Managing out of control stormwater takes some real powerful solutions, right?
Walls, maybe, or dams come to mind.
Or plants.
That’s right. Those graceful grasses, lush ground covers, and flowering shrubs aren’t just pretty. They’re a powerful force against erosion — especially if they’re native plants.
North by Northwest division manager Cory Essman offers a dependable dozen native plants to control water runoff here in Central Texas.
But first, a look at why you need them.
When it’s out of control, water can wash away your topsoil, expose your tree roots, damage your buildings; foundations, and carry pollutants into the water system.
Commercial properties have a ton of potential for erosion control problems.
Steep slopes. Construction projects that create large expanses of bare soil. Big expanses of pavement that can’t absorb rainwater, so it quickly ends up flowing from your property right into the groundwater and nearby lakes and streams, taking all sorts of pollutants with it.
Even the weather here in central Texas can contribute to erosion problems. We often get heavy rain after a long drought.
The dry, baked ground can’t soak up the rain fast enough, so it washes the soil away.
Plants look great, but their real power for water control is invisible — underground.
Their roots hold soil together, making it harder to erode.
Plants that spread out cover bare soil, so it isn’t exposed to water.
And the leaves of plants slow down the power of raindrops, preventing the rain from dislodging and eroding the soil.
The best plants for erosion control are sturdy, with a vigorous root system that holds onto soil on a hill. Bonus points if they look great while doing it.
Native plants are perfect.
They have deep, extensive root systems that slow down runoff, reduce soil erosion, and absorb dirty water before it gets into the nearby waterways.
We’re lucky to have some spectacular native plants in Austin, Texas that work great for water control:
Now that you have great plants to control water runoff, where to put them?
Here at North by Northwest, stormwater control is one of our specialties.
If your problem can be controlled by adding plant materials, we’re experts in that.
But we do a lot of other related work, too, which means if you have an erosion control problem and a related drainage issue, (they often go hand in hand) we can fix both.
And if you have other landscaping needs on your commercial property, we can meet those, too.
Look for a company that has a lot of stormwater control tricks up their sleeve.
Are you ready for stress-free landscaping? Schedule a time to meet with one of our experts today. We’ll gather the details, create a customized plan just for you, and you can stop stressing as we improve and beautify your Austin, TX property.
Image Sources: Gulf Muhly, Purple Coneflower, Texas Sage, Mexican Sycamore, Agarita