Native Plants
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Saturday - June 19, 2010
From: Groveton, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Edible Plants, Erosion Control, Grasses or Grass-like, Herbs/Forbs, Shrubs
Title: Plants to prevent erosion on slope in Texas
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
We have an erosion problem developing on the low side of a gently sloping hill. We are in clay soil at the base of the hill with oaks and pines. We have a right of way that is without trees forty feet wide running parallel along the county road with ditches along side of the road.It is where the treeless right of way and ditches meet that we are developing gullies. The soil at the base of the hill is heavy clay while only about 350 yards away at the top of the hill there is 3 feet of sand! We are willing to plant grass, wildflowers, vines, anything that can survive on half day of sunlight and poor soil conditions. Sure we would prefer something pretty and wildlife friendly but right now we we just want something that works to prevent a minor to medium problem from developing into a major problem. Great website by the way, I am happy to be a member.ANSWER:
Thank you for your kind words and we are very happy that you are a member!
Grasses with their extensive fibrous root systems are ideal plants to use for erosion control. Here are several candidate grasses for Trinity County:
Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama)
Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)
Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass)
Muhlenbergia capillaris (hairawn muhly)
The Houston Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas has a list of Native Plants for Erosion Control. One suggestion from that list that might be appealing is Rubus trivialis (southern dewberry). They would do a great job of controlling erosion and could produce fruit for pies, jams and jellies, or just for eating. Here are others from that list:
Physostegia angustifolia (narrowleaf false dragonhead) for spring blooms.
Physostegia virginiana (obedient plant) is a fall bloomer.
Hibiscus coccineus (scarlet rosemallow)
Hibiscus moscheutos (crimsoneyed rosemallow)
Kosteletzkya virginica (Virginia saltmarsh mallow)
More Erosion Control Questions
Grasses for Erosion control in Iowa
September 27, 2012 - We have a sloping yard in the midwest that gets 2-4 hours of sun during the warm weather. When we have large rainfalls, the water just pours down the slope causing a lot of erosion to the surrounding ...
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Erosion control in Grayson, LA
May 02, 2010 - We live in northern Louisiana. We have a small hill beside our carport that washes. What can we plant to help keep this from washing that will stay green all year long?
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Erosion control from Lakeland FL
November 03, 2012 - What native Ground cover is best for erosion control on slope of lake-front? Prefer not too invasive for this northern facing area behind a seawall and near large Oak tree.
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Grasses for a pasture in Hays County, Texas with horses
March 20, 2015 - I intend to sow grass seed over a few acres of pasture on which I'll have a couple of horses in Driftwood, TX. I'd like to know what variety of seed(s) would be most beneficial to the land - and th...
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Plants for erosion control on steep bank in Ohio
June 10, 2008 - Another erosion question: We bought a place a year and a half ago with a stream/road run off at the back of our property. The southern exposure bank is quite high, I'm guessing 12 feet and therefor...
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