Farm Plastic Supply - Silt Fence - 3' x 100' - 11 Stakes Included - Silt Fencing with Stakes, Fence screening, Agricultural Fencing, Privacy Material, silt Fencing, Erosion Barrier

Why I reached for this silt fence

A sloped backyard remodel and a forecast full of pop-up storms pushed erosion control to the top of my to-do list. I wanted something simple, effective, and quick to deploy so runoff and sediment stayed on site and out of the street drains. I put the Farm Plastic Supply silt fence to work along about 100 feet of contour and lived with it through heat, wind, and a few heavy downpours.

What you get out of the box

The kit I used was a 3-foot-tall by 100-foot roll of black silt fence with 11 pre-attached, 4-foot wooden stakes. The fabric is the standard woven polypropylene you expect for temporary sediment control—sturdy enough to tension without tearing, but still flexible. The stakes come stapled through the fabric, so you’re not fiddling with clips or threading pockets on site. It’s a simple kit, and that’s a good thing when you’ve got weather on the way.

A quick note on spacing: with 11 stakes over 100 feet, the posts land roughly every 9–10 feet. That’s fine for light to moderate sheet flow in compactable soils, but it’s looser than many municipal best practices, which often call for closer spacing, particularly on steeper slopes or where soils are rocky. Plan on supplementing with additional stakes or a few steel T-posts if you’re in those conditions.

Installation: straightforward, with a few lessons learned

I laid out the fence on a level contour and trenched a shallow slot—about 6 inches deep—along the upslope side. Burying and compacting that lower edge is crucial; it prevents undercutting and is the difference between a fence that actually filters sediment and one that becomes a decorative banner in the first storm.

Driving the wood stakes was mostly uneventful in loam. In an area with gravelly fill, I did have a couple of stakes complain. Thin wood doesn’t love sledgehammers or hidden rocks. What helped:

• Use a post driver or dead blow mallet instead of a full sledge when possible.
• Pilot a path with a digging bar or auger in rocky sections.
• Where the ground fought back, I paired the wood stakes with T-posts at the corners and low points, zip-tying the fabric for extra backbone.

Once the line was set, I backfilled the trench and compacted with the heel of my boot and a short tamp. I also “turned up” the ends (forming a J-shape upslope) to keep runoff from escaping around the ends—small detail, big payoff.

Total solo install time: a little under two hours, including trenching and supplemental stakes.

Performance in real weather

The fence saw several soaking storms and one brief gully washer. It captured the expected sheet-flow sediment—fine silts and wash from freshly disturbed beds—without blowing out or rolling. The section I anchored well in the trench didn’t undercut at all; a short stretch where I was less diligent did show early signs of scouring at the toe, which I fixed with deeper burial and better compaction.

Sagging was minimal after the first week. Fabric tension held, and the staples into the stakes stayed seated. At around the six-month mark, the material still looked serviceable: a bit dusty, a bit sun-faded, but no fraying or tearing along the top line. The wood stakes, being untreated construction-grade stock, will eventually weather and check, but they remained solid through summer heat and a few windy days.

A reminder worth stating: silt fence is for sheet flow, not channels. Don’t place it across concentrated flow paths or at the bottom of a swale and expect it to behave like a check dam. For concentrated flow, you’ll need a different intervention (rock checks, wattles, or properly sized check dams).

Build quality and durability

• Fabric: The woven fabric feels appropriately dense and resists puncture better than the bargain-bin rolls. It folds cleanly and isn’t prone to unraveling at cut edges if you need to shorten a run.
• Stakes and attachment: The staples are properly driven and secure. If you plan to reuse the fence (not usually advised once it’s loaded with sediment), remove carefully—yanking can tear the fabric around staple points.
• UV exposure: After months in full sun, UV degradation was modest. Expect a normal temporary-service lifespan—long enough for typical residential projects and short infill jobs.

If you anticipate a long deployment on a south-facing slope or through a winter-summer cycle, consider wire-backed reinforcement or steel posts in high-stress segments. It’s inexpensive insurance.

Fit for purpose—and what it isn’t

• Erosion and sediment control: As a temporary barrier for perimeter control and slope toe protection, it works as intended—provided you install it correctly and space the posts to match site conditions.
• Compliance: For job sites with strict specifications (DOT, municipal capital projects), verify required post spacing, fabric ratings, and reinforcement. With only 11 stakes per 100 feet, you’ll likely need to add posts to meet tighter specs.
• Agricultural and landscape use: It’s useful around garden beds and disturbed fields as a sediment trap. Just remember it’s not meant to exclude animals or act as a true agricultural fence.
• Privacy: At 3 feet tall, call it a visual cue rather than “privacy material.” It hides low clutter but won’t screen a workspace from view.

Tips that made a difference

• Install on contour and turn up the ends to form small “J-hooks.”
• Trench and bury at least 6 inches of fabric upslope; compact backfill firmly.
• Shorten post spacing in weak soils or on steeper grades; supplement with T-posts at corners and low points.
• Don’t stretch the fabric like a drum—moderate tension reduces staple pull-through.
• Inspect after the first storm; fix undercuts and sags before the next rain.
• Remove accumulated sediment when it reaches about one-third the fabric height to maintain function.

Value and tradeoffs

As an all-in-one kit, this silt fence is convenient: roll, stakes, and ready-to-set spacing. Buying fabric and posts separately can save money if you already own drivers and have specific post spacing in mind, but for a fast deployment or a smaller project, the convenience is real. The main compromise is the default stake count. For many home and light commercial uses it’s okay, but plan on adding posts for challenging runs. Factor that into cost and time.

Pros

• Pre-attached stakes make for quick installation
• Fabric holds up well under sun and typical storm cycles
• Effective at trapping sediment from sheet flow when trenched properly
• Easy to cut and adapt to shorter runs

Cons

• Wood stakes can be vulnerable in rocky soils or with aggressive driving
• Default post spacing is on the wide side; supplemental posts are often needed
• Not suitable for concentrated flow or as true privacy/agricultural fencing

Recommendation

I recommend this silt fence for homeowners, small contractors, and landscapers who need a reliable, easy-to-install perimeter control for light to moderate sheet flow. It performs as expected when installed correctly, the fabric holds up over a typical project timeline, and the pre-attached stakes speed up deployment. If you’re working on steeper slopes, in rocky ground, or under tight compliance requirements, budget for additional posts (or swap in T-posts at key points) and pay close attention to trenching and end treatments. Used within those bounds, it’s a solid, low-friction option that keeps sediment where it belongs.