How Permeable Paving Can Help With Soil Erosion

August 16, 2024

Soil erosion is a constant challenge for landscapers, urban planners, and others. It has multiple negative consequences, including reduced soil fertility, flooding, and the degradation of the local water supply. Permeable paving offers at least one way to counter this effect. Here’s how permeable paving can help with soil erosion and offer practical answers to the above issues.

Permeable Paving: What Is It?

Permeable paving includes using paving materials such as permeable gravel that allow water to pass through to the soil below. Traditional paving materials—concrete, cement, and asphalt—are nonporous, causing water to pool, run off, carry soil, and deprive groundwater of replenishment. Permeable paving, however, allows the water to follow its natural cycle, returning to the earth.

Soil Erosion: The (Really) Bad News

When soil erodes, several things can happen, none of them good. Topsoil is lost, which can mean lost fertility. Also, sediment fills bodies of water, leading to limited capacity and poor water quality. Landslides, habitat destruction for local wildlife, and loss of support for manufactured structures are other ill effects of soil erosion. Short version: soil is best when it remains in place. Fortunately, permeable paving can help.

How Does Permeable Paving Fight Soil Erosion?

Permeable paving can help with soil erosion by allowing water to infiltrate and reach the ground. It reduces runoff and prevents the water from carrying off topsoil. This is especially important in areas with steep slopes or compacted soils more prone to the effects of erosion. Furthermore, by mimicking natural drainage processes, permeable paving prevents flooding and improves the overall health of the landscape.

As a bonus, permeable paving materials absorb pollutants and filter out contaminants from rainwater before they enter the environment. While filtration is part of the ground’s duties, permeable paving provides an extra layer of defense and filtration, supporting the health of the surrounding landscape and preventing pollution from entering natural and manufactured waterways.

Permeable Paving and Sustainable Landscapes

It’s best to create landscapes with their effects on the local ecosystem in mind. Environmentally friendly constructions such as rain gardens, green roofs, bioswales, and permeable paving help landscaping work with nature to control stormwater and slow or stop the deleterious effects of soil erosion.

Want to learn more about how resin-bound paving can help your garden or other green space become greener? Contact us for more information!

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Resin Bound Tree Pit Surrounds

By Jim Robinson • September 9, 2025

Resin Bound Tree Pits: The Smarter Way to Protect and Showcase Urban Trees In towns and cities everywhere, urban planners face the same challenge: how to protect tree roots while keeping public spaces clean, attractive, and safe. Traditional solutions—like loose gravel, soil, or metal grilles—often fall short. That’s where resin bound tree pits come in. What is a Resin Bound Tree Pit? A resin bound tree pit is a surfacing system that uses a blend of natural stone aggregates bound together with a clear, UV tolerant resin. Installed around the base of a tree, it creates a strong, permeable, and decorative surface that allows rainwater to drain through while protecting the soil and roots below. Think of it as a breathable shield for urban trees: tough enough to withstand foot traffic, but porous enough to support healthy root growth. Why Choose Resin Bound for Tree Pits? Permeability for Healthy Trees The resin bound surface is fully porous, meaning water and air can still reach the roots. This promotes long-term tree health and reduces the risk of waterlogging. Cleaner, Safer Surfaces Unlike loose gravel, resin bound surfaces don’t scatter, sink, or create trip hazards. In fact they help to eliminate trip hazards! They provide a smooth, stable finish—ideal for high-footfall areas. Aesthetic Appeal With a wide choice of natural stone colors, resin bound tree pits can complement surrounding paving, creating a polished, modern look in public spaces. Durability & Low Maintenance Resin bound surfacing is resistant to weeds, litter build-up, and erosion. It keeps the area around tree bases tidy without constant upkeep. Accessibility Friendly A smooth surface around tree pits is easier to navigate for strollers, wheelchairs, and pedestrians—making public spaces more inclusive. Where Are Resin Bound Tree Pits Used? City sidewalks to reduce tripping hazards and improve walkability Parks and plazas for cleaner, more attractive landscapes Shopping districts where appearance and safety matter Corporate campuses or schools to combine functionality with visual appeal A Sustainable Choice for Urban Environments! Resin bound systems align with modern sustainability goals. By ensuring stormwater naturally drains into the ground, they help prevent flooding and reduce strain on drainage systems. Combined with their long service life, a very competitive price point, they’re a future-proof investment for greener, smarter cities. Final Thoughts If you are considering the use of resin bound for your tree pits, don't just choose any resin bound product, choose one that is time tested, data driven and will sustain the demands of a harsh city environment. A good resin bound product will have similar strengths to concrete yet it will be completely pervious. Resin bound tree pits are more than just a neat landscaping detail—they’re a practical solution that supports tree health, improves safety, and enhances the look of urban spaces. If you’re planning a streetscape project, commercial landscape, or public park, resin bound surfacing could be the perfect choice for both form and function.