3 Plants You Can Use To Control Erosion In Your Landscape

Gentle slopes and hills make your landscape look pretty appealing, and can give you all kinds of opportunities for dimensional planting. The only problem is, those same rolling hills and slopes that you admire about your property can be a thorn in any landscaper's side because they can contribute to terrible issues with erosion. Problems with erosion can be far more than just unsightly, they can also make it hard for some types of plants to retain a stable root system and grow. However, there are a few good plants you can implement into a sloped landscape that will naturally help prevent problems with erosion. 

Wildflowers 

Native wildflowers are some pretty resilient plant formations that are accustomed to the local conditions and grow pretty heartily, regardless of soil stability. Wildflowering plants tend to have shallow root systems, which means they will take root in thinned layers of sloped soil without an issue. Once the plants are established, the shallow root system helps to ward off and even absorb some of the excess moisture when it rains. Therefore, the ground will not be as disrupted by the movement of water and you will see fewer issues with erosion. 

Ivy 

Fast-growing and dense, ivy is one of those plants that some homeowners shy away from because it can be a little harder to contain than some plant types. Just the same, ivy varieties usually make a really good option in areas that have issues with soil erosion. Ivy plant types build a root system that is much different than usual plants; it is far more widespread and abundant to support the spreading vines and leaves. Because of this, ivy creates a natural layer of protection in the soil that deters problems with soil erosion caused by moisture on sloped areas. 

Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental grasses can be used as everything from a landscape border and containment plant to an accent plant to draw attention to specific areas. However, ornamental grasses also work well on sloped areas to help control erosion issues. These grasses tend to grow in clumps at the base and down through the root system. The clump at the base is actually a spongy tangle of roots that absorbs and holds moisture to feed the grass during dry periods. This means the clumped base of ornamental grasses tend to be highly absorbant, and, therefore, they work really well to capture excess moisture in the soil. 

To learn more, contact a company like Bark Blowers & Hydroseeding Inc.