Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Tuesday - September 02, 2014
From: Salem, IN
Region: Midwest
Topic: Erosion Control, Grasses or Grass-like, Shrubs
Title: Erosion Control for Salem IN
Answered by: Brigid & Larry Larson
QUESTION:
We've recently had a new pond dug. It is on a hill side and has some very steep and tall banks. We were advised that our best chance of keeping soil from eroding was to plant fescue. I'm not thrilled about the idea of it and would like something more attractive. Any suggestions?ANSWER:
Fescues would work, but by themselves – I would agree, not very exciting. When Mr Smarty Plants is asked about erosion solutions, we try to recommend native grasses with nice deep and extensive root system and also shrubs that similarly hold the soil with their root systems.
Here’s a selection of previous answers that Mr. Smarty Plants published about erosion control and groundcover for similar places to Salem, Indiana:
Shady Perennial Groundcover Suggestions for Indiana
Erosion Control for Shady Ditches
Native plants for a bioswale in Indianapolis
Need to Stabilize River Bank in Kentucky
The technique to choose plants to attractively secure your hillside is listed in these and also a number of suggestions. Of the ones I found and read about in those discussions, I would suggest:
Grasses/Groundcovers:
Pyrola elliptica (Waxflower shinleaf) [shade]
Cornus canadensis (Bunchberry dogwood)
Rubus pubescens (Dwarf red blackberry)
Schizachyrium scoparium (Little bluestem)
Panicum virgatum (Switchgrass)
Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats)
Andropogon glomeratus (Bushy bluestem)
Shrubs
Mitchella repens (Partridgeberry) [shade]
Cephalanthus occidentalis (Common buttonbush
Gaylussacia baccata (Black huckleberry)
Ilex verticillata (Common winterberry)
Lindera benzoin (Northern spicebush)
From the Image Gallery
More Grasses or Grass-like Questions
Photos of Muhlenbergia rigida (purple muhly)
August 31, 2011 - I have some potential images of Muhlenbergia rigida / Purple Muhley, I would like to share. (at the suggestion of a fellow blogger). Let me know if that plant is needed - thanks!
view the full question and answer
Plants for a sunny sloped roadside in Ohio
May 31, 2010 - I am looking for a solution to a slope that cannot be easily mowed. Our yard is flat until you get about 15 feet from the road at which point it angles up to a small 5 foot area next to the road. I ...
view the full question and answer
Plants for aerobic septic system in Houston
February 03, 2011 - My husband and I would like to plants some trees and shrubs, but we have an aerobic system taking up most of the yard :( Can you recommend any trees that won't hurt that? Also shrubs for our weath...
view the full question and answer
Native grasses for horse grazing in Wichita Falls, TX
September 08, 2009 - What are the best horse grazing grasses to plant in the Wichita Falls, Texas area?
view the full question and answer
Perennial ground cover for hillside in Holmdel NJ
April 25, 2014 - I live in NJ. I would like to use a perennial ground cover for my landscaping bed on a hill with full sun and deer resistant. It's a good size landscaping bed that is facing east (southeast).
What...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |