Vegetation for Erosion Control
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Posted by Robert Dailey Jul 26, 2007 |
Dry, desert soils are extremely prone to erosion, particularly on hillsides or on slopes. In fact, flash floods are generally caused by rainwater running unhampered and unchecked down slopes.
Because this water gathers momentum as it travels downward, it becomes a powerful gouging tool, carrying topsoil away, creating arroyos and erosion holes, and denuding the land of any vegetation that may have been trying to get a start there.
Water running downhill becomes almost unstoppable. In fact, it is better (and easier) to slow it down than to stop it.
There are many ways to control erosion. And vegetation is one way to help. But in order to get the best erosion control in desert environments, you must use plants that can grow in poor soil and are drought-tolerant.
Trees and shrubs
- Chamissa or Rabbitbush (Adenostoma fasciculatum). This plant, which grows wild over much of the southwest, is a tough veteran of desert terrains. It sports light grayish-green, fuzzy leaves. In the spring it is covered with striking tiny white flowers.
- Manzonita (Arctostaphylos spp.). This plant can be found growing wild in many desert canyons throughout the southwest. It has a very deep root system and produces beautiful flowers in the spring.
- Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium). One of the hardiest, fastest growing, drought-tolerant and poor-soil-loving plants. This plant will only grow about a foot high (including the flower spikes), but it is extremely fast growing, and will spread rapidly. It is excellent for planting on slopes and will go far in stopping erosion.
- Coastal sagebrush, Artemesia, wormwood (Artemesia californica). This plant loves extremely dry areas. It also smells great, especially when the leaves are rubbed between the hands.
- Apache plume (Fallugia paradoxa) Apache plume is an extraordinarily tough plant and will grow well in almost any soil. In summer it sports pinkish-white tufted flowers.
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