What Is an Erosion Blanket?

An erosion blanket is a rolled fiber mat applied over bare or seeded soil to protect it from erosion by wind and water. The blanket holds seed and topsoil in place during the period between grading and vegetation establishment — the window of time when soil is most vulnerable to erosion.

Erosion blankets are also called erosion control blankets (ECBs), erosion mats, straw mats, or erosion matting. The most common materials are wood fiber (such as Curlex aspen excelsior), straw, and coir (coconut fiber). Most erosion blankets include netting — either polypropylene or biodegradable — that holds the fiber in a stable mat.

How an Erosion Blanket Works

Erosion blankets protect soil through three mechanisms:

1. Raindrop absorption: The fiber matrix absorbs the kinetic energy of raindrops before they strike the soil surface, preventing particle detachment (splash erosion).
2. Runoff velocity reduction: The blanket slows surface water flow, allowing more water to infiltrate and reducing sediment transport downslope.
3. Seedbed microclimate: The fiber retains moisture and moderates temperature, creating ideal germination conditions while physically holding seed in place until roots anchor the plant.

Once vegetation reaches approximately 70–90% cover, the root system takes over as the primary erosion control mechanism. Biodegradable erosion blankets then decompose naturally, adding organic matter to the soil.

Erosion Blanket vs. Landscape Fabric

These two products are completely different and are often confused by homeowners:

• Erosion blanket: Temporary, biodegradable, supports grass seed germination, applied to bare soil slopes and channels
• Landscape fabric: Semi-permanent, typically non-biodegradable, blocks weed growth in established garden beds, not suitable for bare-soil erosion control

If your goal is establishing grass on a bare slope, use an erosion blanket. Landscape fabric is the wrong tool for this job.

Types of Erosion Blankets

Wood Fiber ECBs (Curlex)

Curlex erosion blankets are made from Great Lakes Aspen wood fiber by American Excelsior Company; Eastgate Supply is an authorized Curlex distributor. The crimped aspen fiber provides superior moisture retention and a consistent mat structure. Curlex is available as single-net standard (Curlex I, rated to 2:1), double-net heavy-duty (Curlex II, rated to 1.5:1), and a biodegradable-netting version (Curlex FiberNet, which uses 100% biodegradable jute netting instead of polypropylene). For wildlife-sensitive sites, Curlex NetFree uses no netting at all — the industry's first 100% biodegradable ECB.

Straw Erosion Blankets

Straw erosion blankets use wheat or rice straw fiber held between netting. They have shorter design lives (6–18 months) and are generally less consistent than wood fiber products. They are appropriate for mild slopes where a lower-cost option is acceptable.

Coir Erosion Blankets

Coir blankets use coconut husk fiber, which is more durable than straw and lasts 2–5 years. Coir is frequently used in waterway applications where a longer design life is needed.

Where to Use an Erosion Blanket

• Residential slopes: New grading, lawn establishment, backyard hill erosion control
• Construction sites: Required BMP in most SWPPP plans for disturbed slopes over a certain gradient
• Highway embankments: DOT-specified product for cut and fill slopes on road projects
• Drainage ditches: Curlex I in 4-foot width is ideal for narrow roadside ditches
• Channel lining: Moderate-velocity channels and swales
• Stream bank stabilization: Protecting disturbed stream banks during revegetation

How to Install an Erosion Blanket

1. Grade and smooth the surface. Remove debris larger than 1.5 inches.
2. Apply seed at the specified rate for your region and grass type.
3. Unroll the blanket from the top of the slope downward. Keep it flush to the soil — no bridging.
4. Create a terminal anchor trench at the top edge (6 inches deep), fold blanket into trench, backfill.
5. Overlap adjacent rolls by 4–6 inches at vertical seams.
6. Staple at edges, seams, and throughout the field at spacing appropriate for slope and product.
7. Optionally broadcast additional seed over the installed blanket surface.

Erosion control staples are sold separately. Check with Eastgate Supply when ordering blankets.

Shop Erosion Blankets

Curlex I — 8' x 112.5'

Standard single-net wood fiber erosion blanket. Rated to 2:1; mild to moderate slopes and ditches.

Shop Curlex I

Curlex II — 8' x 112.5'

Double-net heavier erosion blanket for steeper slopes (rated to 1.5:1) and higher-velocity ditches.

Shop Curlex II

Curlex FiberNet — 8' x 101.25'

Curlex I fiber with 100% biodegradable jute netting instead of polypropylene.

Shop FiberNet

Curlex I — 4' x 112.5'

Narrow-width erosion blanket for ditches, swales, and tight areas.

Shop 4-Foot Roll

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