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

Wednesday - September 26, 2012

From: Round Rock, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Deer Resistant, Erosion Control, Groundcovers
Title: Deer-resistant groundcovers for erosion control
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I need a ground cover (vine??) that will help me with erosion on a sloped front yard. It gets about 6-8 hours of sun and my main need is for something that the rats in our neighborhood will not destroy. By rats in mean the hundreds of deer.. Thanks

ANSWER:

Here are some recommendations for a deer resistant groundcover that will help prevent erosion in Round Rock TX:

GRASSES AND SEDGES:

Bouteloua dactyloides (Buffalograss).  I recommend that you read our "How to Articles"—Native Lawns:  Buffalograss and Native Lawns: Habiturf™ – The Ecological Lawn.

Bouteloua rigidiseta (Texas grama)

Carex blanda (Eastern woodland sedge)

Carex texensis (Texas sedge)

VINES:

Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper)

Ipomoea cordatotriloba var. cordatotriloba (Tievine)

PERENNIAL HERBS:

Phyla nodiflora (Texas frogfruit)

Glandularia bipinnatifida (Purple prairie verbena)

Melampodium leucanthum (Blackfoot daisy)

Oenothera speciosa (Pink evening primrose)

Salvia lyrata (Lyreleaf sage)

 

From the Image Gallery


Buffalograss
Bouteloua dactyloides

Texas grama
Bouteloua rigidiseta

Eastern woodland sedge
Carex blanda

Texas sedge
Carex texensis

Virginia creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Tievine
Ipomoea cordatotriloba var. cordatotriloba

Texas frogfruit
Phyla nodiflora

Prairie verbena
Glandularia bipinnatifida

Blackfoot daisy
Melampodium leucanthum

Pink evening primrose
Oenothera speciosa

Lyreleaf sage
Salvia lyrata

More Erosion Control Questions

Stopping Soil Erosion on a Slope
May 13, 2013 - I live in Bonaire, GA and have a slope in my back yard. The soil is red clay and it gets sun most of the day. A small section of this slope tends to have a mudslide to the bottom of the slope. How ...
view the full question and answer

Plants to prevent erosion in IL
August 02, 2012 - We just got done building a house and have leveled all of the dirt piles. We do have a row of straw bales to help prevent the dirt from washing onto the neighbors property. It is the wrong time of ye...
view the full question and answer

Plants for erosion control on steep bank in Minnesota
October 21, 2008 - I live in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. I have a steep slope in back yard which gets considerable rain runoff from the homes above me. What plants/shrubs/trees could I plant on the slope to stop the...
view the full question and answer

Erosion control in New York
July 21, 2008 - I am in zone 5/4 New York and I recently purchased a house with two erosion problems- 1. a seasonal stream has cut a gorge about 20 'deep X 40' long.Mature hemlocks are toppling into this hole. it i...
view the full question and answer

Will not cutting grass make its roots stronger?
May 27, 2009 - I live on a lake that has a hill. There is some problem with erosion on the hillside. Our association wants us to not cut the grass to stop the erosion. How does not cutting the grass help the roots g...
view the full question and answer

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