“Sox” is a great product that’s been developed over the past several years that allows us to repair and shape pond and creek banks. Because the soil is held back in geo-textile “bags,” the new pond or stream banks become erosion proof. The material is also very difficult for animals to get through; muskrats, for example, that have created a lot of damage to the banks around Club Lake.
The first step is hammering 2” x 2” wooden stakes at the top of the slope.
The Sox bag is rolled out and tied off to the many 2x2 stakes that were hammered into the ground during the last step. Stitching the ends closed is an art in and of itself. Soon, we'll be ready for soil, to fill up the bag, which will create the shape of the new pond bank.
Soil is then hauled and dumped on the cart path, where it's worked into the bag using a water hose. This not only makes the process cleaner, but it also compacts the soil as it settles in the "Sox" bag.
Now that the bag is full, the stakes are hammered into the ground and the remaining soil raked and prepped for sod. Below, is the final result: a new pond bank that will in place for years to come! The sod is installed right over tope of the bag. The turf roots will emerge and penetrate the bag.
The end result is a far cry from where we started:
