Native Plants
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Friday - February 07, 2014
From: Lorton, VA
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Erosion Control, Groundcovers, Grasses or Grass-like, Trees
Title: Erosion Solution for Lorton, VA
Answered by: Larry Larson
QUESTION:
We have a steep slope in our common area of our homeowners association. Trees that were planted have died. It is a large area around a pond. What should we plant that will hold the soil? The soil has a lot of clay. Should we also put some topsoil on top? Some members want to install a drip sprinkler system, but others think this will add to the erosion.ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants has a solution to all of this controversy with the use of native plants to landscape this area. One of the finer properties of native plants is that they have developed in their environment to not need any irrigation or exceptional care. To combat the erosion, we suggest grasses or shrubs that have extended root systems, those will help hold the soil in place and reduce erosion.
Here is a selection of previous Mr. Smarty Plants Questions and Answers which address questions similar to yours:
Stabilizing a lakeside slope from Bracey, VA
Riverbank retention in VA
Native Groundcovers for Spartanburg, SC
Erosion Control for a NC Clay Slope
These all have similar enough lists of grasses and sedges that I think you can find a reasonable set of erosion resistant plants from these. You also mentioned that all the trees that were planted died. This link is to the Recommended Species list for Virginia. If you use the “Narrow the list” capability on the right hand side – you will find nine shrubs that will thrive in full sun and 33 different trees. All of these will be well adapted, but will need a little bit of support in the first years as they get established. The Wildflower Center also has some advice for planting trees and getting them established, this can be found in the “How-to Articles" and the “Step by Step Guides”. By the way, there should be no need for irrigation once they get going!
Here’s a few pictures of plants that are on these lists I supplied – I think you can find some likely candidates amongst them!
From the Image Gallery
More Groundcovers Questions
Native, full-sun, 4-in. evergreen grasses for Leander TX
November 07, 2011 - Help! I need a native Texas evergreen sedge/grass/ground cover for full-sun/hot/dry area between sidewalk and street. The plants will need to be kept about 4" high, if growth is higher it must be mow...
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Groundcover for Lighthouse Point FL
April 13, 2012 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants:
I am looking for mowable ground cover for part of my back yard. Due to a Mahogany tree, a hammock, surrounding foliage and a fence, there is alot of shade in the area, alon...
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Groundcover for under oak in Plano, Texas
May 15, 2009 - I live in Plano Texas USA. I have a huge live oak tree in my front yard and a large Cape Myrtle as well under these trees no grass will grow so we have dirt or mud when it rains. Fact is the front y...
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Salt-tolerant groundcover for shade with no water supply
September 11, 2013 - We have a home in Neptune Beach (Jacksonville) Florida (NE Florida).
We have a large area outside our ground floor master bedroom that is completely covered (there is a large solid deck above it). ...
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Compatibility of mixed ground covers with St. Agustine grass
March 04, 2015 - My husband and I live in Northwest Austin. We have removed lawn from our front yard and replaced it with mulch and some trees and other plantings.
We would like to replace the lawn in our backyard ...
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