How quickly do erosion control plants work?
Written by
Paul Reynolds
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.Erosion control plants grow at different rates due to their varying growth and root structure types. Fast-growing ground coverings provide instant surface protection; the slow-growing, deep-rooted perennial types take longer to establish. Knowing the time involved helps in planning the best methods for stabilizing slopes. The time needed for fulfillment will vary, from weeks to years, depending on plant choices and conditions.
Rapid Stabilizers
- Groundcovers: Spread 1-3 feet yearly covering soil quickly
- Grasses: Form dense mats in one growing season
- Examples: Vinca, Stonecrop, Sedges
Moderate Developers
- Shrubs: Establish root networks in 1-2 seasons
- Rhizome spreaders: Expand horizontally each year
- Examples: Dogwood, Sweetspire, Mountainmint
Long-Term Anchors
- Deep-rooted perennials: Require 3+ years for full depth
- Woody taproots: Build strength gradually but permanently
- Examples: Wild Indigo, Baptisia, Mature Trees
Environmental factors significantly influence the growth rates of these species. Sunlight enables a growth rate that is 30-50% higher than shade. Well-drained locations accelerate root extension compared to compact clay. Adequate spring rains will benefit the start of the first year. Select plants that suit your microclimate to ensure optimal growth.
Speed up establishment with strategic planting. Space groundcovers 12 inches apart for quick coverage. Use starter fertilizer only for slow growers. Install erosion blankets on steep slopes to protect young roots. Water deeply but infrequently to encourage downward growth. These techniques can lessen the time frame by 25 percent.
Mix types of vegetation for stages of defense. Have fast-growing grasses established in low-lying areas between slower-growing shrubs or herbaceous plants. The grasses give immediate cover while the shrubs develop. Over time, the more deeply rooted perennials take over for long-term stabilization. Using this layered approach provides a continuous erosion management strategy.
Long-term plant species provide permanent remedies. However, more time-consuming, deep-rooted plant species like Wild Indigo will stabilize slopes with decades of a deep-rooted foundation at no risk of subsurface erosion. This is certainly a waiting game for essential areas.
Read the full article: 10 Best Erosion Control Plants for Your Landscape
