Jute Matting: A Natural Solution for Slopes, Gardens & Erosion Control
- Di McQueen-Richardson
- Aug 7
- 4 min read
Updated: 3 hours ago
If you have a sloping garden, exposed soil or an area where rain continually washes soil away, establishing vegetation can be difficult. Before new plants or grass have developed strong root systems, bare soil can be particularly vulnerable to erosion.
Jute matting provides a natural, biodegradable layer of protection over exposed soil while vegetation becomes established.
It's a practical erosion-control option for homeowners, landscapers and revegetation projects—and particularly useful in areas where protecting the soil and encouraging plant growth need to happen together.
What is jute matting?
Jute matting is an erosion-control material manufactured from natural jute fibre.
It is laid over prepared soil and secured in place, creating a protective layer over the ground surface.
Unlike permanent synthetic ground coverings, jute gradually biodegrades. Its purpose is to help protect the soil during the important establishment period while vegetation develops.
As plants grow through the matting and establish stronger root systems, the vegetation increasingly takes over the job of stabilising the soil.
What is jute matting used for?
Jute erosion-control matting can be useful for a range of landscaping and revegetation applications, including:
Sloping gardens
Embankments
Exposed soil
Newly landscaped areas
Revegetation projects
Areas affected by surface erosion
Establishing plants on disturbed ground
Protecting soil while vegetation develops
The suitability of jute matting will depend on the site, slope, soil, water movement and severity of the erosion problem.
Can I use jute matting in my backyard?
Yes. Jute matting isn't only for large landscaping or environmental projects.
Imagine you've created a new garden on a sloping section of your property.
You've prepared the soil and planted shrubs and groundcovers, but the plants are still small. Then heavy rain arrives.
Without established vegetation, water moving across the slope can carry loose soil with it.
Jute matting can provide a protective covering over the soil during this vulnerable establishment period, while allowing vegetation to grow through the material.
That makes it particularly useful for newly landscaped slopes and garden areas where soil erosion is a concern.
How does jute matting help control erosion?
Bare soil is directly exposed to rainfall and surface water.
Jute matting creates a physical layer over that soil, helping reduce its direct exposure while plants become established.
The open structure of the matting allows vegetation to grow through it rather than creating a solid barrier over the ground.
Over time, the plants' developing root systems help bind and stabilise the soil naturally.
The jute then gradually breaks down rather than needing to be removed once it has done its job.
Does jute matting stop weeds?
Jute erosion-control matting shouldn't be confused with conventional weed mat.
Its primary purpose is erosion control and supporting vegetation establishment, rather than creating a permanent barrier intended to suppress plant growth.
In fact, vegetation growing through the matting is usually part of the objective.
If weed suppression is your primary goal, you should choose a product specifically suited to that application.
How is jute matting held in place?
Erosion-control matting needs to remain in close contact with the ground, so appropriate fixing is important.
Depending on the installation, pins are used to secure the material to the soil and help prevent it from lifting or moving before vegetation becomes established.
The number and spacing of pins required will depend on factors such as the slope, site conditions and installation requirements, so refer to the appropriate technical installation guidance for your project.
How much jute matting do I need?
The Jute Thick Matting stocked by BelloScapes is supplied in rolls measuring:
1.83m wide × 25m long
Each roll provides approximately:
45.75m² of material
To get an initial estimate, measure the length and width of the area you need to cover.
For example, an area measuring 10m × 3m has a basic surface area of 30m².
However, don't simply use the calculated square metres as your final order quantity. Installation can require additional material for overlaps, edges and anchoring, and sloping or irregular areas may need to be measured differently.
Our BelloScapes Product Calculator can help you estimate the number of rolls required for your project.
Is jute matting suitable for severe erosion?
Not every erosion problem can be solved by laying matting.
If significant volumes of water are flowing across a site, a bank is unstable, or substantial erosion is already occurring, the underlying cause needs to be addressed.
You may need to consider drainage, water diversion, slope stability, or a professionally designed erosion-control solution rather than simply covering the surface.
Jute matting is a product within an erosion-management system—it isn't a substitute for fixing a significant drainage or structural problem.
Jute matting or geotextile: what's the difference?
These products can look as though they perform similar jobs because they're both installed on or within the ground, but they have quite different purposes.
Jute matting is primarily used at the ground surface to help protect exposed soil and support vegetation establishment.
Geotextile filter fabric, such as Bidim Green Filterwrap, is commonly used for filtration and separation applications, including drainage systems.
So if you're trying to stabilise an exposed garden slope while plants establish, jute matting may be relevant.
If you're building a drainage trench and need to help separate soil from aggregate while allowing water to pass through, you're more likely to be looking at geotextile.
Where can I buy jute matting in Bellingen?
BelloScapes Supply Co. stocks Jute Thick Matting and compatible fixing pins locally in Bellingen NSW.
Our erosion-control products are available to homeowners and DIY customers as well as landscapers, builders, contractors and other trades.
You can order online and arrange click & collect in Bellingen, or contact us regarding local delivery to the Coffs Harbour & Dorrigo regions.
Give new vegetation a chance to establish
When you're trying to revegetate exposed or sloping ground, the period before plants establish can be when the soil is most vulnerable.
Jute matting provides a simple, natural way to protect the surface while vegetation develops, before gradually biodegrading as the landscape becomes established.
For technical installation requirements and product specifications, always refer to the manufacturer's information. Significant erosion, drainage or slope-stability problems should be professionally assessed.
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