Plant To Retain The Ground ?

[april81]

hello,

My gf has a big land on 1 meters high and it's too expensive to build a wall to retain the ground, do you a nice plant to retain the ground, beautiful one with flowers or fruit and lot of roots ? We live right now in south Thailand in Phanga. Thanks

[WatersEdge]

Are we trying to prevent erosion or intruders?

Let's assume erosion?

Vetiveria zizanoides is the widely acclaimed erosion control grass,

in Thailand it is called "The King's Grass" because the King of Thailand publicized it's useful characteristics

For a combination of purposes I like Pennisetum purpureum grass,

but it's roots are not as deep as V. zizanoides

I have both on my farm, but I only actively propagate P. purpureum

Neither one spread well or seed well on their own, you have to transplant them where you want them.

If you want a fast growing tree with binding roots,

Eucalyptus will serve well, but they also poison the soil to prevent anything else from growing there.

Alstonia scholaris is also a fine choice of fast growing tree with roots all too strong, they break up concrete.

With a bit further elaboration we might be able to offer a smarter response.

[WatersEdge]

May I correct my post above, the Edit Feature apparently is no longer available.

Your Topic line is,

Plant To Retain The Ground ?

Therefore my Question Are we trying to prevent erosion or intruders?

overlooks the very topic line

[april81]

May I correct my post above, the Edit Feature apparently is no longer available.

Your Topic line is,

Plant To Retain The Ground ?

Therefore my Question Are we trying to prevent erosion or intruders?

overlooks the very topic line

"yah faek"

Thanks for your interesting answer, yes it's to prevent erosion with the rain. Is the Vetiveria zizanoides you speak called in thai "yah faek" ? is it easy to buy it ? cheers

[WatersEdge]

My Thai language skill is lousy,

If you google Vetiver grass you'll no doubt find a Thailand reference.

There is a discussion of Vetiver previously on this forum,

so somewhere along the way someone probably has posted the Thai name.

I think P. purpureum is called King Grass in Africa, so the two could be confused in Thailand

They are completely different in every characteristic so cannot possibly be confused if seen together.

For holding the surface, Spiny Pigweed Amaranthus spinosus is a fast grower with deep roots.

There has been occasional discussion of Sunn Hemp on this forum as a good green manure crop. I've not raised it, but those who do are strong in their admiration.

[Crushdepth]

Eucalyptus will serve well, but they also poison the soil to prevent anything else from growing there.

This is a myth. They can out compete a lot of plants though, especially if the soil is poor.

[WatersEdge]

This is good to know, I stand corrected.

I can relax the rest of the day because I've learned something useful today....ha, or I can get a jump on a day to come.

It certainly improves my overall opinion of Eucalyptus

Can you assure me that you have seen a subsequent crop grown following Eucalyptus?

Can I ask the details of what was grown afterward,

and how long Eucalyptus had previously occupied the place?

If DrTreeLove is out there, I'd like to pick his brain as well.

I don't mean to hijack the thread, which means I'd better stop the inquiry.

[WatersEdge]

Hi april81,

Is Vetiver easy to buy?

I was on my farm today and saw places where I've failed to kill it,

So yes, it's available until all the surviving thousands of pieces are sold.

If I miss a fragment of root in digging, it will be back in a month or so.

It's easy enough to kill if you pay close attention with follow up applications of Glyphosate (Roundup)

I think I have heard the government ag offices provide it free or very cheap.

I also have several tens of thousands sprigs of Pennisetum purpureum.

With the out of season rains in recent weeks, the farm is green as though it's rainy season.

For reference, P. purpureum multiplies at 10X per month if provided good water and fertilizer.

Everything I now have originated 4 years ago with 7 sprigs in a grocery bag from TV member goatfarmer

Every year I used slow times with available work force to break out existing clumps and transplant.

Also seems to be a bumper crop of Amaranthus spinosus seed.

It is the one crop of the three mentioned that seeds very prolifically.