Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_00.gif)
Monday - April 23, 2012
From: Mason, MI
Region: Midwest
Topic: Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Drainage pond plantings from Mason MI
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
We have a drainage pond in our back yard. It has a large muddy bank and some steep sides where erosion has started to take its toll. We are looking for some Michigan/Mid-Western native plants that would provide ground cover and erosion control. The area gets full sun and still doesn't dry out (and may flood in times of very heavy rain). Soil is a clay loam in the area.ANSWER:
When we searched on the Internet for "drainage pond," we got a number of references to a "retention pond," so we are assuming they are the same thing.
From the EPA, here is an article on National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, which is about retention ponds.
With that in mind, we have two very similar questions in our queue; one is yours from Michigan and the other from Hendersonville NC. We will change the plant recommendations for North Carolina in the question from that area.
We have some previous Mr. Smarty Plants answers that not only address your question, but have links to some more information. The really good part is that these questions are also from Michigan, so the plant suggestions will be apropos to your situation. Here are the links to previous questions:
More Grasses or Grass-like Questions
Removal of non-native zoysia grass from Burgettstown PA
September 12, 2013 - What is the most effective method of killing zoysia grass? We bought a house that sits in the center of four acres of mature zoysia. It looks beautiful, however, despite our best efforts at "weeding...
view the full question and answer
What is pulling Indian Grass out of a park in Washington DC?
June 29, 2011 - We are renovating a park in Washington, DC on the waterfront. We have planted Sorghastrum Nutans (Indian Grass). During the evening/overnight something is pulling the plants from the ground. It is onl...
view the full question and answer
Plants for a dry hillside in central Texas
March 07, 2010 - We need to plant some plants or grasses on a 3/4 acre sloaping hillside which does not get watered. Any recommendations for native grasses or plants which don't need care and will keep the lot from e...
view the full question and answer
Restoring riverfront from Blanco Flood
October 04, 2015 - We have cleared our riverfront from the Blanco Flood and I am now looking for help in replanting native trees/grass on our property. Our home was in the Flood of Hayes county Memorial Weekend. I am ...
view the full question and answer
Controlling non-native Pennisetum frutescens (Naked fountain grass)
December 07, 2014 - Three years ago I bought a pennisetum frutescans grass from a reputable online nursery. It gets no supplemental water, but it is taking over my yard. It is almost 7 feet wide now. Can you tell me how ...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |