Living on the hillside is what everyone dreams of, and the thought of owning a garden there serves as the icing on the cake. But what if your aesthetic garden starts eroding because of natural agents? Your dream turns into your worst nightmare, isn’t it?
So, what’s the right thing to do at the right time? All you need is to buy the best erosion control plants when planning a garden for those uneven, hilly areas. This article is a complete erosion control plant selection and buying guide.
I know what nudges you inside — do plants work as erosion controllers? Well, we can’t find the answer unless we read ahead, right? Let’s get going!
Can Plant Act as Erosion Controllers?
Does a plant alone prevent steep surfaces and coasts from erosion? Yes, it does, but before we tell you which ones, let’s answer how they do it.
First, know what erosion is — the process of breaking and carrying the soil or rock through water or wind, which causes degradation of land.
More importantly, it damages the topsoil and results in loss of nutrients. Of these, erosion results in water pollution and poor soil drainage. Here’s how plants act as erosion controllers.
Plants bind soil together with their root system and act as a protective layer in several ways. For instance:
Placing plants firmly in the ground slows water flow since the stem act as a thick barrier.
Also, plants protect soil from rainfall by breaking the raindrop’s impact before it hits the soil.
Plant roots hold soil in place, which makes it harder to wash away accidentally.
By growing plants such as groundcovers, trees, grasses, and shrubs, you can prevent erosion.
10 Best Hillside Erosion Control Plants To Buy
The plants that can control erosion must be vigorous, appealing, and challenging root systems effective at holding back soil on high ground.
Here’s a list of plants best known for erosion control:
Black Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus Nigrescens)
Black mondo grass grows up to 1 foot tall in zone 6 to 9, with leaves 12 inches long. This plant has black grass-like blades and is tolerant of sun or partial shade.
Ophiopogon planiscapus produces white bell-shaped flowers in summer, and when the flowers get fade, this plant puts on glossy dark purple berries.
Japanese Spurge
Pachysandra terminalis or Japanese spurge is a ground cover for shade. This 6 inches short plant grows best in zones 5 – 9 and looks attractive with yellow spots on dark green leaves. Japanese spurge helps prevent soil erosion. In the early spring, this plant produces 2 inches tall flower spikes.
Creeping Myrtle (Vinca Minor)
An evergreen plant that is 3 – 6 inches short and grows in zone 4 – 8. Unlike creeping junipers, creeping myrtle is one of the ground covers for shade. People living at hillsides often find it problematic to water the plants.
Planting vinca minor will solve this problem. The feature that makes this plant ideal for hilly areas is that it is naturally drought tolerant. Hence, requires less care.
Creeping Phlox
If you live in zones 3 -9, then this plant is right for you to pick. Creeping phlox continue to creep until it forms a beautiful carpet that helps keep soil in place. With just 6 inches long, this plant prefers to grow in the sun and produce flowers with shades varying from reddish-purple or pink to white.
Forsythia
Besides ground covers, consider shrubs when trying to stop erosion. Shrubs can strike bigger, tougher roots down into the soil. Forsythia is a shrub with lots of benefits. It has 11 species that grow from 3 feet to 11 feet in zone 5 – 8.
Forsythia suspensa (weeping form) has a robust root system which makes them perfect at retaining soil.
Creeping Junipers
In contrast with creeping myrtle, creeping junipers like a lot of suns. These are short ground covers (only 1 foot tall) and, like creeping phlox grows in zone 3 -9. Creeping junipers have several distinct cultivars. Below is the list of some;
“Prince of Whales” J. Horizontalis: this variety is one of the shortest with only 6 inches tall.
“Lime Glow” J. Horizontalis: If you like yellowish-green foliage, then this one’s for you.
Horizontalis Wilton (“Blue Rug” ): famous for its blue foliage.
Rockspray Cotoneaster
Among other shrubs, rock spray cotoneaster is best at fighting erosion. Rock spray (being suited to zones 5 – 7) is only 3 feet tall but spreads and puts out tenacious roots that stabilize the ground on a slope.
Spotted Dead Nettle
This shade-loving plant grows up to 8 inches tall in hardy zone 4 to 8. It has a 3- feet spread and a root system that helps control erosion. The spotted dead nettle has silvery leaves and pretty flowers that are usually purple or white. The color of the flowers depends on the cultivar.
Ostrich Ferns
If you are looking for a plant that grows at a damp hillside, then ferns are a great choice when planting for humid places as they can tolerate wet soils.
Ostrich ferns are up to 3 feet in height and grow in zones 3-8. You can use ferns to minimize erosion as well as they are excellent for retaining soil.
Border grass
This perennial (1 foot tall) grows in partial shade. Liriope spicata may look like ornamental grass, but it belongs to the lily family. Its variegated cultivar silver dragon adds foliage to the impact already made by the plant’s flower spikes.
Plant Wisely
So, you see? Natural factors cause erosion and we can’t stop it from happening.
But what is in our hands is to select those plant types that are great at controlling erosions. Besides controlling erosion, they benefit the environment by reducing pollutants and maintaining soil integrity.
Without erosion control plants, ecosystems nearby wildlife and residential properties can suffer long-term damage. Don’t know where you can find the best erosion control plants to buy?
Visit our website to buy the best erosion control plants, which help you maintain garden aesthetic with practicality!
