Fascine Installation
If you’re interested in installing fascines yourself, we’d love to help!
This information page will equip you with the knowledge you need to work safely and confidently. We’ll cover safety considerations, what a fascine is, where and when to install them, what species are commonly available in our PNW ecoregions, how to install fascines in five steps, what to expect after installation, and how to order. We hope that this guide will serve individuals, volunteer organizations, and professional agencies alike.
If you have questions about installing fascines in the PNW, send us an email at Info@SoundNativePlants.com! We want to help you get native plants in the ground.
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Important Safety Notice
Working on slopes can be dangerous, whether you are a professional or not.
Additionally, while fascines are a low-impact solution for unstable slopes, their installation still disturbs fragile soils and foliage.
Consult a professional if:
- You need to install fascines higher than you can reach up the slope (with your feet on stable ground),
- Your slope is unstable,
- Your slope has a history of slides or instability,
- Your slope is directly on a shoreline or waterway,
- You answered “unsure” to any of the above.
If you are in the Portland/Vancouver area, contact Chad directly at Chad@SoundNativePlants.com. If you are in the South Salish region, contact Apollo directly at Apollo@SoundNativePlants.com.
What are Fascines?
Fascines are bundles of dormant plant cuttings installed horizontally.
These bioengineering materials stabilize slopes and absorb moisture by rooting deeply into the slope. Fascines reduce runoff velocity by shortening, or breaking up, the slope face. They decrease soil erosion by trapping soil particles that would otherwise wash down the slope. Fascines can also successfully fix the toe of slopes.
Fascines can be installed with human-powered manual labor, which causes less site disturbance than machinery.
Fascines are bundles of live stakes* and brush material* tied with twine. They are usually between 4–8 inches thick and 6–12’ long. Fascines can be comprised of a single species or a combination of species. Depending on the species composition and size, fascines can be heavy and may require two people to install.
*Live stakes are selectively harvested straight shoots of trees and shrubs
*Brush materials are branches with twigs and growing tips still attached
Where can I Install Fascines?
Fascines are helpful in many places, from sunny slopes to shorelines.
You can utilize this bioengineering technique on lakeshores, riversides, coastal shorelines and other sites that experience low to medium erosion due to wave action. Fascines are also useful in stabilizing slopes eroding from other factors, such as a landslide.
Most species used in fascines do best in full to part-sun. If your site is part shade, consider snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus), salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis), or Red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea). You can read our recommended species for fascines below and more about each plants’ needs in our Species Descriptions.
When can I Install Fascines?
Ideally, fascines are planted in dormant seasons.
In the Pacific Northwest, fascines are best installed between October 15 and March 15, the earlier the better within this window. It is possible to install in a wet site outside of this window, but your success rate will be lower and additional care must be given to keep your fascines moist before and after planting.
Between the time that you receive your fascines and when they are installed, keep them in a shaded area and covered with wet burlap. Install as soon as possible. More than two weeks after harvest, success drops significantly.
Common Species
Not all tree and shrub species can be used in fascines.
In the Pacific Northwest, willow, red-osier dogwood, and black cottonwood are common selections. We advise selecting a handful of species per fascine bundle to increase the biodiversity of your project and its likelihood of success. When ordering, you can request specific quantities of fascines with unique compositions that best suit the diversity of your project.
Check out our new blog post, Plants for Cutting Materials, on species that can be grown from cuttings! It highlights tried and true plants as well as those that are considered 'experimental'. We have also linked a few studies that compare success among these special plants at the bottom of our post.
Download our Free PDF Guide
We love teamwork!
If you have a group of volunteers or professionals needing onsite training, we created this printable learning tool just for you! Download our new PDF guide here! This resource includes most of the information found on this webpage. Here, online, you can find more details, helpful links, and contact info for some of our favorite vendors.
How to Install Fascines in 5 Steps!
A step-by-step guide of how to do it right from the professionals who do it best.
What you'll need:
- Shovel or pickaxe
- Rubber mallet
- Gloves
- Fascines
- 2-3' live stakes
- At least one helpful buddy
While many folks can install fascines themselves, remember that this is hard and dangerous work. It's best to install fascines as a team. If one feels unsafe, contact professionals.
Click through our illustrated guide using the arrows on the image sides. All information is available as text below.
Step 2
Place fascine(s) in the trench(es).
- If more than a single fascine is needed to run the length of the trench, overlap the fascines enough to eliminate gaps.
Step 3
Use stakes to anchor the fascines at intervals of 3–4’.
- Use standard, untreated wooden stakes or live stakes, 2–3’ in length.
- Pound the stakes into the soil immediately down slope and angled slightly away from the fascine.
- For extra stability, pound tapered wood stakes through the middle of the fascine at a 45° angle to the slope, staggered between the down slope stakes.
Step 4
Shovel the soil back over the top of the fascine and into the trench.
- Move sediment from the slope above to bury the fascine in the trench.
Step 5
Stomp it down well to work the soil through the fascine.
- Only the very top (10–15%) of the fascine should be visible.
If Your Project Requires Multiple Tiers of Fascines:
Begin at the bottom and dig additional trenches up the slope of the initial line of fascines. The distance between trenches depends on the slope and the soil type. If the soil is loose and very prone to erosion, try 3–5’ between rows. In other situations, 5–7’ between rows may be sufficient. A good rule of thumb is to stand on the first row and dig the next trench as far up the slope as you can comfortably and safely reach.
What to Expect Next?
Amazingly, life will spring up from seemingly dead sticks!
The spring after you install fascines, upon breaking dormancy the stems will send out new roots and shoots. Year after year, these shoots will grow into large thickets and roots knit meters of soil together.
The ecosystem services provided by fascines go far beyond stabilizing soils. They become habitat for baby salmonids needing shade, birds seeking a winter snack, or humans longing for privacy in an outdoor space.
A portion of a fascine may not root but nonetheless will provide a barrier that physically attenuates erosive forces and traps sediment moving down slope.
How can I Order Fascines?
Some notes for creating your order and recommended vendors.
We've been in the business for over 30 years. Sound Native Plants was a vendor of fascines and other cutting materials. Now, we recommend our friends that supply us! Take a tip or two from our long history of trial and error.
Wild-harvest Materials Close to the Install Site
Your cuttings should be harvested as close as possible to the installation location, at least from the same ecoregion. We strongly recommend using wild-harvested materials over cultivated materials. These tend to be hardier, yielding better success rates. If you are unsure of where to source in your region, inquire at your local university extension office.
Fascine Prices Vary
Fascines are priced by foot-length, diameter, and species. Bundles are usually 6–12’ long and 4–8 inches thick. Within these general ranges, decide what length and diameter are best for your project. When making this decision, it is important to consider transportation of material. Special sizing may be available – don’t be afraid to ask!
Fascines can be comprised of a single species or a combination of species. We advise selecting a handful of species per fascine bundle to increase the biodiversity of your project and its likelihood of success. When ordering, you can request specific quantities of fascines with unique compositions that best suit the diversity of your project. When requesting material, specify whether or not your project site receives salt influence by spray or inundation.
Provide complete quantity, length, diameter, and species specifications when placing your order or bid request.
Order Ahead
Place your order at least one month ahead of your install. Bear in mind that large orders may require more lead time and small orders may be done more quickly.
Trusted Wild-Harvest Vendors
