Bioengineering
Bioengineering Materials
Wattle installation
Soil Bioengineering is the term used to describe the use of plant material to arrest and prevent slope and stream bank failure and erosion. The roots and stems serve as structural and mechanical elements in a slope protection system. Live cuttings and rooted plants are embedded in the ground in various arrays to serve as soil reinforcements, hydraulic drains, and barriers to earth movement. Once established, this living material effectively controls a number of stabilization and erosion control problems by binding the soil with its root system and cultivating a natural vegetative cover. Bioengineered sites have the advantage of blending with natural surroundings and are self-repairing.
Ernst Conservation Seeds is an experienced producer of common and specialized live soil bioengineering materials. We understand the unique needs of bioengineering site construction. Our material is grown and processed to minimize on-site installation labor and maximize survival and quick establishment.
LIVE MATERIAL NOTICE:
The bioengineering material on the following pages is dormant live material. If it cannot be installed immediately when it arrives at the job site, it must be properly stored. Place material out of direct sunlight in a cool, wet place, such as under straw or burlap. If packaged, open the pallets, boxes, and plastic bags so they can be thoroughly watered. Do not allow them to dry out. Soaking before planting significantly increases their survival and growth rate. Planting is best done during dormancy.
Note: We do not guarantee any of our bioengineering material from May 1st through October 31st. For best survivability, the material is best planted during the dormant season, November 1st through April 30th.
Live Stake and Branch Layering Cross-Sections courtesy of United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Engineering Field Handbook, December 1996, Chapter 16, “Streambank and Shoreline Protection”, pp. 16-13 and 16-20.
Special thanks to John McCullah, Salix Applied Earthcare, for allowing us to use the information in his Bio-Draw software. More information is available at www.biodraw.com.
Stream bank diagram. Click for larger image.
Ernst Conservation Seeds Produces Bioengineering Materials in the Following Fast-Rooting Species:
| Botanical Name | Common Name | Indicator Region |
|---|---|---|
| Cephalanthus occidentalis | Buttonbush | Native Shrub / 1: OBL; 2: OBL; 3: OBL |
| Cornus amomum | Silky Dogwood | Native Shrub / 1: FACW; 2: FACW+; 3: FACW+ |
| Cornus sericea (C. stolonifera) | Red Osier Dogwood | Native Shrub / 1: FACW+; 2: NO; 3: FACW+ |
| Salix discolor | Pussy Willow | Native Shrub / 1: FACW; 2: FACW; 3: FACW |
| Salix eriocephala | Heart Leaved Willow | Native Shrub / 1: FACW; 2: FACW; 3: FACW |
| Salix exigua ssp interior | Sandbar Willow | Native Shrub / 1: OBL; 2: OBL; 3: OBL |
| Salix lucida | Shining Willow | Native Shrub / 1: FACW; 2: NO; 3: FACW+ |
| Salix purpurea | Streamco Willow | Naturalized Shrub / 1:NI; 2: FACW; 3: FACW |
| Salix sericea | Silky Willow | Native Shrub / 1: OBL; 2: OBL; 3: OBL |
| Salix x cottetii | Dwarf Bankers Willow | Naturalized Shrub / 1: NI; 2: NI; 3: NI |
Materials For Specialized Use
| Botanical Name | Common Name | Indicator Region |
|---|---|---|
| Amorpha fruticosa | River Locust (False Indigo) | Native Shrub / 1: FACW; 2: FACW; 3: FACW+ |
| Parthenocissus quinquefolia | Virginia Creeper | Native Vine / 1: FACU; 2: FAC; 3: FAC- |
| Salix amygdaloides | Peach Leaved Willow | Native Tree / 1: FACW; 2: FACW; 3: FACW |
| Salix nigra | Black Willow | Native Tree / 1: FACW+; 2: OBL; 3: OBL |
| Sambucus canadensis | Elderberry | Native Shrub / 1: FACW-; 2: FACW-; 3: FACW- |
| Viburnum dentatum | Arrow Wood | Native Shrub / 1: FAC; 2: FAC; 3: FAC |
| Viburnum lentago | Nannyberry | Native Shrub / 1: FAC; 2: FAC; 3: FAC+ |
Cornus amomum (Silky Dogwood) live stake first year
For more information on the species listed above, refer to the section on Woodland Openings, Partially Shaded Sites & Shrubby Sites Associated with Bioengineering in our catalog, or the Index in the back of the catalog to locate the page number.
Please call for a quote, as each bioengineering job and material selection is unique to a project.