Shade Tolerant Ground Cover to Stop Stormwater Erosion
bettywiener
10 years ago
Featured Answer
Comments (59)
agardenstateof_mind
10 years agoedlincoln
10 years agoRelated Discussions
Ground Cover - South Facing Steep Slope
Comments (8)You definitely have a problem. The only thing that will completely stabilize your slope is clump forming grasses - they have roots that go at least 15 feet down, virtually everything else has surface roots. And many clumping grasses will tolerate clay soil and full sun. But they don't give a groomed garden look. They can look neat and tidy but that involves a lot of work on your part, and slopes are hard to work on. If this was my problem I would aim for a wildflower meadow look with plenty of tall grasses to try to keep things stable and I would add in the daylilies, black eyed susans and such to keep something blooming all summer long. I have seen slopes covered in Verbena so some people make that work. It always dies out after a few years in my yard. Some forms of it are amazingly winter hardy and pretty much bloom year round. I have seen slopes covered in blue rug junipers also. I love the easy maintenance but you have to remove every speck of grass or weeds because they can overpower the shrubs and weeding on a steep slope is difficult. Also, any shrub is going to need a lot of watering to get it established and if this summer is a dry one, that will be hard to do. If the clay is holding up and not washing downhill you may not need to worry about erosion control at first. It all depends on just how steep your slope is. If you live in a neighborhood where a wildflower meadow out front won't go over well you could choose one type of plant and cover the entire slope with it. That mass of uniformity will look managed and planned and hopefully solve your problem and depending on what you grow could be virtually maintenance free....See MoreQuick groundcover for large area to stop erosion
Comments (1)Have you considered the chameleon plant, Houttuynia Cordata? I have the same problem as you, only on a smaller scale. I'm in the process of buying and trading for it right now. Read up on it~there's a lot of info out there, a lot negative because it is so invasive. Good luck...See MoreGround cover for erosion control in zone 7
Comments (1)If you live in the greater Seattle area or anywhere close to Puget Sound, you are zone 8. Zone 7 is not until you are up in the Cascade foothills. Woody groundcovers are the best for erosion control and these are never available by seed. A 75 degree slope is extremely steep and I would suggest using geotextiles to secure the slope before planting. Plants that could work for you are kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), bearberry (Cotoneaster dammeri), creeping raspberry (Rubus calycinoides), salal (Gaultheria shallon) and low Oregon grape (Mahonia repens). All will tolerate partial shade, all are evergreen and the kinnikinnick, salal and Oregon grape are native plants so minimal maintenance required once established. Another excellent plant for slope stabilization that is not a groundcover is our native western sword fern, Polystichum munitum....See MoreShade tolerant ground cover or compact rose suggestions please
Comments (35)Wow Kristine yours is so lovely. I think your idea will turn out amazing. Looking forward to seeing lots of pictures. I have been wanting to have some nice urns spilling over with roses (need to wait until I am home permanently to be able to water them). I think this rose would fit that role beautifully. Actually I think the size and the habit of this rose means it can be fit into every garden =)....See Morejcalhoun
10 years agokelp
10 years agoCarrie B
10 years agoprincessgrace79
10 years agoIanW Zone 5 Ont. Can.
10 years agoLiz
10 years agodocmom_gw
10 years agoDeborah lippitt
8 years agowisconsitom
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoZachS. z5 Platteville, Colorado
8 years agowisconsitom
8 years agoUser
8 years agowisconsitom
8 years agoUser
8 years agowisconsitom
8 years agoUser
8 years agoZachS. z5 Platteville, Colorado
8 years agoUser
8 years agoZachS. z5 Platteville, Colorado
8 years agowisconsitom
8 years agoZachS. z5 Platteville, Colorado
8 years agowisconsitom
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoUser
8 years agoZachS. z5 Platteville, Colorado
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agowisconsitom
8 years agowantonamara Z8 CenTex
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoZachS. z5 Platteville, Colorado
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agowantonamara Z8 CenTex
8 years agoUser
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agowantonamara Z8 CenTex
8 years agowisconsitom
8 years agowantonamara Z8 CenTex
8 years agowisconsitom
8 years agoUser
8 years agoZachS. z5 Platteville, Colorado
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agowisconsitom
8 years agoUser
8 years agowisconsitom
8 years agowantonamara Z8 CenTex
8 years agowisconsitom
8 years agoZachS. z5 Platteville, Colorado
8 years agowantonamara Z8 CenTex
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agowisconsitom
8 years agoUser
8 years agoedlincoln
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoUser
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoUser
8 years agolast modified: 8 years ago
Related Stories
LANDSCAPE DESIGNHow Grading Shapes the Ground and Manages Stormwater
Understand how an overall grading plan provides a framework for a great landscape design
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNTo Manage Stormwater Sustainably, Understand Your Site
Follow this guide to learn how water moves through your landscape and how best to manage it
Full StoryLAWN ALTERNATIVESTry Adaptable, Shade-Tolerant Sedges for a Grasslike Look
These native ground covers from around the U.S. thrive in shady areas where lawns suffer — and you don’t have to mow them
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDES6 Native Ground Covers for Tough, Dry Spots
Sun beating down on your sandy gravel? Thick shade darkening your clay soil? There’s a ground cover here for you
Full StoryFLOWERS AND PLANTS8 Essential Native Ground Cover Plants for the Southeast
These low-growing ferns, shrubs and palms blanket the ground to help with erosion and soil moisture
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGreat Design Plant: Bugle Weed, a Quick Ground Cover
It’s highly adaptable, suppresses weeds, reduces erosion and provide weeks of bright flowers. Just watch for invasiveness
Full StoryGROUND COVERSGround Force: 10 Top Ground Covers for Your Garden
Protect your soil from weeds and drought this summer with a living mulch of ground covers
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGN6 Great Ways With Garden Ground Covers
Use them as problem solvers, weed killers, color and texture providers ... ground cover plants have both practical and visual appeal
Full StoryGROUND COVERS10 Succulents That Make Pretty, Easy-Care Ground Covers
These low-growing succulents create interest in the drought-tolerant garden
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNLandscaping Tricks to Manage Stormwater Runoff
Help rainwater absorb slowly back into the earth with paving grids, gravel beds and other porous systems
Full Story
ZachS. z5 Platteville, Colorado