In some parts of the world, it’s spring and that means rain. In other parts of the world, it’s fall, and that means – you guessed it – more rain. At least here it does. With rain comes swelling streams and ponds that are chock full of water, and that can be a problem if the stream or the pond is right in your own backyard.
If you live in a rural area or in an urban area that has open creeks, you’ll know that creeks are a glorious thing. You can go down and visit them in the hot summer, and they provide the sound of water all year round. But come flood time, creeks and ponds can be a pain in the neck.
Why? Well, if anyone has changed the area around a stream or a pond, they’ve probably changed the plants that grow there. Those plants were there for a reason. They help slow down the movement of water into the creek and they help keep the soil intact.
Bank erosion can be a huge problem during flood season, and planting is one way to stop it. You don’t want to lose your soil to the creek or into the pond. To keep it where it should be, you need to plant sturdy plants by the stream bank.
Willow trees are one such plant. Willows are amazing – they can take root just about anywhere with very little prodding. In England, willows have been used to weave living fences, and you can do the same in your own garden. Weave willows together on the ground and interplant them with more willows to create a thick mat of vegetation.
Now, all willows are not always native to your area. Check out the native willow species to enhance the amount of local, native vegetation in your yard. Try not to plant them right beside a home or a pool, since their roots may invade foundations. Planted next to the pond or the stream, those roots serve a better purpose. If you’re losing soil to a creek or a pond this year, use willows to keep that soil intact.