Native Plants

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Tuesday - September 02, 2014

From: Salem, IN
Region: Midwest
Topic: Erosion Control, Grasses or Grass-like, Shrubs
Title: Erosion Control for Salem IN
Answered by: Brigid & Larry Larson

QUESTION:

We've recently had a new pond dug. It is on a hill side and has some very steep and tall banks. We were advised that our best chance of keeping soil from eroding was to plant fescue. I'm not thrilled about the idea of it and would like something more attractive. Any suggestions?

ANSWER:

Fescues would work, but by themselves – I would agree, not very exciting. When Mr Smarty Plants is asked about erosion solutions, we try to recommend native grasses with nice deep and extensive root system and also shrubs that similarly hold the soil with their root systems.

Here’s a selection of previous answers that Mr. Smarty Plants published about erosion control and groundcover for similar places to Salem, Indiana:

Shady Perennial Groundcover Suggestions for Indiana

Erosion Control for Shady Ditches

Plants for a pond edge in IN

Bioswale for Indianapolis

Native plants for a bioswale in Indianapolis

Need to Stabilize River Bank in Kentucky

The technique to choose plants to attractively secure your hillside is listed in these and also a number of suggestions. Of the ones I found and read about in those discussions, I would suggest:

Grasses/Groundcovers:

Pyrola elliptica (Waxflower shinleaf) [shade]
Cornus canadensis (Bunchberry dogwood)
Rubus pubescens (Dwarf red blackberry)
Schizachyrium scoparium (Little bluestem)
Panicum virgatum (Switchgrass)
Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats)
Andropogon glomeratus (Bushy bluestem)