Native Plants
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Saturday - June 19, 2010
From: Groveton, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Edible Plants, Erosion Control, Grasses or Grass-like, Herbs/Forbs, Shrubs
Title: Plants to prevent erosion on slope in Texas
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
We have an erosion problem developing on the low side of a gently sloping hill. We are in clay soil at the base of the hill with oaks and pines. We have a right of way that is without trees forty feet wide running parallel along the county road with ditches along side of the road.It is where the treeless right of way and ditches meet that we are developing gullies. The soil at the base of the hill is heavy clay while only about 350 yards away at the top of the hill there is 3 feet of sand! We are willing to plant grass, wildflowers, vines, anything that can survive on half day of sunlight and poor soil conditions. Sure we would prefer something pretty and wildlife friendly but right now we we just want something that works to prevent a minor to medium problem from developing into a major problem. Great website by the way, I am happy to be a member.ANSWER:
Thank you for your kind words and we are very happy that you are a member!
Grasses with their extensive fibrous root systems are ideal plants to use for erosion control. Here are several candidate grasses for Trinity County:
Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama)
Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)
Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass)
Muhlenbergia capillaris (hairawn muhly)
The Houston Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas has a list of Native Plants for Erosion Control. One suggestion from that list that might be appealing is Rubus trivialis (southern dewberry). They would do a great job of controlling erosion and could produce fruit for pies, jams and jellies, or just for eating. Here are others from that list:
Physostegia angustifolia (narrowleaf false dragonhead) for spring blooms.
Physostegia virginiana (obedient plant) is a fall bloomer.
Hibiscus coccineus (scarlet rosemallow)
Hibiscus moscheutos (crimsoneyed rosemallow)
Kosteletzkya virginica (Virginia saltmarsh mallow)
More Erosion Control Questions
Plants to stop erosion on sandy slope in north central Texas
November 27, 2009 - We have severe erosion problems that lead to a deep ravine.
There are deer in the area and the soil is sandy on a slope. What would be the best long term solution to stop or control this erosion. Th...
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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...
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Need plants to control erosion on a hillside in Nashville, TN.
February 28, 2012 - Recently, a rogue contractor scraped all the sod off of my Tennessee hillside. Now the clay soil is exposed and washing away quickly. The hill slope is approximately 30 degrees. In the spring I'd ...
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Virginia creeper in trees
April 26, 2008 - Can Virginia creeper be allowed to climb on trees--specifically Texas ash and live oak--or will it damage them if allowed to attach itself? We are thinking of using it as erosion control in a greenbe...
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Looking for grasses for slope around retention pond in Florida
August 02, 2011 - I live in St. Petersburg, FL on a large retention pond. Most of my neighbors on the pond have seawalls. I do not nor do my neighbors to my left and right. I am interested in colorful grasses to put...
view the full question and answer
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