Soil Stabilizing Plants

Grasses for Cooler Climates

• Only certain grasses can tolerate cooler climates like those in USDA plant hardiness zones 1 through 6. Of these grasses, many bluegrass varieties will create a solid turf and stabilize soil because they grow from rhizomes instead of in clumps. Rye grasses can also prevent erosion in cooler climates, as well as European grasses like Fescue grasses. Both rye and Fescue grasses grow in clumps, but they are quick growing and spread easily.

Grasses for Warmer Climates

• Bermuda grass thrives in warmer climates in USDA plant hardiness zones 7 through 10. Zoysia, St. Augustine and buffalo grasses also thrive in warmer climates. Tall fescue and red fescue grasses also tolerate heat and sandy soil very well, so they are a good choice in warmer climates to prevent soil erosion. Beach grass, the tall grass that grows on sand dunes on the shore, can also help prevent erosion because it has a very deep root system.

Ivy

• Ive is a vine-like, spreading and climbing ground cover plant that can help stabilize soil. There are many different varieties of ivy, including many plants that are called ivies but aren't part of the Aralia family. The most recognizable ivy is English ivy, which is often planted as a climbing ivy on brick buildings. Other ivy varieties that make good ground covers include Dentata, Curvaceous, Fan and Walthamensis.

Sedum or Stonecrop

• Sedum, commonly known as stonecrop, is a low-growing succulent plant that often produces flowers. Sedum varieties vary in their cold or heat tolerance and flower color. Common sedum varieties include sedum acre, yellow stonecrop, dragon's blood stonecrop or tricolor stonecrop.

Juniper

• Juniper is a woody evergreen shrub; low-growing ground cover varieties like creeping juniper will spread and stabilize soil. Low-growing juniper can be a good ground cover plant for colder climates, as juniper is hardy up to USDA hardiness zone 3.

Creeping Plants

• Many plants have varieties with "creeping" in front of their name, like creeping thyme. Creeping plants often are suitable ground covers because they are low growing and will spread aggressively over the soil. Other ground covers include creeping lily turf, creeping Charlie, creeping cinquefoil and creeping juniper.