Explore Plants
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.
Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.
rate this answer
Tuesday - October 18, 2011
From: Hempstead, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Seed and Plant Sources, Seeds and Seeding, Soils
Title: Seeding the banks of a large pond
Answered by: Guy Thompson
QUESTION:
I have a 2 acre surface pond that is mostly a hard clay bank all around. The water level is way down and I will begin filling it very soon. I need to somehow being affordable, plant something or things that are native plants that wildlife would enjoy around the pond to help slow down the errosion from happening. Should I use a netting or not with what plants. From Hempstead Texas, please help!!!! BrianANSWER:
A very good source of information on planting around the edges of ponds has been published by the Native American Seed Company (info@seedsource.com). These suggestions include soil preparation as well a suitable plant species. It will be important to loosen up your clay and mix in some compost to hold water and assure that oxygen is permeable into the root zone. Native grasses are best for erosion control. Several useful grasses for preventing erosion were listed in a previous Mr. Smarty Plants answer:
Grasses and grass-like native plants for Central Texas suitable for erosion control:
Bouteloua dactyloides (buffalograss) - full sun
Bouteloua gracilis (blue grama) - full sun
Dasylirion texanum (Texas sotol) - full sun
Hilaria belangeri var. belangeri (curly-mesquite) - full sun
Muhlenbergia lindheimeri (Lindheimer's muhly) - full sun
Nolina texana (Texas sacahuista) - part shade
Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem) - sun or part shade
Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass) - sun, part shade or shade
If your pond slope is steep enough to need an erosion-preventing blanket, Native American Seed also offers that.
Check out the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center how-to article on water gardening for tips on planting aquatic plants in your pond. The following excerpt from another previous Mr. Smarty Plants answer can help with aquatic plant selection: If you need a list of plants to use, go to the Native Plants page of our website. Scroll down to Combination Search and select Texas for the state, and "wet" for soil moisture, you will get a list of 237 native species. Another souce of names is the Aquaplants site of the Texas Agrilife Extension Service at the Texas A&M System that has a list with photos that identifies wetland plants.
For help in locating suppliers, go to our Suppliers Directory and enter your city and state in the appropriate space. You will get a list of nurseries that sell native plants in your area.
The Houston Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) has a directory of nurseries in the Houston area that sell native plants. Of particular interest is Nelson Water Gardens and Nursery that provides plans for ponds and water gardens as well as plants to go in them. Another source for this kind of information is the North Texas Water Garden Society.
Grasses suggested above (from our Image Gallery):
From the Image Gallery
More Seeds and Seeding Questions
Golden groundsel plants or seeds for Bulverde TX
October 02, 2011 - Where can I find golden groundsel, plants or seeds?
view the full question and answer
Garden planning for wedding in Tallahassee
July 18, 2012 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I would love your advice on creating a Wildflower Garden Plan. Earlier this spring in Tallahassee (North Florida). I sowed Wildflowers for the first time to see what would blo...
view the full question and answer
Propagation of Baptisia from Lancaster OH
August 24, 2012 - My Baptisia has gone to seed. When can I plant these seeds? Do they need strat? (zone 5)
view the full question and answer
Severely cutback sloping soil in Dripping Springs TX
May 09, 2010 - We have 5.5 acres off Henly Loop just north of Hwy 290 about 10 miles west of Dripping Springs, TX. The former property owners carved out soil from a sloping area to get soil for the driveway. Doing ...
view the full question and answer
Germination of bluebonnet seeds in Hempstead, TX
April 01, 2008 - We scattered 20 lbs of bluebonnet seeds on our property near Hempstead. Only about 10 plants have come up even though on another part of the property we have thousands. It is well drained and in sun....
view the full question and answer
 |
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends. |
