Native Plants
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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
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Tuesday - September 23, 2008
From: Vista, CA
Region: California
Topic: Erosion Control
Title: Groundcover for erosion control
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I live in southern california. What is the best groundcover to plant on a slope to prevent erosion?ANSWER:
Grasses, with their dense fibrous root systems, are one of the best plants to use for erosion control. Here are a few suggested grasses for southern California:Achnatherum hymenoides (Indian ricegrass)
Festuca californica (California fescue)
Koeleria macrantha (prairie Junegrass)
Melica imperfecta (smallflower melicgrass)
Sporobolus airoides (alkali sacaton) and more information
Here are some low-growing shrubs that could be used as groundcovers. These could be used along with the grasses or instead of the grasses. Their height is generally 1 to 3 ft.
Symphoricarpos mollis (creeping snowberry) with more information. This is low-growing shrub that is generally less than 2 feet tall.
Encelia farinosa (brittlebush) with more photos and information
Eriogonum fasciculatum (Eastern Mojave buckwheat) with more information
Mahonia repens (creeping barberry) with more information
More Erosion Control Questions
Groundcover plants for erosion problem in Orlando
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Erosion control for shady slope in Kentucky backyard
August 28, 2013 - I live in northern Kentucky (near Cincinnati). I have an area in my backyard that has slope. It is next to an ash tree and is very shady. Water erosion has washed away the top soil and pretty much no...
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March 31, 2011 - We are building a new home and have a very steep hill behind the home. Our highlift operator just cleared it off - I would say about 15 to 20 feet in height and at least 150 feet in length. What wou...
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