Succulent Landscaping for Erosion Problems in California

Erosion

• Topsoil washing or flying away in response to climactic events is erosion. Usually, heavy rain removes the soil or wind blows it away during very dry times. When soil is cared for properly and is anchored by plants and other structures, erosion is not a problem. Soil on slopes that are consistently disturbed and thin or rocky soil, however, is prone to erosion. Soil also may be lost when the wrong kinds of plants -- those with roots that do not help contain the soil -- are planted.

Rock Gardens

• If your yard's soil erodes, one of the best ways to help it stay in place is to install some barriers. Large rocks and boulders do the trick and are an effective first step toward an attractive landscape for low-water gardens, or rock gardens, which do well in California. Because succulents are adept at conserving water and look natural in an arid landscape, they are suitable choices for rock gardens. Tuck small succulents into crevices between rocks and allow them to grow there, and use larger succulents as statement pieces.

Living Mulch

• Dry soil is much more likely than wet soil to blow away. Succulents provide double-duty when used as living mulch: They help soil stay in place and keep the ground moist, conserving water. Try “Topsy Turvy” (Echeveria runyonii “Topsy Turvy”), a rosette-forming succulent that is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. It requires full-sun exposure or light shade. Another option is ice plant (Drosanthemum floribundum), also hardy in USDA zones 9 through 11. It needs full-sun exposure.

Ground-Cover

• Ground-cover is similar to a living mulch. When a ground-cover plant carpets the ground fully, its roots intertwine with the soil, preventing it from eroding in dry or rainy seasons. Three-leaved stonecrop (Sedum ternatum) is an example of such a ground-cover. Considerably more winter-hardy than some succulents, it is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8. It does well in the coastal or mountainous climates of California. Three-leaved stonecrop requires a site that receives full sun or partial shade.