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Thursday - June 05, 2008
From: Jackson, MI
Region: Southeast
Topic: Erosion Control
Title: Groundcover plants for slope to prevent erosion
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Hi, I have just made a 3/4 acre pond and the south facing slope is too steep to mow.Can you suggest any ground cover plants I could use to look nice and prevent erosion.ANSWER:
Grasses are excellent plants to use for erosion control because their fibrous root systems are very effective in holding the soil. Since I don't know what your available sunlight is for the slope, i will recommend some species with various sun requirements. Partial shade = 2-6 hours of sunlight per day. Shade = <2 hours of sunlight per day. These grasses that I am recommending can grow to heights of 1 to 4 feet. However, they are all attractive when they are mature and brown as well as when they are green so you shouldn't you need to mow them.Grasses
Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama) sun, part shade, shade
Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats) part shade, shade
Elymus virginicus (Virginia wildrye) part shade
Sedges are grasslike but don't grow as tall as grasses—both of these grow to around 1 foot. They have the advantage of being evergreen and also having fibrous roots.
Carex blanda (eastern woodland sedge) evergreen, sun, part shade, shade
Carex cherokeensis (Cherokee sedge) evergreen, part shade
Ferns are also an alternative if there is enough moisture available.
Asplenium platyneuron (ebony spleenwort) evergreen, shade and part shade
Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas fern) evergreen, sun, part shade
Finally, here is a low, woody shrub that does well on pond margins and bogs.
Gaylussacia dumosa (dwarf huckleberry) semi-evergreen, part shade
You can also go to our Recommended Species page and choose Mississippi from the map to see a list of commerically available native plants suitable for planned landscapes.
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