Modern agriculture has done wonders for feeding the world, but it has come at a huge environmental cost. The destructive power of ploughs, tractors and farm chemicals have ruined habitats and decimated populations of many animal species. While habitat loss is a massive problem to tackle, there is an easy way to slow the destruction — planting shelterbelts. Shelter Belt Topping is an under-reported pest-control method that you should consider if you own a farm or a ranch. It’s one of my favourite pest-control methods for keeping bugs and animals at bay!
Reduce erosion.
Shelter belts are designed to protect the soil from wind and water erosion. They do this by providing a barrier between the winds and water, which helps to reduce the impact of both on your lawn. This can be especially beneficial if you live near an area prone to high winds or flooding, such as a beachfront or stream bank.
Protect the environment.
Shelter belts are a great way to protect the environment, especially if you have a lot of trees or shrubs on your property. By using shelterbelt topping, you can create a barrier between your property and the surrounding area, which can help reduce erosion, water runoff and other environmental issues.
Prevent harm to soil structure.
Shelter belts are a great way to protect your soil structure and prevent harm to it. Shelter belts help reduce soil erosion by catching the windblown soil particles and preventing them from blowing away. They also help reduce soil compaction by absorbing some of the impacts from raindrops and other falling objects.
Lock-up nutrients in the system.
Shelter belts help to lock up nutrients in the system, which means they help keep those nutrients working for you and not leaching out of your soil. This is important because if you don’t use them, those nutrients will end up in waterways and pollute them. But if you use them, they’ll help keep those nutrients where they belong — in your soil! They also keep water on your property instead of letting it run into streams and rivers.
Reduce water runoff.
Shelter belts can also help reduce water runoff, especially during heavy rains. The shelter belt absorbs some rainwater before it hits your lawn or garden area, which helps keep your plants healthy and prevents them from drying out too quickly. This is especially important if you live in an area where heavy rains are common or if you have limited irrigation water available.
Reduce the need for chemical inputs
Shelter belts can help shade crops and reduce evapotranspiration (ET) and water use by up to 75 per cent. This means less fertiliser and water are needed, saving producers money on inputs. Shelter belts also help protect crops from wind damage and increase crop yields.
Improve soil quality and topsoil retention
The roots of trees and shrubs extend deep into the soil, pulling up nutrients that are then deposited in the surface layers of soil as they die back during the winter months. This process helps maintain a healthy soil structure, which increases organic matter in the topsoil and improves infiltration rates during wet periods, reducing erosion risk by allowing water to penetrate deeper into the root zone before runoff occurs.
All in all, Shelter Belt Topping is worth a try if you are looking for ways to quickly improve the look of your yard. It’s a product that is easy to install and it blends into the landscape well. So give it a try next time you plan to add some trees or shrubs to your yard.
