if you go a few hundred meters in either direction. (and we have a flourescent light that is on from 18:00-20:00 every day to attract more of them to the surface of the water where the fish picks them up )

[teletiger]

I’m in the process of designing a lake to become the centre piece of our garden. The lake will be in the region of 1 rai in size. The garden has a slight slope to it so the soil that is dug out will make the retaining wall on the lower side of the slope. This earth bank will probably be 2 meters high at it its highest point and will be thick enough so that the downward slope is not too steep. My question is what plants would you recommend are planted on the downward slope to help to hold the soil in place? So far I have been told that banana trees and lemongrass plants are good for this purpose but any other ideas would be gratefully received.

Initally I would sow it with grass. Your real problem is protecting the surface earth. The grass will act as a sheet. easy enough afterwards to dig out tree holes, flower beds, etc. The grass will grow quickly. offering maximum protection and is easily eliminated, a dose of round-up or something similar.

regards

[SamSipEt]

Thanks for all the replies and….

Water retention is no problem because the land has a couple of springs on it and even at the end of the dry season there is some water available. The soil on the land is a mixture of light sandy stuff and areas of heavy black peaty stuff that acts like a sponge but when dry is as hard as rock. This black stuff is where the springs are and will be dug out to make the retaining wall and some of the surplus will be mixed in with the sandy stuff elsewhere. I’ve had the local big digger company round for a look and they say it shouldn’t take more than 2 or 3 days to do the lot but that the ground is too wet at the moment and they recommend waiting until the end f the year before starting work so if anything we have more water than we need and I’ll have to be creative with the over flow. Perhaps a small waterfall with a drop of around 30 or 40 cm but I have to consider the increased outflow in times of heavy rainfall. Decision decisions and you thought life was easy in retirement?

No no mozzie farm I hate the little b’stards but they love me. Anyway the area is pretty free of the pests – I can sit out for hours in the evenings without getting bitten at all which is more than can be said for Chiang Mai.

Sowing grass as a starter to hold the soil in place is a good idea. In another thread p_brownstone kindly supplied the address

http://www.tseeds.com/

has anyone used this product and if so is it as good as advertised?

I like the idea of having a lake in the garden and like TBWG want to attract wildlife as well as catching fish for my supper (at least supping a cold beer or two whilst the missus does anyway). If all goes according to plan the water level should remain constant year round but only time will tell – I’ll certainly update you in a year or two with a couple of pictures when it is done.