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Thursday - September 03, 2009
From: Port Tobacco, MD
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Erosion Control
Title: Plants for erosion control in southern Maryland
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Would you recommend a plant that would act as erosion control for woodlands in Southern Maryland? The soil has a high clay content with a mature hardwoods population.The current erosion is significant and I am hoping to plant something soon to reduce the damage.ANSWER:
Grasses are excellent plants to curb erosion because of their extensive fibrous root systems that hold the soil in place. Since you are talking about a woodland setting with mature hardwoods, you will need to consider plants that will tolerate shade or partial shade. Here are some possibilities:Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama)
Andropogon virginicus (broomsedge bluestem)
Bouteloua hirsuta (hairy grama)
Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats)
Elymus canadensis (Canada wildrye)
Paspalum floridanum (Florida paspalum)
Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)
Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass)
Along with the grasses you could add some groundcovers that do well in a partially shaded woodland setting. Here are some that are recommended for Maryland:
Pachysandra procumbens (Allegheny-spurge)
Chrysogonum virginianum (green and gold)
Gaultheria procumbens (eastern teaberry)
More Erosion Control Questions
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I live in Northern Illinois. The creek (northern exposure in a wooded area) on the back of my property has bare muddy banks and is subject to seasonal floods. I want to plant something hardy t...
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June 13, 2008 - I have a huge ditch on my property. The ditch bank is about 5,000 sq ft. There is a lot of erosion and I am looking to correct the problem. Is there any type of SEED, I am not looking to plant mature ...
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Native plants to prevent erosion in Maryland
February 03, 2009 - Please can you recommend native plants for a north-facing slope, under pine trees? I live in Maryland near the border between the Coastal Plain and Piedmont Plateau, where we have cold to mild Winter...
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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...
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