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
Seep Muhly in limited sunlight.
July 01, 2015 - Can Seep Muhly withstand just 3 or 4 hours of direct sunlight in an urban setting?
view the full question and answer
When do Habiturf® grasses make seeds?
June 16, 2015 - I planted Habiturf seeds last year near Dripping Springs. It looks like the Buffalo grass has had seeds on it for a week or 2. How long does it need to remain on the live Buffalo Grass before it can b...
view the full question and answer
Native Indiangrass as a hedge
December 13, 2009 - Hi Mr. Smarty Plants,
I would like to create a grass hedge as a foundation planting for a portion of our garden. One side of the planting is a concrete sidewalk to our garden shed, the other side wil...
view the full question and answer
Habiturf lawn for townhouse in Austin
October 06, 2013 - Hi Mr. Smarty Plants,
I live in central Austin and on November 1st I will be moving into a townhome with a small yard of around 500 square feet. The yard has been neglected and currently looks to ...
view the full question and answer
Non-allergenic landscape in Fairfield, CT
April 18, 2009 - I live in Fairfield, CT and need to have a non-allergenic landscape. Can you please list plants, ground covers, and trees/shrubs that would be beautiful, and help in this critical situation? The lan...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |