Native Plants

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

rate this answer

Friday - September 18, 2009
From: woodbine, KY
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Erosion Control
Title: Need plants to cover hillside and control erosion in Woodbine, Kentucky
Answered by: Jimmy Mills
QUESTION:
I live in eastern Kentucky. I have a hillside that is full of weeds how do I get rid of the weeds and what can I plant to cover it. This hillside is not walkable. Is there some kind of vine ? There is also erosion.ANSWER:
Hillsides and erosion usually call for native grasses because their fibrous root systems can hold onto the soil particles. Vines generally don't do this so well. When we say grasses, we don't mean the kind of grasses that you mow in your yard, but bunch grasses that are ornamental and can stabilize the soil.
Weeds vary with the beholder; one person's weed may be another's wild flower. What you really need to do is to have someone, for example a landscape architect, take a look at your hillside and make recommendations for plantings and erosion control.
Another source of help could be the folks at the Whitley County Office of the UkAg Extension Service.
This is a list of grass/grass-like plants whose distribution includes Kentucky.
Carex pensylvanica (Pennsylvania sedge)
Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)
Elymus hystrix var. hystrix (eastern bottlebrush grass)
Panicum virgatum (switchgrass)
Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats)
Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass)
More Erosion Control Questions
Need to stabilize a south facing slope in Henderson, NC
April 30, 2010 - Hi, I have a south facing slope that is heavy clay with rock under it. It gets a lot of sun. I have planted a few bushes and some ground cover, but with all the snow and rain we had this past winter, ...
view the full question and answer
Ground cover for shade from Atlanta GA
May 28, 2012 - I am looking for recommendations for a ground cover. I live in the Atlanta, Georgia area and have a large shady slope on which I would like to use low maintenance/water native ground cover. What wou...
view the full question and answer
Erosion Control in Bartlesville OK
May 10, 2012 - What kind of plants can we use to stop erosion and loss of bank on a creek that is mostly shaded? Is there any free advice/plants for people that are losing land due to water levels rising/dropping?
view the full question and answer
Plants to stem bank erosion in Ponder, Texas
May 07, 2010 - We have a pond with a bridge over the middle in full sun with a steep bank on one side. The bank is difficult to maintain and we need some natural looking low maintenance plants or ground cover to pl...
view the full question and answer
Need suggestions for plants for a 45 degree slope in Falls Church, VA.
January 23, 2013 - Have a 45 degree hillside 50 feet wide by 60 feet long on north side of 26 story building. Very little sun with the need for soil retention plants. Would like a native plant or plants to cover area...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |