Whether you are stabilizing the banks of a large waterway or planting grass in your front yard, you can count on Underwood Landscape to provide the right erosion control or landscaping system for your project. Underwood Landscape will provide the very best erosion control products for every application, built to help you meet and exceed site specific needs and environmental regulations.

Long term erosion control planning requires proper plant species selection. Native perennial bunch grasses are an excellent choice for erosion control. Unlike non-native annual grasses, native perennial grasses are long lived and deep rooted plants that provide permanent cover. Because of their rooting ability, native grasses provide increased water infiltration rates and less over surface flow, thus reducing erosion. Most native grasses are also drought tolerant, remaining green during the dry season, long after annual erosion control grasses have turned dry and brown.

Below are a selection of shrubs and groundcovers that make excellent choices for preventing erosion:

	Achillea spacies, Yarrow Fern-like foliage used as groundcover or accent plant, fire retardant, spreading, 18 inch high maximum, good for slopes, free blooming white or yellow summer to fall, use dried flowers in arrangements.
	Artemisia species, Wormwood Sage Commonly with silver or gray foliage and pungent odor. Many varieties of varied sizes, all sun loving and drought tolerant. Use as a foliage accent color with other green shrubs or groundcovers, flowers generally inconspicuous. Cut back in winter if needed.
	Baccharis pilularis, "Centennial," Coyote Brush full sun to part shade, glossy green leaves, 3 feet high, 5 foot spread. Use as ground cover, on level or sloping ground, prune back once per year to maintain appearance.
	Cerastium tomentosum, Snow-in-Summer low growing groundcover or edging plant, gray foliage, mass of white flowers in late spring and summer, mix as an underplanting with green groundcover, and shrubs, best with light shade, will easily recover from poor winter looks
	Festuca ovina glauca, Blue Fescue clumping bluegreen grass which forms 3 - 4 inch high mounds. Takes sun but does best in partial shade and with consistent water. Tolerates no foot traffic. Use in rock gardens, on north or east exposures, or as a border to lawns or walks. Cut back after flowering.
	Gazania species, Gazania low growing groundcover with a spectacular display of daisy-like flowers ranging from yellow to dark red in late spring and summer. Both clumping and trailing varieties. Gazania usually dies out in two to three seasons, requiring replanting. Native to South Africa. Full sun.
	Helianthemum nummularium, Sunrose E vergreen, small shrub to 12 inches, grayish green foliage with a variety of spring flowers, cut back to encourage tall blooms, use in rock gardens to drape over planters, fire retardant. Partial shade or east exposures.
	Oenothera berlandieri, Mexican Evening Primrose Deciduous low growing, spreading roots, with bright pink flowers, use for annual color, good for slopes, fire retardant. Full sun or partial shade.
	Pyracantha species, Pyracantha A hardy, evergreen shrub with cream white flowers in spring and numerous colorful red berries through the fall and winter. Grows 5 - 12 feet high and wide. Stems are quite thorny. Use as a screen, on a fence, or as a spreading groundcover. Full sun. Can freeze back during High Desert winters.
	Rosmarinus officinalis, Rosemary Evergreen, aromatic foliage, 2 feet high with 4 feet or more spread, light blue winter and spring flowers, attracts birds and bees. Sun to partial shade. Comes in both low spreading and tall (6 feet or more) varieties.
	Santolina chamacyporissus, Lavender Cotton 1 foot high clumping groundcover with gray foliage, yellow summer flowers. Or try Santolina virens, same as above but with deep green foliage, cut back to keep low. Full sun with welldrained soil.
	Verbena peruviana, Verbena Attractive, low-growing, perennial groundcover with profuse pink to red spring flowers. Takes full sun, good for use in narrow planting beds, rock gardens, or to cover moderate slopes.
	Leucophyllum frutescens, Texas Ranger Evergreen, slow-growing shrub 4 - 10 feet high, 4 -5 feet wide. Tolerant of full sun, heat, wind, and alkali sail, lavender flowers in summer and fall. Needs no pruning, use as a hedge, or as an accent with other shrubs. Native to Texas and Mexico.
	Salvia species, Sage E vergreen shrubs with fragrant foliage to 4 feet tall, flowers spring to fall in a range of colors from reds to blues, attracts hummingbirds. Remove dead blooms to prolong flowering. Some species are frost sensitive.
	Yucca species, Yucca Yucca chidegera (Mojave Yucca) and Yucca whipplei. These plants are native to Southern California, featuring a cluster of spine-tipped leaves, and white blooms on tall stalks. Fire retardant, needs full sun. Beware: leaf spines can be dangerous, particularly for children, keep away from walks or play areas. Use as accent with other desert plants. Each rosette dies after flowering, but the colony remains.
	Simmondsia chinensis, Jojoba evergreen to 10 feet, slow growth, can be trimmed to large screen, can take reflected sun from walls or streets. Full sun.
	Cercocarpus betuloides, Mountain Mahogany Native to the west, sun or light shade, good under tree canopy, evergreen with open growth 5 - 10 feet, white spring flowers.
	Elaeagnus pungens, Silverberry Evergreen shrub to 10 feet with grayish foliage and rust colored undersides, can be shaped with pruning or allowed to naturally sprawl, could be hedge or screen. Sun to partial shade. Alkaline soils may need amendment to adjust pH for successful growth.
	Cotoneaster species, Cotoneaster Evergreen, semideciduous or deciduous groundcovers and small shrub, arching branches with small leaves and red winter berries, good for erosion control, give north or east exposure with some shade, do not prune, looks best with natural growth, give room to spread.
	Thymus species, Thyme Herbaceous groundcovers for full sun or part shade, best as edging plants and in rock gardens. Grows to 12 inches, moderate spreader, purple flowers in summer. Cut back after bloom ends. Note: many herbs do well in the High Desert, but may freeze back during the winter.