The past couple of years here in Western North Carolina, we’ve seen our fair share of rain. With more flooding and heavy rainfall affecting us here in the mountains as of late, you may be noticing that your lawn has been eroding at record speed and you’re wondering what you can do to keep it from continuing as well as how you can help to prevent it from happening again in the future.
Fortunately, there are many great plants that you can grow around your home where erosion is the worst and help negate some of the effects of erosion. Although it may be hard to keep erosion from happening completely, using some of these plants we’re about to discuss below can help your efforts tremendously. Many of these are low maintenance and some even offer a little visual interest to your property.
The best plants for erosion control are ground covers and shrubs that are vigorous growers and have a root system effective at holding back soil on a hill. Spreading foliage is ideal because it can help combat the effects of heavy rain and can slow down the velocity of such rains. If you live where deer frequent, you may want to consider deer resistant varieties which most of the ones we’re about to suggest, are. You want to have a nice balance of beauty and practicality yet also be aware of plants that do the best in your current zone which is likely 6b, 7, 7a, 7b, and possibly 8 if you’re closer to the South Carolina border and their care needs which we can also help with!
1. Creeping junipers- a lovely, evergreen shrub, creeping junipers are a short shrub that enjoy a lot of sun. They’re cold hardy and adaptable to many regions in the U.S. Because they are evergreens, they will bless your lawn with splashes of color even in the winter months when many other plants have died off. There are several varieties of creeping junipers, so finding the one that best suits your tastes and growing zone is paramount for its success.
2. Forsythia- a brightly colored shrub that hosts pretty yellow flowers in the spring months, forsythia is a great option for helping with erosion control. They do get taller than other bushes but can be pruned back as needed to keep them manageable and from taking centerstage from other plants on your property. They are one of the best options for erosion control as they grow quickly and have large, tough roots that can grip onto the soil below and retain it well. A variety that is a “weeping” form will lay roots wherever the branches touch the ground (much like tomato plants!) and sprawl out, making them ideal for this purpose.
3. Purple Dead Nettle- a commonly found and almost native plant, introduced to the U.S by the Europeans known as dead nettle, works well as ground cover, as it is vigorous and very low maintenance. Featuring a host of delicate looking purple flowers, this plant prefers full sun to light shade and moist, fertile soil. This plant also has medicinal properties and is occasionally used as an astringent, anti-fungal, and as a poultice for wounds and cuts.
4. Creeping Myrtle- In contrast to some of the plants on this list, this erosion control plant prefers shade over lots of sun. It’s a short ground cover plant that has small purple flowers on it and its ironically drought tolerant. They like hillsides and do well in areas that may be less accessible to the homeowner for maintenance and can work well as a “set it and forget it” plant on your property.
5. Rockspray Cotoneaster- another option from the shrub family, Rockspray Cotoneaster is a fall season specialty that has rich green foliage and beautiful little red berries that appear in the fall. It’s similar to forsythia in that it puts down roots where the branches touch the ground, and also has large, tough roots that help to retain soil. They don’t get much taller than 3 feet and can also be pruned back if they get too exuberant.
Interested in more information about best plants for erosion control? Sure thing! Check out The Spruce which has a great article on great erosion control plants!
Looking to help prevent erosion on your property but not sure where to start or how to choose the right plants for erosion control? No problem, we do! If you’re looking for a practical and natural way to reduce erosion, call us! We’re happy to talk with you and set up a consultation to find exactly what you need for your yard. We offer free consultations and can also discuss other lawn needs or questions you may have, as well as our turf care program for maintenance of your new erosion control bushes and shrubs! For more information on what we offer and how to contact us, click here!