Will Crown Vetch help with erosion & weeds?

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summer_girl Germanton, NC(Zone 7a) Mar 03, 2009

I have a slope beside our driveway that is very difficult to mow. It’s too steep to mow with a riding mower & push mowing the small amount of broom sage & crabgrass is very labor intense. I would love to cover it with something to cut down on maintenance and for erosion control. From what I’ve read Crown Vetch spreads vigorously & chokes out weeds so it sounds ideal. Full sun & red clay soil, is it too late to start indoors? Does anyone have any other suggestions?

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glendalekid Tuscaloosa, AL(Zone 7b) Mar 03, 2009

You're going to hear about its invasive properties, that's for sure. Planting it is banned in some states. The possible problem I see with Crown vetch is that it spreads underground. I think I would try to find something that grows totally above ground, which would make it easier to control it need be.

These sites suggest ground covers for North Carolina:

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/quickref/ground%20cover/groundcover.html

http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/files/library/71/Groundcover%20list.pdf

Hope this helps.

Karen





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FertiSorb Harvard, IL(Zone 5a) Mar 03, 2009

Vetch is a very good plant for erosion control, but it spreads like wildfire. Be sure to keep an eye that it doesn't spread further than you want. But it's a really good choice for your purposes, and the flowers are nice. You can start it indoors. Good luck

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edgeoftheworld Conneaut, OH(Zone 5a) Mar 03, 2009

Hope you like it because you will never get rid off it,unless you move.

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Mar 07, 2009

Read my post for another suggestion

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/957636/

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pandora125 Symsonia, KY(Zone 6b) Mar 09, 2009

hi summer, how about daylillies and creeping phlox?

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RosemaryA Toronto, ON(Zone 5b) Mar 11, 2009

The North Carolina Native Plant Society says that crown vetch (Coronilla varia) is a "significant threat" to natural habitats in NC: http://www.ncwildflower.org/invasives/list.htm

Here's some general info about invasives in NC: http://www.ncwildflower.org/invasives/dilemma.htm

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