Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

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.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Thursday - April 14, 2011

From: Soquel, CA
Region: California
Topic: Erosion Control
Title: Solution for erosion on steep slope in California
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Dear Mr.Smarty Plants, I have a serious hillside problem in Santa Cruz County resulting from the recent deluge of rain. Steep to sheer now with no plants left on it after the hill slide washed to the road. It was a rather wild hill side before it slid. Poison oak, pampas grass and scotch broom. My concern is to now to stabilize the hillside and prevent further loss of my property which has been taken away in truckloads. I read about your native grasses that reach down up to 15 feet. Which ones do you recommend? I would like to go with natives since it is a large mostly wild area now mud and sandy. Much appreciation for any input you can give me to help solve my problem. Thank you.

ANSWER:

California has been getting an unusually large amount of rain this spring and it sounds as if you got more than your share.  I don't think that we are going to be able offer plants alone to stabilize your slope since it sounds as if it was already covered with plants when your hill slid to the road.  You may need to consider a retaining wall or a series of terraced retaining walls to stabilize the slope.  Las Pilitas Nursery (in Escondido and Santa Margarita) has a useful article, "Simple erosion control for a hillside or garden slope," with advice on solving the problem using native plants and mulches as well as, possibly, retaining walls.  We don't agree completely with their suggestions for plants since they are a bit negative about using grasses.  A monoculture of grasses alone is probably not the best solution but including some native grasses is an excellent choice for controlling erosion because they develop extensive fibrous root systems that hold the soil in place.  In combination with native woody and herbaceous perennial native plants, they would be very effective.  Since I don't know the dimensions of your slope, I can't tell you whether it is feasible for you to  construct a retaining wall (or walls) yourself.  It is possible that you may need to find a landscape specialist to help you.  You can find landscape professionals specializing in native plants for your area by searching in our National Suppliers Directory.

Another possibility is to use erosion-control blankets along with terraced retaining walls to stabilize the erosion area so that seeds have a better chance to germinate and become established. The erosion-control fabric works by slowing the runoff water and allowing sediment to fall out rather than be washed away. Seeds are sown under the erosion-control material and grow up through the matting when they germinate. Underneath the matting the roots of the plants growing through the erosion-control material anchor the soil to stop the erosion. If you use erosion-control blankets made of biodegradable material, they will eventually disappear leaving the plants to control the problem. Seeds can be sown under an erosion control blanket or grass plugs and other plants can be planted by cutting holes through the blanket.  This material is available at most nurseries.

Here are some plants native to Santa Cruz County that would be useful in stabilizing your slope.   You will need to check the GROWING CONDITIONS section for each to see that they match those of your site for sun, soil type and moisture.

Artemisia californica (Coastal sagebrush)

Arctostaphylos glandulosa (Eastwood's manzanita)

Arctostaphylos hookeri (Hooker's manzanita)

Dendromecon rigida (Tree poppy)

Eriogonum fasciculatum (Eastern mojave buckwheat)

Festuca californica (California fescue)

Hordeum jubatum (Foxtail barley)

Koeleria macrantha (Prairie junegrass)

Here are photos from our Image Gallery:


Artemisia californica


Arctostaphylos glandulosa


Arctostaphylos hookeri


Dendromecon rigida


Eriogonum fasciculatum


Festuca californica


Hordeum jubatum


Koeleria macrantha

 

 

 

 

More Erosion Control Questions

Plants for erosion control in Pittsburgh, PA
August 22, 2009 - I have a terraced high side lot(front of house). I currently have Yuccas growing, but they are too invasive. Can you suggest plants, shrubs, or ground covers that are not as invasive and will still ...
view the full question and answer

Smoky Mountains Shaded Slope Plant Suggestions
April 29, 2013 - We live in a very shady spot in Great Smoky Mountains in Western North Carolina. We would like to plant vegetation on a sloped area behind our cottage to stop erosion after building an addition. Our h...
view the full question and answer

Need plants for steep slope in Knoxville, TN.
January 10, 2013 - I have several steep banks that have to be weed-eated each year every week. Do you know if there are any kinds of ground cover that would take over the weeds on these steep dangerous banks. I live in ...
view the full question and answer

Stabilizing a lakeside slope from Bracey, VA
May 24, 2012 - We are trying to beautify and stabilize a relatively large lakeside steep slope with a southern exposure in central Virginia. The soil is characterized by red clay and shale rock. How can we turn this...
view the full question and answer

Recommendations for a steep slope in Arlington, VA
September 10, 2015 - I have a side yard area about 35' long and 10' wide. It is very steep and get full sun. I recently I removed all the weeds down to dirt. I want to do low maintenance plants with mulch.
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.