The erosion control plants maintenance you need to do drops way down once your plants get established on your slope. Most species need regular attention only in the first year or two of growth. After that, you can expect minimal care to keep your planting healthy and working well for you.
In my experience with established plantings, I spend just a few hours each season on maintenance tasks. Spring brings a quick cleanup of dead growth from winter on my slopes. Summer means pulling the occasional weed before it spreads across my planted areas. Fall requires almost nothing but watching the plants go dormant for winter rest.
The first year of caring for slope plants takes the most work from you as the owner. Water your new plants every week during dry spells until their roots grow deep enough to find moisture on their own. Check for dead plants and replace them fast so gaps do not let erosion start again on your slope.
Years two and three need less attention but you cannot ignore your plants just yet. Pull weeds before they go to seed and spread across your whole slope. Watch for bare spots where plants died or thinned out over the winter months. Fill any gaps with new plants to keep full coverage protecting your soil.
Low maintenance erosion plants need almost no care once they fill in your slope after a few seasons. Grasses and spreading ground covers take care of themselves once their roots control the whole area. You may go months without doing any work on a well-established erosion control planting.
Some erosion plant upkeep tasks come up on a regular schedule each year for certain species. Cut back ornamental grasses in late winter before new growth starts in spring. This removes dead stems and lets fresh green shoots grow without fighting through old debris.
Divide spreading perennials like Daylilies every three to four years to keep them healthy and blooming well. Dig up crowded clumps in early spring or fall when plants rest. Split them into smaller pieces and replant across your slope to fill any thin spots you notice.
When I first started, I made the mistake of feeding my erosion plants too much fertilizer each year. The plants grew lots of lush green leaves but their roots stayed weak near the surface. They looked great until a storm washed several right out of the ground where they sat. Now I skip fertilizer and let the plants develop strong roots instead.
Watch for invasive species that try to move into your erosion control planting over time. Tree seedlings and aggressive weeds can crowd out your chosen plants if you let them get started. Pull invaders when they are small before their roots make removal hard work for you.
The key is matching your maintenance level to what your plants need at each stage of growth. Give them lots of care early on when they cannot survive without help from you. Back off as they mature and let them do what nature built them to do. Your reward is a stable slope that takes care of itself for years to come.
Read the full article: 10 Best Erosion Control Plants for Your Landscape
