An articulating mattress of blocks interconnected with tensiles seated therein, said blocks having opposing longitudinal and transverse sides and a top surface each of a smooth surface by contact with a mold surface during casting and a bottom surface having a rough surface by screeding the flowable casting material from an open side of a mold formwork. The mattress inverted with a rolling apparatus for installation with the rough surface in frictional contact on a ground surface for erosion control, said mattress rolling apparatus having base, front wheels, and steerable rear wheels, with a rolling mechanism for rolling the articulating mattress. An apparatus and a method of casting an articulable mattress with a rough bottom surface for erosion control are disclosed.