Native Plants
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Wednesday - June 24, 2009
From: Charlottesville, VA
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Erosion Control, Grasses or Grass-like, Shrubs
Title: Plants for a bank too steep to mow
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Like the inquiry made in late June of 2008, mine involves a bank that is too steep to mow. However, ours is facing south. I am looking for a native grass, plant or groundcover. Any suggestions?ANSWER:
As it happens, Mr. Smarty Plants just answered a question from another Virginian looking for groundcover for a steep bank so I can pass those on to you. Since I don't know your sun/shade situation or you soil type, you will need to compare those to the Growing Conditions listed for each suggested species.
Phlox subulata (moss phlox) grows in sun and part shade, is evergreen and spreads quickly.
Phlox nivalis (trailing phlox) would also be good.
Artemisia ludoviciana (white sagebrush) is semi-evergreen and grows in dry soils.
Cornus canadensis (bunchberry dogwood) requires moist soil.
Mitchella repens (partridgeberry) grows in part shade and shade.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (kinnikinnick) grows slowly.
The following are grasses and a sedge. If you are having trouble with, or have had, erosion on your slope, grasses with their fibrous roots are very good at holding the soil:
Muhlenbergia schreberi (nimblewill) grows in part shade and shade.
Muhlenbergia cuspidata (plains muhly) grows in sun.
Carex texensis (Texas sedge) grows in sun and part shade.
You can find more possibilities for grasses by doing a COMBINATION SEARCH in our Native Plant Database and selecting Virginia from the Select State or Province category, 'Grass/Grass-like' from Habit (general appearance) and choices to match your site from Light requirement and Soil Moisture.
If your site is sunny, then Bouteloua dactyloides (buffalograss) might be ideal for it since does not grow tall and requires little watering. Here is more information about buffalograss from LawnCare.net.
More Erosion Control Questions
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February 21, 2014 - QUESTION:
Please reconsider this question that I sent to you last week. Our home address is in Bastrop County, but the Blanco River property that we own is in Hays County near Wimberley.
Our proper...
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Plants to prevent erosion in clay soil in Heron, NY
September 07, 2009 - What plants could be used to plant on clay soil, Eastern exposure in full sun to stop erosion on a bay side hill with a steep grade?
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Native plants for erosion control in South Dakota
December 04, 2008 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants: I live in the Black Hills of South Dakota at about 5000 feet ASL. My house is on a steep hill. I had to clear a perimeter around my house of all the pine trees for fire supp...
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Erosion control after loss of large trees
July 19, 2007 - Our steep 40' river bank (NY near eastern shore of Lake Ontario - zone 4) has recently lost two 50' oaks, leaving enormous holes in the bank itself where they tore out. What should we do immediately...
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Plants to control hillside erosion in Virginia.
November 21, 2007 - Good Morning, Mr Smarty Plants, I need your advice and guidance.
I live in a condo complex in Virginia and we have a hill/slope that is eroding. It also has two very nice tall trees that partially sh...
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