Next to tree planting, turf is the most effective use to prevent surface run-off and soil leaching due to water erosion.
Sod, through its high blade density, retards water and protects the soil surface from leaching. Sodding should be used in areas where surface runoff tends to concentrate in the form of streams. These are usually mid-field valleys and slopes with large catchment areas, i.e. areas from which water flows to a single location. If there are gullies near fields, a buffer zone should be established at the field-gully boundary so that the gully does not increase at the expense of the field. If there is a strong concentration of runoff, sodding can be supported by planting shrubs in rows transverse to the direction of water runoff.