Native Plants
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Smarty Plants Question Topics
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
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| Plants for erosion control in IL April 21, 2011 Steep 40ft slope in rural Illinois with Sandy soil. Recently several trees slid down this slope due to wet conditions. We need any inexpensive plants to hold the hillside in check before erosion creep... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for a windbreak on a slope in OH April 20, 2011 Have property at the top of a valley with a steep drop off. Would like to know native to NE Ohio ground covers, grasses perennials, and not too tall trees for windbreak that will prevent erosion. The ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Preventing erosion on a sloping lot April 16, 2011 I am trying to find a native plant to use on a sloped area in my back yard to help prevent the slope from eroding away (zone 7- N. Atlanta, GA). I want something evergreen, between 6 to 30 inches tal... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Solution for erosion on steep slope in California April 14, 2011 Dear Mr.Smarty Plants, I have a serious hillside problem in Santa Cruz County resulting from the recent deluge of rain. Steep to sheer now with no plants left on it after the hill slide washed to th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Stabilizing a steep slope in KY 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... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants to prevent riverbank erosion in VA March 05, 2011 Looking for a plant to prevent erosion on a riverbank on the Rappahannock River in Virginia. Prefer something low, bank is a bit steep for regular mowing but could be mowed infrequently. Riverbank h... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native grasses for erosion control in the state of Washington December 16, 2010 Which native grasses do you suggest for maximum erosion control in my area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Erosion control on partially shaded slope November 27, 2010 Mr. Smarty Plants, I live in Atlanta, GA. My house is on a hill, and I am beginning to have erosion at my backyard porch (concrete slab, on the corners especially). The soil is mainly red clay, a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| California native bunch grasses good for erosion control November 21, 2010 In response to your answer about deep rooted native plants good for erosion control, don't forget to include native bunchgrasses. here in California, our bunchgrasses have roots that go 10ft, 20ft de... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for steep slope in California November 13, 2010 Where do I find out about the specific root structure of various California native plants? Are there shrubs that have tap roots & hence are good for steep slopes? The genus of any such plants that y... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for erosion control along creek in South Carolina October 26, 2010 We have a creek that runs thru our property and it is eroding our rip rap. The creek runs head on into an embankment which is causing the worse issue. Is there anything we can plant to help stop the e... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need erosion control in Granite Falls, NC October 11, 2010 In Granite Falls, NC we have a sloping area at the end of the driveway that needs plants that will keep the ground from eroding. What do you suggest? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants to prevent riverbank erosion in NY October 03, 2010 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I'm doing research into riverbank erosion in Broome County, NY, and I was wondering if you had some sort of resource that would be able to tell me which species of grasses... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for Erosion Control on Lake Bank in Wahpetan,IA September 20, 2010 We have a steep 15 to 20 foot high bank on the glacial formed lake, West Okoboji. We are experiencing erosion and would like a solution to prevent further erosion. We have wild roses, sumac, wild qui... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need Native Plants for Ditch Stabilization in Texarkana, Arkansas September 14, 2010 I live in Texarkana, Arkansas. I have a ditch near the street in my front yard that is approximately 90-100 ft. long. It gets full sun. There is a lot of clay and rocks in the ditch. I need to fin... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for controlling erosion in Fairmont WV August 30, 2010 I'm interested in finding native plants, either perennials or grasses, that would help control erosion on a fairly steep slope. The area is partly shaded. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Erosion control plants for Burleson TX August 28, 2010 I live just outside of Fort Worth and I have an area of my yard that is steeply sloped. I would like some type of plant or grass that can be used to control erosion and not need to be cut too often, i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for erosion control in sun in Canton PA August 03, 2010 We just cleared a bank and need native plants and shrubs to grow for erosion control. Much sun. Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Holding soil on a bank in Goldsboro, NC July 25, 2010 I live in Goldsboro, NC on a small ridge with a very steep bank on one side of our property. What native plants can we plant on the bank to help hold the soil. Also, what would be best to plant on t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for difficult site in Jacksonville, TX July 07, 2010 East Texas (Cherokee County) red clay hillside, hard-packed, difficult to get to, 40' of it slopes 4' down in about 6'! Another 30' of it is flat. Between the hillside and the flat clay area is a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for bridge foundation erosion control in WV . July 05, 2010 There is a stream on my property that I must cross to get to my house from the road (stream is about 6 - 8 feet wide, with 5 to 6 foot banks). I've recently had to have the bridge repaired, and the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for steep slope in shade in Iowa July 02, 2010 I work for a small non-profit shelter here in Dubuque, Ia. that has a very steep slope behind the building that needs some sort of plant or grass planted to stop erosion. The slope gets little to no s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Grasses for moist, steep hillside in Tupelo MS July 01, 2010 I have a very steep bank that I have pampas grass planted in spots. It must be a natural spring in the bank because it stays very wet and runs into the street below. Can you suggest something to pla... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for a steep slope in New York June 27, 2010 We just installed a swimming pool in our back yard, which is at the top of a south facing slope. After the pool was installed the slope is now 3 ft higher and very steep (unmowable). I'd guess steepe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Erosion control in West Union IA June 22, 2010 Erosion control and native grasses/plants for steep, shady slope in northeast Iowa. We are building a house in northeast Iowa (near West Union in Fayette County). The road that was graded to the ho... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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