massachusetts erosion and sedimentation control guidelines - part 3

8/11/2019 Massachusetts Erosion and Sedimentation Control Guidelines - Part 3

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Table of Contents PagePart I, Principles and Planning 8

ErosionandSedimentation 8

FactorsthatInfluenceErosion 9 EffectsofUrbanization 13 ErosionandSedimentHazardsAssociatedwithSiteDevelopment 15 AnalyzingtheProjectSite 21

PotentialProblems 36 StabilizationPrinciplesforSiteDevelopment 38 DevelopingAnErosionandSedimentControlPlan 42

Part II, Guide to Best Management Practice Selection 54

BestManagementPracticeSelection 54

Sitework:On-siteroads,Controllingroadrunoff 55 ClearingandGrading 56 Excavations,Stockpiles,&Debrisdisposal 56 RillandGullyErosion 57

SedimentControl 57 StormRunoff 58 StreambankProtectionandStabilization 58

StreamCrossings 59 BuildingConstruction,UtilitiesInstallations 59 SpecialSiteProblems 60

60FinalSiteStabilization

62Part III, Erosion and Sediment Control Practices

BrushBarrier 62 BufferZones,StreamCorridors,andRiparianAreas 63 CheckDam 64 ConstructionEntrance 68

ConstructionRoadStabilization 71 Diversion,Permanent 73 Diversion,Temporary 77

DustControl 80 FilterBerm 82 FilterStrip,Vegetated 84 Flume,Paved 86

Gabions 88 Geotextiles 90 GradeStabilizationStructure 92 InletProtection 93

LandGradingandStabilization 102 LevelSpreader 109 MulchandNetting 112

OutletProtectionandStabilization 118 PreservingNaturalVegetation 121 Riprap 125


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Table of Contents Page

Part III, Erosion and Sediment Control Practices (Continued)

RockDam 129

SandDuneandSandblowStabilization 133 SandFence 135 SedimentBasin 138

SedimentFence 146 SedimentTrap 152 Seeding,Permanent 157

Seeding,Temporary 167 SiltCurtain 171 SlopeDrain,Temporary 172 Sodding 176

StraworHayBaleBarrier 181

StreamCrossing,Temporary 185 StreambankProtectionandStabilization 192 SubsurfaceDrain 201

SumpPit 204 SurfaceRoughening 205 Terrace 208

Topsoiling 210 TreeandShrubPlanting 212 VegetatedSwale 215 WaterBar 219

Waterway,Grassed 222 228Waterway,Lined

Part IV, Supplementary Information

Rainfall,Runoff,andLandUseChange 232

Plants,Vegetation,SoilCovers 243 SoilBioengineering 280

Best Management Practices for Individual Homesites and Small

Parcels

Best Management Practices for Sand and Gravel Pits

A Sample Erosion and Sedimentation Control PlanGlossary

Bibliography

Subject Index

232

320

322

329

338

349

354


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232 Rainfall, Runoff, and Land Use Change

Rainfall, Runoff, and Land Use Change

Supplementary

Information

Rainfall,Runoff,and

LandUseChange

Plants,Vegetation,Soil

covers

SoilBioengineering

ConservationPracticesforIndividualHomesitesandSmallParcels

ConservationPracticesforSandand

GravelPits

ASampleErosionandSedimentationControl

Plan

Effects of DevelopmentTherearetwomaineffectsthaturbanizationhasonstormwater.

First,anincreaseinthevolumeandrateofrunoffasdevelopmenttakesplaceinawatershed.Second,anincreasedriskofdegradingwaterquality;bothsurfacewaterandgroundwater.

Hydrologic ChangesUndevelopedlandthatisinwoods,grass,and/oragriculture,has

anabilitytoabsorbrainfall.Rainfallisinfiltratedintothesoil,usedbyvegetation,orrunsoff.Waterreachestheearthssurfacebyrainandsnow.Somewaterisretainedontheuppersurfaceofthesoilandis

eitherevaporatedortranspiredintotheatmospherebygrass,plantsandtrees.Somewaterinfiltratesintothesoilandbecomesgroundwaterwhicheventuallyreachesstreams,lakesandoceans.

Theremainderofthewaterfallingto

theearthbecomesrunoffandflowsintothestreams,lakes

andoceansassurfaceflow.Evaporationtakes

placeonthesebodiesofwaterandsendsthemoisturebackintothe

atmosphereasvapor.

Whendevelopmenttakes

place,vegetationmayberemovedandreplacedwithimpervioussurfaces.Thesesurfacesincluderoads,streets,parkinglots,rooftops,driveways,walks,etc.whichreducetheamountofrainfallthatcaninfiltrateinto

thesoilandthereforecreatemorerunoffintothesurfacewatersystem.Inadditiontotheincreaseinimpervioussurfaces,urbanization

createsasignificantamountofgroundsurfacemodification.Natural

drainagepatternsaremodifiedandrunoffistransportedviaroadditches,stormsewers,drainageswales,andconstructedchannels.Thesemodificationsincreasethevelocityoftherunoff;whichineffectdecreasesthetimethatittakesforrunofftotravelthroughthe

watershed.Thisdecreasedtimecreateshigherpeakdischarges.


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233Rainfall, Runoff, and Land Use Change

Increase In Pollution PotentialThelargesturbannon-pointpollutionsourceissedimentandthe

nutrientsandtracemetalsattachedtoit.Inaddition,therunofffromurbanareasmaycarrybacteria,toxicchemicals,hydrocarbonsand

organicsubstances.Sedimentisamajorpollutantfromurbanareas.Runofffrom

constructionsitesduringtheurbanizationprocessisthelargestsourceofsediment.Sedimentfillsroadditches,streams,rivers,lakesand

wetlands.Agooderosionandsedimentcontrolplancansubstantiallydecreasetheamountofsedimentbeingproducedfromurbanareasandtransportedoffsite.

Nutrientsfromurbanareasareamajorconcerntosurfacewater

qualitybecauseoftheireffectsonwaterbodies.Thetwomajornutrientsarenitrogenandphosphorous.Nutrientenrichmentcancause

anincreaseinalgalgrowth.Nitrogenconsumeslargeamountsofoxygeninthenitrificationprocesswithinthewater.Bothconditionscanimpairtheuseofoursurfacewatersforwatersupply,recreation,andfishandwildlifehabitat.

Mainsourcesofnutrientsinurbanareasincludeimproperuseof

fertilizers,andorganicmatterfromlawnclippingsandleaves.Autoemissionscanalsocontributephosphorousinareasofheavytraffic.

Tracemetalscandegradewaterqualitybecauseoftheeffecttheymayhaveon

aquaticlife.Themostcommontracemetalsfoundin

urbanrunoffarelead,zincandcopper,howeverothertracemetals

suchaschromium,nickelandcadmiumarefrequently

found.Bacterialevels

canincreaseduetourbanization.Fecalcoliformbacteriaarefoundintheintestinaltractofwarm-bloodedanimalsandcanbeassociatedwith

animalwastesandfailedsepticsystems.Hydrocarbonsfrompetroleumarecommonlyfoundinurbanrunoff.Thehydrocarbonsattachtofinesedimentandarethentransportedanddepositedthroughoutthesurfacewatersystem.Commonsourcesof

hydrocarbonsarefromroads,streets,andparkinglots.Othersourcesincludegasolinestations,fuelstoragefacilities,andimproperdisposalofmotoroil.


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Factors affecting surface runoffSurfacerunoffisthevolumeofexcesswaterthatrunsoffadrainage

area,orwatershed.Peakdischargeisthepeak

rateofrunofffromadrainageareaforagivenrainfall.

Awatershedisa

drainageareaorbasininwhichalllandandwaterareasdrainorflowtowardacentral

collectorsuchasastream,river,orlakeata

lowerelevation.Thetermwatershedissynonymouswithdrainagearea;thecontributingarea,inacres,squaremiles,orotherunitisusuallyexpressedasdrainagearea.

GeneralRainfallistheprimarysourceofwaterthatrunsoffthesurfaceof

smallwatersheds.Themainfactorsaffectingthevolumeofrainfallthatrunsoffarethekindofsoil,typeofvegetationandamountofimpervious

areainthewatershed.Factorsthataffecttherateatwhichwaterrunsoffarewatershedtopographyandshapealongwithman-madefeaturesinawatershed.

RainfallThepeakdischargefroma

smallwatershedisusuallycaused

byintenserainfall.Theintensityofrainfallaffectsthepeakdischargemorethanitdoesthevolumeofrunoff.Themeltingofaccumulated

snowmayresultinagreatervolumeofrunoff,butusuallyatalesserratethanrunoffcausedby

rainfall.Themeltingofawinterssnowaccumulationoveralargeareamaycausemajorfloodingalongrivers.Intenserainfallthatproduceshighpeakdischargesinsmall

watershedsusuallydoesnotextendoveralargearea.Therefore,thesameintenserainfallthatcausesfloodinginasmalltributaryisnotlikelytocausemajorfloodinginamainstreamthatdrains10to20squaremiles.


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Hydrologic soil groupsSoilsmaybeclassifiedintofourhydrologicsoilgroups,definedas

follows:GroupAsoilshavelowrunoffpotentialandhighinfiltrationrates

evenwhenthoroughlywetted.Theyconsistchieflyofsandsandgravelsthataredeep,welldrainedtoexcessivelydrained,andhaveahighrateof

watertransmission(greaterthan0.30in/hr).GroupBsoilshavemoderateinfiltrationrateswhenthoroughly

wettedandconsistchieflyofsoilsthataremoderatelydeeptodeep,moderatelywelldrainedtowelldrained,andhavemoderatelyfineto

moderatelycoarsetextures.Thesesoilshaveamoderaterateofwatertransmission(0.15to0.30in/hr).

GroupCsoilshavelowinfiltrationrateswhenthoroughlywettedand

consistchieflyofsoilshavingalayerthatimpedesdownwardmovement

ofwaterandsoilsofmoderatelyfinetofinetexture.Thesesoilshaveaslowrateofwatertransmission(0.05to0.15in/hr).

GroupDsoilshavehighrunoffpotential.Theyhaveverylow

infiltrationrateswhenthoroughlywettedandconsistchieflyofclaysoilswithahighswellingpotential,soilswithapermanenthighwatertable,soilswithaclaypanorclaylayeratornearthesurface,andshallowsoilsovernearlyimperviousmaterial.Thesesoilshaveaverylowrateofwater

transmission(0to0.05in/hr).

Cover TypeCovertypedescribesconditionsatthesoilsurface;e.g.vegetation,

baresoil,impervioussurfacessuchasparkingareas,roofs,streets,orroads.Covertypeaffectsrunoffinseveralways.Thefoliageanditslittermaintainthesoilsinfiltrationpotentialbypreventingtheimpactofthe

raindropsfromsealingthesoilsurface.Someoftheraindropsareretainedonthesurfaceofthefoliage,increasingtheirchanceofbeingevaporatedbackintotheatmosphere.Someoftheinterceptedmoisturetakessolong

todrainfromtheplantdowntothesoilthatitisWithheldfromtheinitialperiodofrunoff.

Groundcoveralsoallowssoilmoisturefrompreviousrainstotranspire,leavingagreatervoidinthesoiltobefilled.Vegetation,

includingitsgroundlitter,formsnumerousbarriersalongthepathofthewaterflowingoverthesurfaceoftheland.Thisincreasedsurface

roughnesscauseswatertoflowmoreslowly,lengtheningthetimeofconcentrationandreducingthepeakdischarge.


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TreatmentConservationpracticesreduceerosionandhelpmaintainanopen

structureatthesoilsurface.Thisreducesrunoff,buttheeffectdiminishesrapidlywithincreasesinstormmagnitude.

Checkdams,terraces,detentionponds,andsimilarpracticesreduceerosionanddecreasetheamountofrunoffbycreatingsmallreservoirs.Closed-endlevelterracesactasstoragereservoirswithoutspillways.Gradientterraces,surfaceroughening,vegetationincreasethedistance

watermusttravelorimpedeitsflow-andtherebyincreasethetimeofconcentration.

Hydrologic conditionsHydrologicconditionindicatestheeffectsofcovertypeandtreatment

oninfiltrationandrunoffrates.Itisgenerallyestimatedfromthedensityofplantandcropresidueonthearea.Goodhydrologicconditionindicates

thatthesoilusuallyhaslowrunoffpotentialforthatspecifichydrologicsoilgroup,covertypeandtreatment.Somefactorstoconsiderinestimatingtheeffectofcoveroninfiltrationandrunoffare:canopyor

densityofleaves,amountofyear-roundcover,percentofresiduecover,andthedegreeofsurfaceroughness.

Inmostcases,thehydrologicconditionofthesiteaffectsthevolumeofrunoffmorethananyothersinglefactor.Thehydrologiccondition

considerstheeffectsofcovertypeandtreatmentoninfiltrationandrunoffandisgenerallyestimatedfromdensityofplantcoverandresidueonthegroundsurface.Goodhydrologicconditionindicatesthatthesiteusually

hasalowerrunoffpotential.Agrasscoverisgoodifthevegetationcovers75percentormoreof

thegroundsurface.Coverispoorifvegetationcoverslessthan50percentofthegroundsurface.Grasscoverisevaluatedonthebasalareaof

theplant,whereastreesandshrubsareevaluatedonthebasisofcanopycover.


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TopographyTheslopesinawatershedhaveamajoreffectonthepeak

dischargeatdownstreampoints.Slopeshavelittleeffectonhowmuchoftherainfallwillrunoff.Aswatershedslopeincreases,velocityincreases,timeofconcentrationdecreases,andpeakdischarge

increases.Anaveragesmallwatershedisfan-shaped.Asthewatershedbecomeselongatedormorerectangular,theflowlengthincreasesandthepeakdischargedecreases.

Potholesmaytrapasmallamountofrain,thusreducingthe

amountofexpectedrunoff.Ifpotholesandmarshlandareasmakeupone-thirdorlessofthetotalwatershedanddonotinterceptthedrainagefromtheremainingtwo-thirds,theywillnotcontributemuchtothepeakdischarge.Theseareasmaybeexcludedfromthedrainage

areaforestimatingpeakdischarge.Ifpotholesconstitutemorethanone-

thirdofthetotaldrainageoriftheyinterceptthedrainage,apondandswampadjustmentfactorcanbeapplied.

RunoffRunoffisthewaterleavingthewatershedduringandaftera

storm.Itmaybeexpressedastheaveragedepthofwaterthatwould

covertheentirewatershed.Thedepthisusuallyexpressedininches.Thevolumeofrunoffiscomputedbyconvertingdepthoverthedrainageareatovolumeandisusuallyexpressedinacre-feet.

Hydrologic MethodsHydrologicmethodsarewell-coveredinliteraturesuchasSoilConservationService(SCS)TechnicalRelease55,UrbanHydrologyfor

SmallWatersheds,othertechnicaldocumentsofvariousstateandfederalagencies,commercialpublishinghouses,andnumerouscomputerprograms.

InordertoassistdesignerspreparingdevelopmentplansandlocalConservationCommissionsreviewingsuchplans;checklistsforreviewingreportspreparedusingSCStechnicalreleasesTR-20,ComputerProgramforProjectFormulation-Hydrology,andTR-55,

UrbanHydrologyforSmallWatersheds,havebeenincludedinthissection.NaturalResourcesConservationService(formerlySoil

ConservationService)engineersoftenreceivequeriesabouttechnicaldetailsofhydrologicprocedures,andasummaryofcommonquestions

andanswershasalsobeenincluded.Note: Technical Releases issued prior to November 1994 are referred to as Soil Conservation ServiceTechnical Releases. After November 1994, they are referred to as Natural Resources Conservation

Service Technical Releases.


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Checklist for Reviewing Reports Using SCS TR-55Analysis

@Watershedmapatascaleof1inch=500feetorlarger.Show

watershedboundary,sub-areaboundaries,andsub-areanamesornumbers.Showtimeofconcentration,curvenumber,anddrainageareaforeachsub-areaonthemap.Contourmapsmustincludesomeadditionalareaoutsidethepropertylineboundaries.

@Largescalemapshowingdifferentsoilswithineachsub-area

boundary.Mayalsobeusedtodelineatedrainageareas.Showtheflow

routeusedforcalculatingtimeofconcentrationforeachsub-area.

@Tabulationsheetorcomputerprintoutshowingrunoffcurve

numberandtimeofconcentrationcalculationsforeachsub-area.Drainage

areas,hydrologicsoilsgroups,andlanduseareasshouldbedocumentedandsupportedfromsoilsmapsorotherreferences.

@Tabulationsheetshowingcalculationsandequationsusedforany

storageestimatestodesignadetentionbasin.

@Narrativeexplanationanddocumentationforanysheetflowlengths

usedthatexceed50feet.

@TR-55printoutshowinggraphicalortabularpeakdischarge

calculations.includeprintoutsforbothpre-developmentandpost-developmentconditions.Theprintoutshowingthedesignofadetentionbasinshouldbeincluded.Theseprintoutsshoulddocumentanyclaimofzerodischargeincreaseforallrequiredstorms.

@

Thewrittenreportshouldstatetheinitialconditionsandstorm

frequenciestobeanalyzed.Includeasummarytableshowingthepre-development,post-development,anddesignedsystempeakdischargesforalldesignfrequencies.

@

Showasketchofthestructureoutletsystemwithelevationsand

dimensions.


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Checklist for Reviewing Reports Using SCS TR-20Analysis

@TR-20watershedmapatascaleof1inch=500feetorlarger.

Showsub-areaboundaries,crosssectionlocationsandnumbers,structurelocationsandnumbers,andsub-areanamesornumbers.Showtimeofconcentration,curvenumber,anddrainageareaforeachsubareaonthemap.Contourmapsmustincludesomeadditionalarea

outsidethepropertylineboundaries.

@Largescalemapshowingdifferentsoilswithineachsub-area

boundary.Mayalsobeusedtodelineatedrainageareas.Showtimeofconcentrationcalculationpathusedforeachsub-area.

@

Tabulationsheetorcomputerprintoutshowingrunoffcurve

numberandtimeofconcentrationcalculationsforeachsub-area.Drainageareas,hydrologicsoilsgroups,andlanduseareasshouldbe

documentedandsupportedfromsoilsmapsorotherreferences.

@Tabulationsheetshowingcalculationsandequationsusedfor

structurestage,discharge,andstoragevolumes,andcross-sectionelevation,discharge,areacalculations.Includesketchesofstructuresandcrosssectionsshowingelevationsanddimensionsusedinthe

calculations.

@Narrativeexplanationanddocumentationforanysheetflow

lengthsusedthatexceed50feet.

@TR-20printoutshowinginputlistingandaminimumoutputof

thesummarytables.Theminimumrequiredoutputislistingsandsummarytablesforthepre-development,post-development,andpostdevelopment-with-controlforallrequiredstorms.Theseprintouts

shoulddocumentanyclaimofzerodischargeincreaseforallrequiredstorms.

@Thewrittenreportshouldstatetheinitialconditionsandstorm

frequenciestobeanalyzed.Includeasummarytableshowingthepre-development,post-development,anddesignedsystempeakdischargesforalldesignfrequencies.


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Common Questions and Answers AboutUrban Hydrology for Small Watersheds, TR-55

GeneralQ.Whatistheminimumacceptabledrainageareafortheprocedure?A.Theproceduredoesnothaveadrainagearealimit.Itisgovernedbyaminimumtimeofconcentrationof0.1hours.

Q.WhatrainfalldistributionshouldbeusedforMassachusetts?A.AllofMassachusettsiscoveredbytheTypeIIIrainfalldistribution.Thisdistributionrepresentstheinfluenceofthunderstormsandtropicalstorms(e.g.hurricanes)alongthecoast.

Q.WhatisthedifferencebetweentheTypeIIandTypeIIIrainfalldistributions?

A.TheTypeIIIdistributionisalittlelessintensethantheTypeIIdistribution.TheTypeIIIdistributionreducesthepeakdischargesby34percentforshorttimeofconcentrationsof0.1hours,by17percentforaTcof1.0hours,by8percentforaTcof3hours,andapproximatelythe

samefortimeofconcentrationsof7to10hours.

Time of ConcentrationQ.Howdoyouhandletimeofconcentrationslessthan0.1hours?A.Theprocedurehasaminimumtimeofconcentrationof0.1hour.IfthecomputedTcislessthan0.1hour,usetheminimumvalueof0.1hour.The

lowerlimitisconsistentwiththeavailablerainfallintensityinformationfromtheNationalWeatherService.Therainfalldistributioncurveincorporatesthehighintensityrainfallstormhavinga5-minuteduration.

Q.Whatistheacceptablelimitforthelengthofsheetflow?A.Theproceduredesignatesamaximumlimitof300feetforsheetflow.Consideringthedefinitionofsheetflowasflowonaplanesurface,amore

practicallimitinthenortheastis50to100feet.Agoodexampleofsheetflowisflowfromthecrownofafootballfield

totheedgeofthefield,wheretheflowbecomesconcentratedinagrassswale.Inwoodsthesheetflowlengthisalsoshortbecauseflowcanbe

divertedbystonewalls,fallentrees,andtreeroots.Consideringthecontributingarearepresentedbysheetflowinproportiontothetotaldrainagearea,thetraveltimeforsheetflowshouldbeasmallpartofthetotaltimeofconcentration.Ifthesheetflowlengthisgreaterthan10

percentofthetotalhydrauliclengthforthewatershedorsubarea,reevaluatethesheetflowandtraveltimecalculations.


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Q.Forsheetflow,shouldasurfacecoverofwoodswithdenseunderbrushbeused?

A.Thissurfacecovershouldbeavoided,becausethenvalueforthis

covertypeisextrapolatedfromresearchdataanddoesnotrepresenttypicalconditionsintheNortheast.

Q.Doesshallowconcentratedflowneedtobeusedinthetimeofconcentrationcalculations?A.Themethodforshallowconcentratedflowisusedtocalculatethetraveltimeforthetransitionbetweensheetflowandopenchannelflow.

Ifcrosssectioninformationisavailablefortheshallowconcentratedflowsegments,theycanbetreatedasopenchannelflowforcalculatingtraveltime.

Q.HowcanUSGSquadsheetsbeusedtocalculatetimeofconcentrations?A.Thefirstsegmentcanbea50-footlengthforsheetflowatthetopofthewatershed.Shallowconcentratedflowwillrepresentsegmentsacrossparallelcontourlinesanddefinedwatercoursesonthemaps.Openchannelflowwillbeusedforstreamsindicatedbybluelinesonthemaps.Afieldvisitoftheareashouldbemadetochecktheflowpath

andobtaininformationonthehydrauliccharacteristicsofthechannel.Thisinformationshouldincludemeasuringthetopwidthanddepthofthechannelforbank-fullconditions.

Q.Cantheuplandmethod(Figure15.2inNEH-4)beusedtocalculate

timeofconcentrations?A.Thismethodwasoriginallydevelopedforestimatingtimeofconcentrationsinsmallruralwatersheds.Basedonmorerecentresearchandanalyses,thesheetflowequationinTR-55hassupersededtheuplandmethod.

Q.Canothermethodsbeusedtocalculatetimeofconcentration?A.Therecommendedmethodforcalculatingtimeofconcentrationisthestreamhydraulicsmethod.Traveltimesarecalculatedbasedon

flowcharacteristicsforeachsegmentintheflowpath.Othermethodscanbeused,buttheyshouldbecheckedtoseeiftheresultsarerealisticforthesiteconditions.Thesamemethodshouldbeusedwhenanalyzingexistinganddevelopedsituations.

HydrographsQ.CanthehydrographdevelopedbytheTabularMethodbeusedfordetentionbasinrouting?

A.ThecompositehydrographdevelopedbytheTabularMethodisonlyapartialhydrographatthedesignpointbaseduponroundedtimeofconcentrationandtraveltimevaluesinthetables.Thepartialhydrographcanbeextrapolatedtogetatotalhydrographforrouting

byothermethods,butthisisstillanapproximationoftheentire


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hydrograph.Ifhydrographsareneededwithinthedrainagebasinoramoreprecisehydrographisneeded,anotherhydrologicmethodshouldbeusedsuchasTR-20.

Q.DoestheTabularmethodconsiderreachrouting?A.Thesubareahydrographistranslateddownstreambasedonthetraveltimeforthereach.Themethoddoesnotconsiderstorageroutinginthereach.Floodplainstorageinareachwillreducethepeakflowsimilartoreservoirrouting,aswellaslagthetimingofthepeak.Ifreachstorageroutingneedstobeconsidered,usetheTR-20hydrologymodel.

Storage EffectsQ.Canyouaccountforpondandswampstoragewithinthedrainagebasin?

A.TheGraphicalMethodhasanadjustmentfactortoaccountforpondsandswarmsspreadthroughoutthebasinandnotinthetimeofconcentrationflowpath.InboththeGraphicalandTabularMethods,thestorageeffectswithinthetimeofconcentrationflowpathcanpartiallybe

accountedforbyincreasingthetraveltimeforthesegment,basedupontypicalpondroutings.TheTR-20hydrologymodelshouldbeusedinordertoanalyzetheactual

effectsofpondandswampstoragewithinthebasinbyroutingeachstoragearea.

Q.CanyougetahydrographwiththeTR-55storageroutingmethod?A.Themethodjustdeterminesthepeakoutflowortotalstoragevolume

requiredforadetentionbasin.Itisbasedonaveragestorageandroutingeffectsformanystructuresandisontheconservativeside.Ifanoutflowhydrographoramorerefinedstorageanalysisisneeded,theinflow

hydrographneedstoberoutedbyotherprocedures.TheTabularMethodcanbeusedtocreateanapproximateinflowhydrograph.TheTR-20hydrologymodelcanbeusedtocreateaninflowhydrograph,conduct

storageroutingsofadetentionbasin,andcalculatetheoutflowhydrograph.

ReferencesGustafson,C.J.,andL.N.Boutiette,Jr.,Controlling Surface Water Runoff,

SoilConservationService,Amherst,MA,1993.

Minnick,E.L.,andH.T.Marshall,Stormwater Management and ErosionControl for Urban and Developing Areas in New Hampshire,RockinghamCountyConservationDistrict,August1992.

NewHampshireDepartmentofEnvironmentalServices,Best ManagementPractices to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution,Amanuensis,Manchester,NH,May1994.


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243Plants, Vegetation, and Soil Cover

NorthCarolinaSedimentControlCommission,Erosion and SedimentControl Planning and Design Manual,Raleigh,NC,September,1988.

U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,,Washington,DC,EngineeringFieldHandbook,Chapter2,Estimating Runoff and Peak discharge.

U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,SoilConservationService,Washington,DC,Urban Hydrology for Small Watersheds, Technical Release 55,June,1986.

U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,SoilConservationService,Amherst,MA,Supplement to the TR-55 Hydrology Procedure,1992.

Plants, Vegetation, Soil Covers

Vegetationprotectsthesoilsurfacefromraindropimpact,amajorforceindislodgingsoilparticlesand

movingthemdownslope.Italsoshieldsthesoilsurfacefromthescouringeffectofoverlandflowand

decreasestheerosivecapacityoftheflowingwaterbyreducingits

velocity.Vegetativecoverisrelativelyinexpensivetoachieveandtendstobeself-healing;itisoftentheonly

practical,long-termsolutiontostabilizationanderosioncontrolonmostdisturbed

sitesinMassachusetts.Theshieldingeffectof

aplantcanopyisaugmentedbyrootsand

rhizomesthatholdthesoil,improveitsphysicalcondition,andincreasetherateofinfiltration,further

decreasingrunoff.Plantsalsoreducethemoisturecontentofthesoilthrough

transpiration,thusincreasingitscapacitytoabsorbwater.


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244 Plants, Vegetation, and Soil Cover

Planningfromthestartforvegetativestabilizationreducescost,minimizesmaintenanceandrepair,andmakeserosionandsedimentcontrolmeasuresmoreeffectiveandlesscostlytomaintain.Final

landscapingisalsolesscostlywheresoilshavenotbeeneroded,slopesarenottoosteep,andweedsarenotallowedtoproliferate.

Designprojectssothatonlytheareathatistotallynecessaryisdisturbed.Theexistingnaturalareasprovidelow-maintenance

landscaping,shade,andscreening,andsoilstability.Largetreesincreasepropertyvalue,butmustbeproperlyprotectedduringconstruction.

Besidespreventingerosion,healthyvegetativecoverprovidesastable

landsurfacethatabsorbsrainfall,cutsdownonheatreflectanceanddust,restrictsweedgrowth,andcomplementsarchitecture.Itcreatesapleasantenvironment,andanattractivesite.Propertyvaluescanbeincreaseddramaticallybysmallinvestmentsinerosioncontrol.Vegetativecoverand

landscapingrepresentonlyasmallfractionoftotalconstructioncostsandcontributegreatlytothemarketingpotentialofadevelopment.

Site ConsiderationsSpeciesselection,establishmentmethods,andmaintenance

proceduresshouldbebasedonsitecharacteristicsincludingsoils,slope,

aspect,climate,andexpectedmanagement.

SoilsManysoilcharacteristics-includingtexture,organicmatter,fertility,

acidity,moistureretention,drainage,andslope-influencetheselectionofplantsandthestepsrequiredfortheirestablishment.

Nature of Disturbed SoilsMostdisturbedsitesendup,aftergrading,withasurfaceconsistingof

acid,infertilesubsoilmaterialsthatlacknutrientsnecessaryforsupporting

plantgrowth.Suchsoilsmaynotbecapableofsupportingthedensegrowthnecessarytopreventerosion.

Constructionactivitiesfurtherdecreasesoilproductivitybyincreasingcompaction,makingslopessteeper,andalteringdrainage

patterns.Topsoiling,additionofsoilamendments,andspecialseedbedpreparationaregenerallyrequired.Somenativeplantspeciesarebettersuitedtotheseconditions.


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Soils InvestigationThevegetativeplanshouldbebasedonthoroughsoilsamplingand

testingintheareaofplannedconstruction.Differentsoilsshouldbesampledseparately.ContactthelocalConservationDistrictofficeforsuggestionsonprovidersoftheseservices.Testresultsshouldinclude

limeandfertilizerrecommendations.Fertilizingaccordingtothesoiltestensuresthemostefficientexpenditureofmoneyforfertilizerandaminimumofexcessfertilizertopollutestreamsorgroundwater.Soil

samplingshouldbeginwellinadvanceofplantingbecause1to6weeksarerequiredtoobtainsoiltestresults.

Informationonthesoiltypeisusefulinselectingtheplantstobeused.Nativeplantsgrowingonsimilarsoilswillbegoodcandidatesfor

revegetation.Wetanddryareasshouldbecheckedatthetimeofmaximum

wetnessandwhenthedryareascanbedifferentiatedfromthewetones;makingitpossibletoplaceplantsinthemicrositesforwhichthey

arebestadapted.

Soil LimitationsCertainsoilfactorsaredifficulttomodifyandcanimposesevere

limitationsonplantgrowth.Theseincludesuchthingsasrootingdepth,stoniness,texture,andpropertiesrelatedtotexturesuchasorganicmattercontent,andwater-andnutrient-holdingcapacity.

Extremelycoarse(gravelly)texturesresultindroughtinessandnutrientdeficiencies.Finetextures,ontheotherhand,impedeinfiltrationanddecreasepermeability,therebyincreasingthevolumeof

runoff.Lightsandysoilsmayneedspecialtreatmentwithmulchesor


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tackifierstostabilizethemsufficientlytoallowplantestablishment.Othersoilsmayhaveahardpanthatlimitswaterandrootpenetration.

Toxiclevelsofelementssuchasaluminum,iron,andmanganeseare

limitingtoplantgrowth.ThesebecomelesssolubleasthepHisraised,however,sothattoxicityproblemscanusuallybeeliminatedbyliming.

Soilsurveyreportsmayrefertopoor,severe,anddroughty,

soils.Thesearesoilsthatrequirespecialtreatmentbeyondroutinetillageandfertilization.

SlopeThesteepertheslope,themoreessentialavigorousvegetativecover

is.Goodestablishmentpractices,includingseedbedpreparation,qualityseed,lime,fertilizer,mulchingandtackingarecritical.Thedegreeofslope

maylimittheequipmentthatcanbeusedinseedbedpreparation,planting,

andmaintenance;steepslopesalsoincreasecosts.Theseverityofpasterosionwillindicatethedegreeofmechanical

stabilizationandslopepreparationnecessaryforplantestablishment.

Shallowsurfaceerosionwillindicatetheneedformaximumsurfaceplantcover.Moredeep-seatederosionwillindicatetheneedforahighpercentageofdeep-rootedspecies.Relativelysmallrillsandgullieswillbesmoothedasamatterofcourseduringconstruction,whereaslargegullies

mayneedtobereworkedwithheavyequipment.Slopeanglessteeperthan30-34percentaredifficulttorevegetate.

Steepslopesshouldbelaidbackwheneverpossible.Vegetation

establishmentisdifficultatbestonthetopsofcuts.Roundingimproves

thechancesofsuccessfulrevegetationandminimizeschancesoffutureundercutting.

AspectAspectaffectssoiltemperatureandavailablemoisture.South-and

west-facingslopestendtobehotteranddrier,andoftenrequirespecial

treatment.Forexample,mulchisessentialtoretainmoisture,anddrought-tolerantplantspeciesshouldbeaddedtotheseedmixture.South-andwest-facingslopesalsomaybesubjecttomorefrostheavingdueto

repeatedcyclesoffreezingand

thawing.Temperaturesareloweronnorth-

andnortheast-facingslopesthanonsouth-andwest-facingslopes.Colder

temperaturesleadtolowerevapotranspirationvalueswhichresultinmoreavailablewaterforplant

growth.Theeffectivegrowingseasonisreducedsomewhat,however;soiltemperaturesarelower,affectingseedgermination,andthepossibilityof

frostdamageisgreater.


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ClimateClimaticdifferencesdeterminetheappropriateplantselections

basedonsuchfactorsascold-hardiness,tolerancetohightemperaturesandhighhumidity,andresistancetodisease.Nativeplantlistsgive

historicinformationonplantsknowntohavesurvivedinregionsovercenturies.

MicroclimateValleys,draws,andlowspotswillhavedifferentmicroclimatesfrom

immediatelyadjacenthigherareas.Theywilltendtohavehighersoilmoisturebecauseofhigherwatertables.Theywillbecolderthan

adjacenthigherground.Theseconditionswillaffectplantperformanceinthesamewaythattheydoonslopesofdifferentaspects.

Exposuretowindswillvaryfromsitetositeinageneralarea.Thewindsmayoccurineithersummerorwinterorboth.Windincreases

evapotranspirationandreducestheeffectivewateravailability.Summerwindswillmakeplantestablishmentmoredifficult,andwinterwindsmayincreasewinterdamage.

Soil pHSoilpHmaylimitchoicesofplantspecies.Someplantsrequireacid

soils,somealkaline,andsomearetolerantofawiderangeofpH.High

soilpH(7.5andabove)orlowpH(4.5orbelow)mayrestrictavailabilityofplantnutrientsormaymaketoxicionsavailable.ExtremelylowpHlevelswillincreaseavailabilityofaluminum,andmanganeseandothermetalionsthataretoxictoplants.ThepHinsurfacesoilsmaybe

satisfactoryforplantgrowth,buthighwaycutsmayexposestratawithabnormallyhighorlowpHlevels.

ManagementWhenselectingplantspeciesforstabilization,considerpost-

constructionlanduseandtheexpectedlevelofmaintenance.Ineverycase,futuresitemanagementisanimportantfactorinplantselection.

Whereaneatappearanceisdesired,useplantsthatrespondwelltofrequentmowingandothertypesofintensivemaintenance.

Atsiteswherelowmaintenanceisdesired,longevityisparticularly

important.Trytousenativespecies.

Seasonal ConsiderationsNewlyconstructedslopesandotherunvegetatedareasshouldbe

seededandmulched,orsodded,assoonaspossibleaftergrading.Wherefeasible,gradingoperationsshouldbeplannedaroundoptimalseedingdatesfortheparticularregion.ThemosteffectivetimesforplantingperennialsgenerallyextendfromAprilthroughMayandfrom

AugustthroughSeptember.Outsidethesedatestheprobabilityoffailureishigher.Latesummer(August15-September30)isthebestperiodto


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establishgrass/legumeseedings.Ifthetimeofyearisnotsuitableforseedingpermanentcover

(perennialspecies),atemporarycovercropshouldbeplanted.Otherwise,

theareamustbestabilizedwithgravelormulch.Temporaryseedingofannualspecies(smallgrains,Sudangrass,orGermanmillet)oftensucceedsattimesoftheyearthatareunsuitableforseedingpermanent(perennial)

species,DormantseedingcanbemadefromtheendofNovemberthrough

March.Thistypeofseedingneedstobeadequatelyprotectedwithmulch,orbetteryet,erosioncontrolfabric.

Seasonalitymustbeconsideredwhenselectingspecies.Grassesandlegumesareusuallyclassifiedaswarmorcoolseasoninreferencetotheirseasonofgrowth.Coolseasonplantsproducemostoftheirgrowthduringthespringandfallandarerelativelyinactiveordormantduringthe

hotsummermonths,thereforelatesummerintoearlyfallisthemostdependabletimetoplantthem.Warmseasonplantsgreenuplateinthespring,growmostactivelyduringthesummer,andgodormantatthefirst

frostinfall.Springandearlysummerarepreferredplantingtimesforwarm-seasonplants.

Plant SpeciesSpeciesselectionshouldbeconsideredearlyintheprocessof

preparingtheerosionandsedimentationcontrolplan.Forpractical,

economicalstabilizationandlong-termprotectionofdisturbedsites,speciesselectionshouldbemadewithcare.Manywidelyoccurringplants

areinappropriateforsoilstabilizationbecausetheydonotprotectthesoileffectively,orbecausetheyarenotquicklyandeasilyestablished.Plants

thatarepreferredforsomesitesmaybepoorchoicesforothers;somecanbecometroublesomepests.

Initialstabilizationofmostdisturbedsitesrequiresgrassesand

legumesthatgrowtogetherwithoutgaps.Thisistrueevenwherepartorallofthesiteisplantedtotreesorshrubs.Inlandscapeplantings,disturbedsoilbetweentreesandshrubsmustalsobeprotectedeitherbymulchingorbypermanentgrass-legumemixtures.Mulchingaloneisan

alternative,butitrequirescontinuingmaintenance.

Mixtures vs. Single-Species PlantingsSingle-speciesplantingsarewarrantedinmanycases,buttheyaremoresusceptiblethanmixturestodamagefromdisease,insects,andweatherextremes.Also,mixturestendtoprovideprotectivecovermorequickly.Theinclusionofmorethanonespeciesshouldalwaysbe

consideredforsoilstabilizationanderosioncontrol.Additionofaquick-growingannualprovidesearlyprotectionand

facilitatesestablishmentofperennials.Morecomplexmixturesmightincludeaquick-growingannual,oneortwolegumes,andoneortwo

perennialgrasses.


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Companion or Nurse CropsTheadditionofa

nursecrop(quickgrowingannuals

addedtopermanentmixtures)isasoundpracticeforsoilstabilization,

particularlyondifficultsites-thosewithsteepslopes;poor,stony,erosive

soils;lateseedings,etc.-orinanysituationwherethedevelopmentofpermanentcoveris

likelytobeslow.Thenursecropgerminatesandgrowsrapidly,holdingthesoiluntiltheslowergrowingperennialseedlingsbecomeestablished.Seedingrateofthenursecropmustbelimitedtoavoidcrowding,especiallyunderoptimumgrowingconditions.

Legumes: Nitrogen-Fixing PlantsLegumesshouldbeusedwhen

practicalbecauseoftheirabilitytoimprove

sitesbyaddingnitrogen.Theyshouldbeinoculatedatplantingwithappropriatebacteria.Commercialinoculantsare

availableformanyspecies.Nativespeciesforwhichnocommercialinoculantisavailableshouldbeinoculatedbyincorporatingsoilfromnativestandsinthesoilsinwhichtransplantsaregrown,orby

topdressingwithnativesoils.

AnnualsAnnualplantsgrowrapidlyandthendieinonegrowingseason.

Theyareusefulforquick,temporarycoverorasnursecropsforslower-growingperennials.

Winter ryeWinterrye(grain)isusuallysuperiortootherwinterannuals

(wheat,oats,crimsonclover,etc.)bothfortemporaryseedingandasanursecropinpermanentmixtures.Ithasmorecoldhardinessthan

otherannualsandwillgerminateandgrowatlowertemperatures.Bymaturingearly,itofferslesscompetitionduringthelatespringperiod,acriticaltimeintheestablishmentofperennialspecies.

Ryegraingerminatesquicklyandistolerantofpoorsoils.Including

ryegraininfall-seededmixturesisalmostalwaysadvantageous,butitis


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particularlyhelpfulondifficultsoilsanderodibleslopesorwhenseedingislate.Overlythickstandsofryegrainwillsuppressthegrowthofperennialseedlings.Limitseedingratestothesuggestedlevel.About50poundsper

acreisthemaximumforthispurpose.Wherelushgrowthisexpected,thatrateshouldeitherbecutinhalf,orryegrainshouldbeeliminatedfromthemixture.

Annual ryegrassAnnualryegrassprovidesdensecover

rapidly,butmaybemoreharmfulthanbeneficialinareasthataretobe

permanentlystabilized.Annualryegrassishighlycompetitive,andifincludedinmixtures,itcrowdsoutmostotherspeciesbeforeitmaturesinlatespringorearly

summer,leavinglittleornolastingcover.Itcanbeeffectiveasatemporaryseeding,butifallowedtomaturetheseedvolunteersandseriouslyinterfereswith

subsequenteffortstoestablishpermanentcover.Winterrye(grain)ispreferableinmostapplications.

German milletGermanmilletisafine-stemmed

summerannual,usefulfortemporaryseeding,asanursecrop,andfortacking mulch.ItisbetteradaptedtosandysoilsthanaretheSudangrasses.

Normalseedingdatesarebetweenthelastfrostinspringandthemiddleof August.

SudangrassOnlythesmall-stemmedvarietiesofSudangrassshouldbeused.Like

Germanmillet,Sudangrassisusefulfortemporaryseedingandasanursecrop,butitisadaptedtosoilshigherinclaycontent.

PerennialsPerennialplantsremainviableoverwinterandinitiatenewgrowth

eachyear.Standsofperennialspersistindefinitelyunderproper

managementandenvironmentalconditions.Theyaretheprincipalcomponentsofpermanentvegetativecover.Whereverpossible,usenative

speciesforplantings

Native vs. Non-Native SpeciesIngeneral,ifaplantisindigenoustoagivenareaofthecountry,itisa

native.Somedefinenativemorenarrowly,eventoaplantindigenoustoagivensite.

Non-nativeplantspecieshavebeenusedtocontrolerosionsincethe

dust-bowldaysofthe1930s.Theyarevigorous,establishtheirdenseroot


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systemsinthesoil,andstabilizebareearth.Thesenon-nativeplants,however,canbeverycompetitive.

Introduced,invasiveplantscancausemanymoreproblemsthanthey

willsolve.Theycrowdoutnativespeciesandreduceplantdiversity.Theyarecapableoftakingoverlandscapes,resultinginamonoculture.Naturalecosystemsaredegradedandthesitemaybecomevulnerable

todiseaseandpestthreats.Evenwhennon-nativesareonlyaminorcomponentoftheseed

mix,theytendtooutperformandoverrunnativesforthefirstfewyears.Then,overthelongterm,10to15years,introducedspeciesmay

weakenanddieout.Nativespeciesgenerallyhavelong-termsuperiorityovernon-nativespecies.

Non-nativestypicallyoffertwofeaturesoftenlackingwithnativespecies;theyarereadilyavailableandmuchcheaperthannatives.

Comparedtoearthmovingcostsonmostsites,however,thecostofseedisverysmall.Inadditiontopriceandavailability,projectobjectivescanalso

affectthedecisiontoplantnativeorintroducedspecies.Forexample,anintroducedspeciesmaybetheonlyseedavailablethatwillestablishsoonenoughtoprotectfromafast-approachingwinteranditsstorms.

Native SpeciesNativeplantsevolvedunderlocalsoilandclimaticconditionsand

arebestadaptedtositessimilartothoseonwhichtheygrow.Theyare

adaptedtoannualfluctuationsinrainfallandtemperatures.Nativesoftenhaveminimalfungusandinsectproblemsorexistinreasonablebalancewithsuchpests.Atapropersite,theybecomeestablished,

reproduce,andperformsatisfactorilywithoutsupplementaryirrigationormaintenance.Nativeplantsblendaestheticallywiththesurroundingvegetation.

Usingnativeplantsmaintainsthegeneticintegrityofplant

populationsinthearea.Nativeplantshaveadaptedtoanenvironment;animportantconsiderationinestablishingenvironmentally-soundandlowmaintenancelandscapes.

Nativeplantsareespeciallyadaptedtopoorersoilsandmayrequirenofertilizersorpesticides.Someofthem,e.g.sweetfern,refuse

togrowwell,andsometimesnotatall,ifgivenfertilizer.Nativeplantsarealsoadaptedtothesoilsandrequirelittleornowatering.

Retainingnativebuffersproducesgreatbenefitsforwildlife.Establishingislandsofvegetationoffersincreasedbioticdiversityandhelpsproducewildlifebenefits.

Nativespeciesmaintainnaturaldiversityprovidinganalternativetoboringlandscapeswhichroutinelyappeararoundshoppingcenters,industrialbuildingsandcondominiums.Somepeoplefeelthatdisturbedlandshouldreflectthenaturalplantsystemsinplacebefore

thesitewasdisturbed.


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Nativespeciesmaybeslowtoestablish,butthisisnotasignificantdrawback.Somesortofmulchisusuallyusedanywaytocontrolerosiononnewly-seededdisturbedareas.Generally,ittakesayearorsobeforenative

speciescanbeginprotectingthesoil,butwithintwoorthreeyearstheycanprovideasmuchcoverasnon-natives.Nativespeciesarebecomingpopularforhighwayembankments,utilitycorridors,andother

developmentsites.Theavailabilityofnativeplantingstock,seedsortransplants,is

sometimeslimitedbecauseoflackofdemandorlimitedknowledgeaboutpropagationmethodsandculturalrequirements.Theremaybelimited

numbersofspeciesadaptedtoartificiallyalteredordisturbedsites.Theuseofintroducedspeciesmaybenecessarywhenthenumbersofsuitableplantspeciesislimited.Increaseddemandfornativeplantmaterials,however,willencouragenurserysupplierstostockthem.

Non-Native SpeciesOther terminology: Introduced, Exotic.

Thenumberofintroducedspecieswithpotentialforrevegetationofanyparticularsiteisusuallygreaterthanthenumberofnativespecies.Thecommercialavailabilityofintroducedspeciesisusuallygreaterbecause

theyaretheplantsofourcultivatedlandscapes,andmoreinformationisusuallyavailableabouttheirpropagationandculturalrequirements.

Introducedplantsmaysometimesbebetteradaptedtoanareathannativeplants.Thismaybesobecauseofrandomchanceinevolutionor

becauseevolutionarychangesinthenativeplantspectrumhavenotoccurredasrapidlyasclimaticchanges.Introducedplantssometimeshavefewerproblemsthannativesbecausediseasesandpestshavebeenleftbehind.Introducedspeciesmaybemorepleasing,aesthetically,than

manynativesinurbanizedareasbecausetheyblendwiththesurroundings.Therearenowabout900alienorintroducedplantspeciesin

Massachusetts,aboutathirdofthestatesflora.Intheirnativehabitats,

manyoftheseplantswererestrainedbythepestsanddiseasesthatevolvedwiththemoverthousandsofyears.Whenbroughtintoanewenvironment,however,theyarenotboundbynaturalrestraints.Thecharacteristicsofdiseaseresistance,fastgrowth,abundantreproduction,

easypropagation,wildlifefoodproductionallowthemtooutcompeteand

overwhelmnativeplants.

Native GrassesBig Bluestem*Andropogon gerardiiBigBluestemisalong-livedperennial,warm-seasonnativegrassthathasexcellentdroughtresistance.Itisbeingusedincriticalareaseedings

wherecoolseasonspeciescannottoleratethehightemperaturesorcoarsesoils.ItisselectedfortheNortheastforitsstandarddurability.Itgrowsfrom5to7feettallandisveryleafy.

BigBluestemisanerosioncontrolplantforsandandgravelpits,mine


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spoil,androadsides.Itisalsoexcellentcoverforwildlife.SeedBigBluestemintheearlyspring,takingcaretocompactthesoilafterseeding.Seedat15to20poundsperacre.Itisslowtogerminateand

establishthefirstyearbutwillproducefairtogoodcoverbytheendofthesecondyear.BigBluestemgrowswellonhot,droughtysites.Ittoleratesmediumtolow

fertility,acid,sandy,loamy,andclayeysoils,haspoorshadetoleranceandpreferswell-drainedsites.

Little Bluestem*Schizachryrium scopariumLittleBluestemisapersistent,lowmaintenance,warm-seasonbunchtypeperennialgrass.Asanativegrass,LittleBluestemisalmostalwaysincorporatedintomixesusedtoproducelonglivingnativestands.Usedasacoverplantonslopesandroadbanks.

Growswelloneitheruplandsorlowlands.Itisdroughttolerantandadaptedtowidevarietyofsoiltypes,butisnotveryshadetolerant.Itsrusset-redcolorinfallandwintermakeitdesirableforlandscaping.

Height:1-3Seedlingvigorisweak,andcontrolofcompetitionisnecessary.Forbestresults,soilpHshouldbebetween5.5to6.5.

DeertongueDichanthelium clandestinumDeertongueisanativewarm-seasonbunchgrassthatgrowstoaheightof1-1/2to3feet.Ithasbroad,shortleavesandastrong,fibrousrootsystem.

ItwilltoleratesiteswithapHaslowas3.8andaluminumconcentrationswhichlimitgrowthofotherspecies.

Deertongueisexcellentforrevegetatingacidminespoilandgroundcoverforerodiblesandyareas,suchasroadbanks,ditchbanks,andgravelpits.

Theseedsareeatenbymanyspeciesofbirds.Deertonguegrowsinlow-fertility,acid,loamy,andsandysoils.Ithasexcellentdroughttolerance,poorshadetolerance,andtoleratesmoderatelywelldrainedsoil.

Establishbyseedingearlyinspring.Seed12to15poundsperacre.Itcanbeseededwith10to15poundsoftallfescueorperennialryegrassforquickcover.Itwillproducecompletecoverin2years.

Eastern Gamagrass* Tripsacum dactyloidesAnative,warm-season,perennial,tallgrassthatgrowsinlargeclumpsfrom1-4feetindiameteronstems3-9feettall.Regrowsvigorouslyafter

mowing.Height:3-9

Indiangrass*Sorghastrum nutansIndiangrassisanative,perennialwarmseasonbunchtypegrassthat

grows3to5feetinheightandproducesmostheavilyfromJulythroughSeptember.Indiangrassisexcellentforwildlifehabitat,criticalareaseedingandas

roadsidebeautificationanderosioncontrol.Indiangrassiswinterhardy.Itgrowsbestindeep,well-drainedsoil,butistolerantofmoderatelywetsoil.


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Tumble Lovegrass*EragrostisSpectabilisFine-leavedbunchgrass;tan,purplish,

dainty,featheryseedheads.Growsbestinsandysoil.Height:10-12"

Annual RyegrassLolium multiflorumAnnualRyegrassisashortlived,annualgrassusefulforobtainingquickgroundcoverforlawns,slopes,andmine

spoils.Itusuallygerminatesin4to7days,makingitveryeffectiveforsoilerosion.Itisadaptedtoawiderangeofsoilconditions.Seedinmixturesata

rateof20to30poundsperacre.

Switchgrass*Panicum virgatumSwitchgrassisamediumheighttotallperennialgrassthatgrowsnativeinnontidalmarshes,streambanks,lakeshores,moistwoods,andfreshtidal

marshes.Growsunderawiderangeofsoils:low-fertility,acid,sandy,clayey,andloamysoils.Winterhardy,andhasexcellentheatanddroughttolerance,

lowshadetolerance.Doeswellonmoderatelywelldrainedsoils.Feathery,openheads;orange-yellowinwinter.

Switchgrassisavaluablesoilstabilizationplantonstripminespoil,sanddunes,dikes,andothercriticalareas.Itisalsosuitableforlowwindbreak

plantingsintruckcropfieldsandprovidesfoodandexcellentnestingandfallandwintercoverforwildlife.Switchgrassrequires1to2yearstobecometotallyestablished.Littleornomanagementisrequiredafterestablishment.

Height:4-5Varieties:Blackwell-reclamation(performsbetterunderlowmaintenanceandwetsoils),4to5feettall.Shelter-PlantMaterialCenterreleasedvariety,wildlifecover,4to6feettall.Besidesbeingagoodplantforrevegetationofsurfaceminespoil,sandandgravelpits,andsteep,sandyroadsidecuts,Shelterisanexcellent

wildlifeplantthatprovidesyear-roundcoverandfoodduringthefallandwinter.Itsstiffstemsresistlodgingandwillrecovertoanuprightpositionafterwintersnowstorms.


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Canada WildryeElymus canadensisAcoolseason,nativegrassthatprefers

moistsites.Thisperennialbunchgrass

hasverygoodseedlingvigorandearlyspringgrowth,whichmakeiteasyto

establishandcovergroundrapidly.(SeealsoWetlandGrasses.)

Riverbank Wild RyeElymus ripariusThisryegrowsalongnontidalshores,wetwoods,meadows,prairiesandalsofreshtidalmarshes.Withtheexceptionofhavingasomewhatnoddingspike,this

perennialgrasshasverysimilar

characteristicstoVirginiaWildRye.(SeealsoWetland Grasses.)

Virginia WildryeElymus virginicusAcool-season,nativegrassthattoleratesbothmoistanddrysites,shadeandfull

sun.Mediumheightperennial.Whileitcanbeplantedalone,itmakesanexcellentcomponentinafloodplainmixorahabitatmix.(SeealsoWetlandGrasses.)

BroomsedgeAndropogon virginicus

BroomsedgeisaveryhardyperennialwhichwilltoleratebothlowpHandfertility.Itisaclumptypegrassthatwillgrowtoaheightof1to3feet.Mainlyfoundinuplandwetareas,anexcellentgroundcover,andprovidesfeedforgameandsongbirds.*Denotes warm-season grass.

Other GrassesKentucky bluegrassKentuckybluegrasshashigherlimeandfertilityrequirementsthansomeotherperennialgrasses.Bluegrassspreadsbystrongrhizomesand,where

adapted,isanexcellentsoilstabilizer,readilyfillingindamagedspots.It

hasundergoneintensivebreedingactivityinrecentyears,resultinginvarietieswithmoreheattoleranceandresistancetohot-weatherdiseases

Creeping Red FescueFestuca rubraCreepingRedFescuegrowsinmediumfertility,slightlyacid,clayeyand loamysoils.Ithasfairdroughttolerance,excellentshadetoleranceand

requireswelldrainedsoils.Itwillproduceacompletecoverofattractive, uniformsodinoneyear. Itisacoolseason,finetextured,lawngrassthathasnarrow,brightgreen leaves.Similartobluegrass.


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Itspreadsbyshortundergroundstemstoproduceatight,densesodforstabilizingroadbanksandnorthfacingslopes.Above-groundstemshaveareddishtintandgrowtoaheightof18inches.Redfescuemayturnbrown

inhot,drysummerweatherbutwillrecoverinthefall.Redfescueisestablishedbyseedingonafirmseedbedinspringorearlyfall.Itisusuallyusedinamixconstituting25to60percentofthetotaland

seededat3to5poundsperthousandsquarefeet.Pennlawnisthemostpopularvarietyavailable.

Red TopAgrostis albaRedtopisatough,cool-seasonperennialgrasstolerantofinfertile,droughty,somewhatacidsoils.RedTopwillprovidequickcoverforcriticalareassuchasgrassedwaterways,roadbanks,diversions,andstripminespoils.Otheruses

includeerosioncontrol,andtemporarygrassinturfseedings.Itcanbeausefulcomponentofmixturesondry,stonyslopes.Itisafast-starting,sod-forminggrassthatisabout18inchestallat

maturity.Itwillproduceeffectivegroundcoverthefirstyear.Becauseitisfaststartingandtoleratescoldtemperaturesandpoorlydrainedsoils,redtopiswidelyusedasacomponentinmixturesplantedondisturbedsitesinNortheast.

RedTopgrowsinclayey,loamy,andsandysoils.Ithaspoorshadetolerance.

Perennial RyegrassLolium perennePerennialRyegrassisafastgrowing,shorttermgrassusedforsoil

stabilizationandimprovementandlawns.Rapidgrowthrateistheprimaryconservationvalue,producingcompletecoverinafewmonths.

Itgrowsinmediumfertility,acid,clayeyandloamysoils.Ithasfairdroughttolerance,poorshadetoleranceandwilltoleratesomewhatpoorlydrainedsoil.Itgrowstoaheightof1to2feet.Manylong,narrowleavesextendfromthebaseoftheplant.

Oftentimes,seedingmixturescontainingredfescue,redtop,Canadabluegrass,orperennialryegrassareused;astheyprovidegoodshorttermerosionprotection,butwillallowindigenousplantstoeventually

naturalizethesite.Whenusedinmixes,ryegrassshouldnotexceed20%ofthemix.TheturfvarietiesarelongerlivedandincludeManhattanII,PennantandPennfine.

Native LegumesRoundhead lespedezaLespedeza capitaRoundheadlespedezaiscommononsanddunes,dryfields,sandywoods, androadsides.Itisimportantforsoilstabilization.ItflowersfromJuneto September.Thefoliageiseatenbydeerandturkeys.Seedsareconsumed byuplandbirdsandrodents.

Roundheadlespedezaseediscommerciallyavailable.Theseedshouldbe scarifiedtoassurehighratesofgermination.Lifespan:perennial.


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Panicled tickcloverDesmodium paniculatumPanicledtickcloverisinfrequenttolocallycommonindrywoods,especiallyifthesoilis

rockyorsandy.Itoccasionallyisfoundonroadsides.ItflowersfromJulytoSeptember.Itisconsumedbydomesticlivestockanddeer

whileitisimmature.Rodentsandbirdsutilizetheseeds.Seedisnotcommerciallyavailable.Panicledtickcloverhasnovalueforlandscapingor

erosioncontrol.Lifespan:perennial.

Canada tickcloverDesmodium canadenseCanadatickcloverisinfrequenttocommonin

prairiesandthicketsandalongriversandroads.Itismostcommoninsandysoil.ItflowersfromJulytoSeptember.Foliageiseaten

bydeerandrabbits.Manykindsofrodentsandbirdseattheseeds. Canadatickcloverispoorforerosioncontrol.Ithasnovaluefor landscaping.Lifespan:perennial.

Yellow wildindigoBaptisia tinctoriaYellowwildindigoisscatteredtocommoninopenwoodsandclearings. ItflowersfromlateMaythroughJuly.Lifespan:perennial.

Seedisseldomcommerciallyavailable.Mostseedisdestroyedinthe legumebyweevils.Germinationmaybeimprovedbyscarificationand

stratification.Itisanattractivelandscapeplant. Cautionmustbetaken,becauseitmaybepoisonoustohumans.

GroundnutApios americanaGroundnutisinfrequenttolocallycommoninmoistsoilsofravines, pondandstreambanks,andthickets.Lifespan:perennial.

Seedsareeatenbyuplandgamebirdsandsongbirds.Tubersareeaten bymice,rabbits,andsquirrels. Seedisnotcommerciallyavailable.Theplanthasnopotentialfor

landscaping,althoughitholdspromiseasatanglevineforerosion control.

Beach peaLathyrus japonicusNativetocoastalMassachusetts.Adaptedtobeach/dunesites.Life span:perennial. Seededinmoist,inter-duneareas.

Bush cloverLespidesa capitataBushclovermaybeusedinlocationswhereSericeaLespedezawouldpreviouslyhavebeenrecommended.


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Native Ground CoversWintergreen Gaugtheria paceumbens

6" (Height) x 3 (Spread)Acid, average/dry soil. Partial shade. Evergreen, reddish in winter, pinkish-

white flowers, red berries.

BearberryArtostaphylus uva-ursi

9" x 3

Sandy soil. Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen, bronze in fall, urn-shaped

flowers, red berries, sturdy and reliable.

Cranberry Vaccinium macrocarpon

4" x 3

Cool, moist soil. Full sun. Evergreen, dense, glossy, red edible fruit.

Bunchberry Cornus Canadensis

6"

Moist, acid soil. Partial/full shade. Excellent under pines, broad-leaved

evergreens, lovely fruit, whorled leaves, beautiful.

Trailing arbutusEpigaea repens

5" x 2

Acid, sandy soil with oak leave/pine needle mulch. Evergreen; dainty, fragrant

flowers, does not tolerate disturbance. State flower of Massachusetts.

Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinequefolia

35Vine/ground cover. Tolerant as to soil. Sun/shade. Excellent low-maintenance

cover, does not need support, red in fall, blue berries.

Coastal Dune VegetationRevegetationofconstructionsitesrequiresspecialattentionto

selectionofplantspecies.Intheforeduneareathereareonlyafewplantsthattoleratethestressesofthebeachenvironment.Theymustbeabletosurvivesaltspray,sandblasting,burialbysand,saltwaterflooding,drought,heat,andlownutrientsupply.

CapeAmerican beachgrassAmericanbeachgrassisacool-seasonperennialdunegrass;fordune

buildingandasastabilizerintheforedunezone.Easytopropagate,itestablishesandgrowsrapidly,andisreadilyavailablefromcommercial

nurseries.Itisanexcellentsandtrappercapableofgrowingupwardwithfour

feetofaccumulatingsandinoneseason.Newplantingsareusuallyeffectiveattrappingwind-blownsandbythemiddleofthefirstgrowing

season.Beachgrassisalsoagoodplantforinteriordunezonesaswellasotherdroughty,sandysitesinland.


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Americanbeachgrassisextremelyvaluableforinitialstabilizationanddunebuildingindisturbedareas.Itisseverelyaffectedbyheatanddroughtandtendstodeteriorateanddiebehindfrontaldunesasthe

sandsupplydeclines.Itisalsosusceptibletoafungaldisease(Marasmiusblight)anda

softscaleinsect(Eriococcuscarolinae).Beachgrassplantingsshould,

therefore,bereinforcedwithplantingsofwoodyspeciessuchasbeachplumorbarberry.Interiorduneareasarecandidatesforawidervarietyofcoastalwoodyshrubs.

Saltmeadow cordgrassAwarm-seasonperennialusefulfortransplantingonlowareas

subjecttosaltwaterflooding.Itisaheavyseedproducerandisoftenthefirstplantonmoistsandflats.Itcollectsandaccumulatesblowing

sand,creatinganenvironmentsuitableforduneplants.Saltmeadowcordgrassiseasytotransplantonmoistsitesbutdoes

notsurviveondrydunes.Plantsshouldbedugfromyoung,openstands.Survivaloftransplantsfromolder,thickstandsispoor.Nursery

productionfromseedisrelativelyeasy,andthepot-grownseedlingstransplantwell.Propagationbyseedispossible,butthepercentageofviableseedvaries.

Beach plumAshruboftheNewEnglandcoastalareas,ofspecialinterestforits

ediblefruit.Itgrowswellinsandy,dry,windsweptsites,andproducesaprofusionofwhiteflowersinearlyMay.BeachPlumgrowstoabout6feetinheightandmakesanexcellentmassedseasideplantingora

hedgetopreventerosionbecauseitcantoleratesaltspray.Nurserygrownplantsarerecommended,astransplantingfromthewildisnotoftensuccessful.Producesflowersandfruitin3to4years;maturesin7

to8years.BeachPlumrequirescross-pollinationtoinsurefruitproductionso

itisnecessarytohavemorethanoneplantifplumsaredesired.Beachplumcanbegrowninareasotherthancoastaldunes.Growsinmedium-

fertility,acid,loamy,andsandysoils;excellentdroughttolerance;fairshadetolerance;toleratesmoderatelywell-drainedsoil.

BayberryBayberryisasemi-evergreenshrubthatgrowstoaheightof6to8

feet.Idealforsunny,coastalsites.Growsinlow-fertility,acid,clayey,loamy,andsandysoils;excellentdroughttolerance,poorshadetolerance;toleratesmoderatelywell-drainedsoil.Versatilefor

landscapingandrevegetating,sanddunesandinlandareas;berriesprovidefoodforbirds.Itcanalsohelpstabilizedryslopespronetoerosion.


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Producesfruitin3to4years;maturesin7to8years.Fruitappearsonlywherebothmaleandfemaleshrubsareplantedinthesamearea.Rootsfixnitrogen,whichhelpsbayberrygrowinlow-fertilitysoil.Establish

byplantingbare-rootorcontainer-grownseedlings2yearsold.Bayberrydoesbestinopensites.Itcanberejuvenatedbycuttingit

backhard,whichstimulatesundergroundlateralstemgrowth.Stemsroot

atthenodeswherenewleavesform,andnewplantscanbeestablishedbypinningdownaprostratestemnodetightlyagainstthesoil.

Rugosa RoseRugosaRoseproduceslargebushymassesofgreenerytoppedbyred

andwhiteblossomsfromsoilthatislittlemorethanloosesand.Spreadingandsprawling,itssix-footbranchescoveredwithspines,theplantisaformidablebarrierthatdeterstramplingfeetandanchorsdunes.

Itisusefulforroadsideanddunes,replacingplantswhichcouldnottoleratetheabuseofpedestriantraffic.

Intertidal VegetationInsaltwaterareas,smoothcordgrassistransplantedintheintertidal

zonefrommeansealeveltomeanhighwater,andsaltmeadowcordgrassfrommeanhighwatertothestormtidelevel.Inbrackishwaterareas(10partsperthousandorlessofsolublesalts),giantcordgrassmaybeusedin

theintertidalzone.Greenhouse-grownseedlingsoftheseplantscanbeobtainedfromcommercialsources,butusuallyonlyonspecialorder.Transplantsmaybedugfromyoung,opennaturalstandsofsmoothand

saltmeadowcordgrass.

Smooth cordgrassSmoothcordgrassisthedominantplantintheregularlyflooded

intertidalzoneofsaltwaterestuariesalongtheAtlanticandGulfCoastof

NorthAmerica.Itisadaptedtoanaerobic,salinesoilsthatmaybeclayey,sandy,ororganic.Itwilltoleratesalinitiesof35partsperthousand(ppt)butgrowsbestfrom10to20ppt.

Plantheightvariesfrom1to7ftdependingonenvironmental

conditionsandnutrientsupply.Itproducesadenserootandrhizomematthathelpspreventsoilmovement.Transplantscanbeobtainedbydiggingfromnew,openstandsofthegrassormaybegrownfromseedinpots.

SeedarecollectedinSeptemberandstored,coveredwithseawater,andrefrigerated.Theplantsandseedlingsgrowrapidlywhentransplantedonfavorablesites.

Saltmeadow cordgrassAfine-leavedgrass,1to3ftinheight,thatgrowsjustabovethemean

hightidelineinregularlyfloodedmarshes,andthroughoutirregularlyfloodedmarshes.Itcanbepropagatedinthesamewayassmoothcordgrassexceptthatseedmaybestoreddryunderrefrigeration.Astandofsaltmeadow

cordgrassprovidesgoodprotectionfromstormwaveerosion.


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Giant cordgrassGrowsinbrackish,irregularly-floodedareas.Stemsarethickerand

tallerthanintheothercordgrasses,growingtoaheightof9to10feet.

Seedlingsareeasytoproduceinpotsandthesecanbesuccessfullytransplanted,butsurvivalofplantsdugfromexistingstandsispoor.

Salt grassDistichlis spicataSaltgrassisanotherappropriateplantforintertidalzones.

Native ShrubsBayberryMyrica pensylvanica9(Height)x9(Spread) Sandy/claysoils.Fullsuntohalf-shade.Excellentformassing,borders, foundationplantings.

Mountain LaurelKalmia latifolia11x11 Acid,moist,well-drainedsoil.Sun/shade.Evergreen,magnificentin

flower,exquisiteinmass.

Common Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis9x16

Moistsoil.Sun.Looseinappearance;white,fragrantflowers;bestfor naturalizinginwetareas.

Pinxterbloom AzaleaRhododendron nudiflorum9x9 Dry,sandy,acidsoil.Brightgreenfoliage,yellowinfall,fragrantlight-pinkflowers,deciduous.

Roseshell AzaleaRhododendron noxeum9x9 Moist/drysoil.Deciduous,much-branched,brightpinkflowerswith

clove-likescent.

American ElderSambucus canadensis9x6

Moist/drysoil.Whiteprofuseflowers,ediblefruit,goodfornaturalizing.

Hardhack SpireaSpiraea tomentosa5x5 Moistsoil.Sun.Pinkspike-likeflowers,thicketofwand-likestems.

Canada Yew Taxus canadensis5x7 Moist,sandysoil.Needswintershade.Evergreen,hardy;suitablefor underplantingincool,shadedsituations.


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Lowbush Blueberry Vaccinium augustifolium2x2 Dry,acidsoil.Sun/partialshade.Whiteflowers,sweetberry,lustrousblue-

greenfoliage.

Highbush Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum9x10 Dry,acidsoil.Sun/partialshade.Excellentfallcolor,rounded,compact, ediblefruit,whiteflower.

American Cranberrybush Viburnum Viburnum milobum9X9 Well-drained,moistsoil.Sun/partialshade.Informalhedges;excellent flower,fruit,foliage.

Summersweet Clethra Clethra alnifolia6x5

Moist,acidsoil.Sun/shade.Whitefragrantflowers,handsomefoliage,pest-free.

Grey Dogwood Cornus racerosa12x12 Moist,well-drainedsoil.Sun/shade.(See also Wetland Shrubs.)

Beaked Filbert Corylus cornuta6x6

Well-drained,loamysoil.Sun/lightshade.Interestingbeakedfruits,refined, ediblefruit.

Common WinterberryIlex verticillata8x8 Moist,acidsoil.Sun/partialshade.Shrubborders,massingwaterside

planting,maleandfemalerequiredforfruit,redfruitframedbysnow.(Seealso Wetland Shrubs.)

Common JuniperJuniperus communis7x10" Drysoil.Sun.Usefulforundergrowthandnaturalizedplantings,extremely hardy,evergreen.

Common SpicebushLindera benzdin9x9 Moist,well-drainedsoil.Sun/halfshade.Splendidplantinflowerandfall

color,ornamentalfruit.(See also Wetland Shrubs.)


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Bush CinquefoilPotentilla pruticosa3x3 Moist,well-drainedsoil.Sun/partialshade.Lowhedge,perennialborder,

yellowflowers,gracefulappearance.

Blackhaw Viburnum Viburnum prunifolium13x10 Tolerantastosoil.Sun/shade.Massing,shrubborder,stifflybranched, redinfall,whiteflowers.

Rugosa Rose (naturalized)Rosa rugosa5x5 Well-drainedsoil.Sun.Beautifulinfoliage,flower,fruit,hedging,low maintenance,hardy,fragrantflowers.

Native TreesRed mapleAcer rubrum50(Height)x50(Spread) Acid,moistsoil.Oneoffirsttreestocolorinfall,dazzlingfallcolor.

Sugar mapleAcer saccharum70x50 Well-drained,slightlyacidsoil.Beautifulfallcolor,pleasinggrowth habit.

ShadblowAmelanchier canadensis20x20 Average/moistsoil.Whiteflowers,ediblesweetfruit,yellowinfall.

Sweet birchBetula lenta50x40 Rich,moist,well-drainedsoil.Reddish-brownbark,bestofbirchesfor

fallcolor.

Paper birchBetula papyrifera60x30 Well-drained,acidsoil.Fullsun.Handsomeforbarkandfallcolor,

splendidinwinterwithevergreens.

Common choke cherryPrunus virginiana25x22 Well-drainedsoil.Suntopartialshade.Roundedcrown,red/purple

ediblefruit,whitefragrantflowers.

White oak Quercus alba75x75

Moist,well-drainedacidsoil.Sun.Majestictreeforlargeareas.


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Northern red oak Quercus borealis75x60

Acid,well-drainedsoil.Shadetolerant.Highwildlifevalue,ascending

branches,globular.

Rosebay rhododendronRhododendron maximum20x10 Moist,acidsoil.Shade.Loose,openhabit;large,evergreenleaves;rose flowers.

Pussy willowSalix discolor25x6 Moistsoil.Sun.Multipletrunks,leggy,highwildlifevalue.

Canada hemlock Tsula canadensis50x30 Moist,well-drained,acidsoil.Sun/shade.Evergreenhedges,graceful,does

nottoleratewindordrought.

Nannyberry viburnum Viburnum lentago20x15

Moist/drysoil.Sun/shade.Durablenaturalizingorshrubborders,white flowers,handsomefruit,goodwinterfoodforbirds.(See also WetlandTrees.)

Shagbark hickory Carya ovata

70x35 Adaptabletowiderangeofsoils.Ediblenuts,shaggybark,picturesque.

Usechipsforbarbecues.

Pagoda dogwood Cornus alternifolia20x30

Moist,acid,well-drainedsoil.Partiallyshaded.Horizontal,low-branched, excellenttexturaleffects.

Flowering dogwood Cornus florida40x40 Acid,well-drainedsoil.Four-seasoncharacter;flower,foliage,fruit,winter habit.

WitchhazelHamamelis virginiana25x20

Moistsoil.Sun/shade.Shrubborder,fragrantflowers,yellowinfall.(Seealso Wetland Trees.)


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Eastern red cedarJuniperus virginiana45x14 Moistsoil.Sun.Windbreaks,hedges,reddish-brownbark,evergreen.

Eastern larchLarix laricina60x25 Moist,well-drainedacidsoil.Sun.Excellentingroves,horizontal, droopingbranches,deciduous.

Eastern white pinePinus strobus70x30

Tolerant as to soil. Sun/some shade. Handsome, beautiful hedge, graceful,

plume-like branches.

Quaking aspen Populus tremuloides

40 x 25

Tolerant as to soil. Narrow leaves flutter in breeze, yellow in fall.

Black cherry Prunus serotina

50x 25

Moist/dry soil. Sun. Oval-headed; lustrous, dark-green leaves, edible fruit.

Native Wetland Herbs and GrassesSweet flagAcorus calamusSweetFlagisaperennialherbusually1to4feettall.ItflowersfromMay

toAugustandhasaverypleasantaroma.Itgrowsinshallowwaters,nontidalmarshes,wetmeadows,andfreshtidalmarshes.

Swamp AsterAster puniceusSwampAsterisapopularwetlandperennialherb.ItdiffersfromNew

EnglandAsterinthatitoftenhashairy,purplishstems.ItbloomsfromJulytoOctobersportingabluish,daisy-likeflower.TheSwampAster,alsoknownastheRedStalkorPurpleStemmedAster,prefersverymoist,swampyareas.

Nodding Bur MarigoldBidens cernuaBurMarigoldisanannualherbthatreachesupto3-1/2feettall.Its

large,yellow,daisy-likeflowers,whichcontainsixtoeightpetals,willnodastheirmaturityincreasesfromJulyintoOctober.Itgrowsinfreshwatermarshesandalongstreambanks.

Beggar TicksBidens frondosaBeggar-Ticks,alsoknowntomanyastheStick-Tight,isanannualherbreachingupto4feet.ItproducessmallyellowtoorangeflowersfromJunetoOctober.Itisfoundinmanywetareasincludingditches,

pastures,andwetmeadowsandfields.


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Fringed Sedge Carex crinitaFringedSedgeisaperennialgrasslikeplantgrowingupto4-1/2feethigh.ItflowersfromMaythroughJuneandgrowsinfreshwatermarshes,wet

meadows,forestedwetlands,pondborders,andditches.

Lurid Sedge Carex luridaThissedgewillreachupto3-1/2feettall.ItflowersfromJuneintoOctoberandgrowsinfreshwatermarshes,wetmeadows,forestedwetlands,ditches,andpondborders.

Fox Sedge Carex vulpinoideaFoxSedgeisveryhardy,anidealpioneerplantwhenestablishingnewwetlands.Itisaperennialgrasslikeplantreachingupto3-1/2feettall.ItflowersfromJunethroughAugust.Itgrowsinfreshwatermarshes,wet

meadows,andotherwetplaces.

Grass-Leaved GoldenrodSolidago graminifoliaGrassLeavedGoldenrodisaperennialherbgrowingupto4feettall.SmallyellowflowersappearonthetopofthestemfromJulythroughOctober.Itgrowsinnontidalmarshesandmeadows,variousopen,moistordryinlandhabitatsandbrackishtidalmarshes.

Hop Sedge Carex lupulinaThesesedgesareperennialgrasslikeplantsverycommontowetlands.

Theyaddbeautyaswellasseedforducksandotherwildlife.Theyreachheightsbetween1-to3feettallandbloomfromMaytoOctober.They

growwellinopenwoodlands,seasonallyfloodedareas,standingwater,andsaturatedsoils.

Riverbank Wild RyeElymus ripariusThisryegrowsalongnontidalshores,wetwoods,meadows,prairiesandalsofreshtidalmarshes.Withtheexceptionofhavingasomewhatnodding

spike,thisperennialgrasshasverysimilarcharacteristicstoVirginiaWildRye.

Virginia Wild RyeElumus virginicusVirginiaWildRyeisanexcellentpioneerspeciestousewhenestablishinganewwetland.Acoolseasonperennial,itisgoodforwildlifecoverandfoodandgrowsupto5feettall.Itisalsogoodforforage.Itisfoundinflood

plains,thickets,alongroadsides,andmanyotherwetareas.ItisshadeanddroughttolerantandcanhandlewetareasbetterthanRiverbankWildRye.

Canada Wild RyeElymus canadensisCanadaWildRyeisacoolseasonperennialbunchgrass.Itisgoodforwildlifefoodandcover,growingupto6feettall.Itisalsogoodforforage.

Itgrowsindryormoistsoilsandisdroughttolerant.


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Joe-Pye Weed(SpottedFlat-Topped)Eupatoriadelphus maculatus orEupatorium maculatumAverycommonwetlandplantinthenortheasternUnitedStates.It

growsinforestedwetlands,saturatedfieldsormeadows,andinshrubswamps.Itcanbeidentifiedbyitspurpleorpurplespottedstemsandaflat-toppedinflorescencewithsmallpinkishorpurplishflowersthat

bloomfromJulythroughSeptember.

BonesetEupatorium perfoliatumBonesetisaperennialherbreachingupto5feethigh.Itflowersinlate

JulythroughOctober.Nontidalandfreshtidalmarshes,wetmeadows,shrubswamps,lowwoods,shoresandothermoistareas.

Arrow ArumPeltandra virginica

ArrowArumisafleshyperennialherbthatgrowsupto2feettall.Inconspicuousflowersonaspikeenclosedwithinapointedleaf-likestructurewillappearfromMaythroughJuly.ArrowArumgrowsin

shallowwatersofponds,lakes,swamps,andmarshes.

Pennsylvania SmartweedPolygonum pennsylvanicumSmartweedisanannualherbreachingaheightof6-1/2feettall.Itgrows

wellinfreshwatermarshesandwetfieldsandmeadows.Itspinkorpurpleflowersareverysmallandarearrangedindenseclusters.

Blue FlagIris versicolorAmemberoftheIrisfamily,BlueFlagisaneye-catchingwetland

perennialherbthatgrowsinmanywetareasincludingnontidalandtidalmarshes,wetmeadows,andshores.Ablueflowercanbeseenon

theBlueFlagfromMaythroughJuly.

Rattle Snake Grass Glyceria canadensisThisperennialgrassgrowstoaheightupto3-1/2feettall.Itblooms

fromJunethroughAugustinforestedwetlands,wetmeadows,andbogs.

Fowl Manna GrassGlyceria striataAperennialgrassthatwillreach4feetinheight.Itprefersfreshwatermarshes,openforestedwetlands,andothersaturatedsoils.ItbloomsfromJuneonintoSeptember.

Soft RushJuncus effususSoftRushisaperennialgrass-likeplantthatgrowsupto3-1/2feettall.ItflowersfromJulyintoSeptember.Itgrowsinnontidalmarshes,wet

meadows,shrubswamps,wetpastures,andfreshtidalmarshes.


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Sensitive Fern Onoclea sensibilisSensitiveFerngrowsupto3-1/2feettall.ItflowersfromJuneintoOctober.Itgrowsinnontidalmarshes,meadows,forestedwetlands,andfreshtidal

marshes,andmoistwoodlands.

Rice CutgrassLeersia oryzoidesRiceCutgrassisamediumheighttotallperennialgrassgrowingupto5feethigh.ItflowersfromJuneintoOctober.Itgrowsinnontidalmarshes,

wetmeadows,ditches,muddyshores,andfreshtidalmarshes.

Wool GrassScirpus cyperinusWoolGrassisamediumheighttotallperennialgrasslikeplantthatgrows

upto6-1/2feethigh.ItflowersfromAugustthroughSeptember.Itgrowsinnontidalmarshes,wetmeadows,swamps,andfreshtidalmarshes.

Soft-Stemmed BulrushScirpus validusThisperennialherbgrowstoaheightofupto10feet.ItflowersfromJuneintoSeptember.Itgrowsininlandshallowwaters,shores,nontidalmarshes,andbrackishandfreshtidalmarshes.

Canada GoldenrodSolidago canadensisCanadaGoldenrodisamediumtotallperennialherb,sportingsmallyellowflowersinAugustthroughOctober.Itgrowswellalongstreambanks,and

inuplandwetareas.

Eastern Bur-WeedSparganium americanum

EasternBur-Weedisaperennialgrowingupto3-1/2feettall.ItflowersfromMaythroughAugust.Itgrowsinmuddyshores,shallowwatersandnontidalmarshes.

Prairie CordgrassSpartina pectinataPrairieCordgrassisanativeperennialthatgrowsfrom2to7feettall.ItflowersfromJulythroughSeptemberandgrowsinwetspots.

Narrow-Leaved Cattail Typha angustifoliaNarrow-LeavedCattailprovidesfoodandshelterforwildlifeandisusedtocontrolerosion.Ithasnarrowleaves(1/2"wide)andreachesupto6feet

tall.

Cattail Typha latifoliaTheCattailisaperennialherbgrowingto10feethigh.ItflowersfromMay

throughJuly.Itgrowsinnontidalmarshes,ponds,ditches,andfreshtidalmarshes.


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Blue Vervain Verbena hastataBlueVervainisaperennialherbthatgrowsupto5feettall.Theflowersarebluishtovioletandareborneonseveraldensespikes.Itsbloomsbeginin

JuneandcontinuethroughOctober.Itdoeswellinnontidalmarshes,wetmeadows,openshrubswamps,andmoistfields.

Turtlehead Chelone glabraTurtleheadisaperennialherbgrowingupto3feettall.Theflowers,whichbloomfromJulytoSeptember,resembleturtleheadsasthepetalsaretwo-lippedandtubular.Itcanbefoundgrowingalongstream

banks,forestedwetlands,swampsandfreshwatermarshes.

Native Wetland Shrubs and TreesRed Osier Dogwood Cornus stolonifera

Hasredstems,greenleaves,andwhitefruit.Itsabilitytospreadbylayeringanditstoleranceofwetsoilsmakesitanexcellentchoiceforstreambankerosioncontrol.Itisalsoausefuluplandplant,providingfoodandcoverforwildlifeandcolorforshrubbordersandlandscaping.Growsinmedium-fertility,slightlyacid,clayey,loamy,and

sandysoils.Ithasmoderateshadetoleranceandpoordroughttolerance.Whenplantingalongstreambanks,plantatthewatersedge,usingrootedcuttingsorfreshhardwoodunrootedcuttingsthatareatleast9

to12incheslongandleaving2inchesofthestemaboveground.Spreadsbylayeringwherestemscontacttheground.Itismoderatelyfastgrowing,reachingaheightof6to10feet.

Button bush Cephalanthus occidentalisButtonBushisabroadleaved,deciduous,tallshruborsmalltreegrowingto33feethigh.ItsflowersarewhiteandappearfromMay

thoughJune.Itgrowsinnontidalandfreshtidalmarshesandshrubswamps,forestedwetlands,andbordersofstreams,lakesandponds.

Grey Dogwood Cornus racemosaGreyDogwoodisashrubsimilartoSilkyDogwood,butpossessesgreytwigsandwhiteberries.Itgrowsinmediumfertility,acid,clayey,loamyandsandysoils.UnlikeSilkyDogwooditrequireswell-drainedsoil.Itis

bestadaptedalongstreambanks,inforestedwetlandsandshrubwetlands.Itcanbeestablishedbyseedorunrootedcuttings.

Silky dogwood Cornus amomumSilkyDogwoodisabroadleaveddeciduousshrubthatgrowstoaheightof9to12feet.Whiteflowersandblueorwhiteberriesremainuntillatesummerorearlyfall.Itisusedforstabilizinglowerslopesofstream

banks.Italsoprovidesfoodandcoverforgamebirds,songbirds,rabbits,raccoon,andotherwildlife.


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ToestablishonstreambanksplantSilkyDogwoodseedlings,rootedcuttingsorunrootedcuttings2feetapartorbroadcastseed.SilkyDogwoodprovideseffectivestreambankprotectionin3to5yearsand

alsoproducesfruitatthisage.SilkyDogwoodgrowsinforestedwetlands,shrubwetlands,streambanks,andmoistwoods.Itgrowsinmediumfertility,acid,clayey,loamy,andsandysoils.Ithasfairdroughttolerance,

fairshadetoleranceandtoleratespoorlydrainedsoil.

Witch HazelHamamelis virginianaWitchHazelisabroad-leaveddeciduousshruborlowtreeupto30feet

tall.ItflowersfromSeptemberintoNovember.Itgrowsinseasonallyfloodedswampsandforestedwetlands,andtidalswamps.

Common WinterberryIlex verticillata

Winterberryisabroadleaved,deciduousshrubgrowingupto16feettall.ItflowersfromMaythroughJuly.Itgrowsinseasonallyfloodedshrubswampsandforestedwetlands.Showyredberriesremainontheplant

untilspring.

SpicebushLindera benzoinSpicebushisabroadleaved,deciduousshrubgrowingupto16feettall.It

flowersfromMarchthroughJuly.Itgrowsinnontidalmarshes,ponds,ditchesandfreshtidalwoodlands.

Swamp RoseRosa palustrisSwampRoseisabroad-leaved,deciduousthornyshrubgrowingupto7

feettall.Itbloomspinkfive-petalledflowersfromMaythroughJuly.Itgrowsinuplandfields,thickets,andwoods,andforestedwetlands.

Black WillowSalix nigraAbroad-leaveddeciduousshrubortreethatcanreachaheightof70feettallormore.Itgrowswellinnontidalforestedwetlands,freshtidal

marshes,tidalswamps,andwetmeadows.IdentifyingcharacteristicsoftheBlackWillowisitsbrownishorblackishdeeplygroovedbarkanditsnarrowleaves.

Common ElderberrySambucus canadensisElderberryisabroadleaveddeciduousshrubgrowingupto12feettall.ItflowersfromJunethroughJuly.Itgrowsinnontidalandfreshtidalmarshes

andswamps,meadows,oldfields,moistwoods,andalongroadsides.

Arrowwood Viburnum Viburnum dentatumArrowwoodisabroadleaveddeciduousshrubgrowingupto15feettall.It

flowersfromMaythroughJuly.Itgrowsinnontidalandfreshtidalmarshes,shrubswamps,andforestedwetlands.Italsodoeswellinmoistwoods,andvariousdriersites.


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Nannyberry or Wild Raisin Viburnum lentagoNannyberryisabroadleaveddeciduousshruborsmalltreegrowingupto27feettall.Ithaslong,pointedleaveswithwingedstalks.Itflowers

fromAprilintoMayandproducesberriesinthefallthatareeatenbywildlife.Itgrowsinforestedwetlands,openuplandwoodsandthickets,fencerowsandroadsides.

Northern or Smooth Arrowwood Viburnum recognitumArrowwoodisabroadleaveddeciduousshrubgrowingupto15feettall.ItflowersfromMaythroughJuly.Itgrowsinnontidalandfreshmarshes,shrubswamps,forestedwetlands,moistwoodsandvarious

driersites.

American Cranberrybush Viburnum trilobum

Thisshrubprovideswinterfoodforgrouse,songbirds,andsquirrelsandisusefulforhedgesandborders.Itgrowsinmedium-fertility,acid,clayey,loamyandsandysoils.Ithaspoordroughttolerance,fairshadetoleranceandtoleratespoorlydrainedsoil.

Establishing Vegetation

Site PreparationThesoilonadisturbedsitemustbemodifiedtoprovidean

optimumenvironmentforgerminationandgrowth.Additionoftopsoil,

soilamendments,andtillageareusedtoprepareagoodseedbed.Atplantingthesoilmustbelooseenoughforwaterinfiltrationandroot

penetration,butfirmenoughtoretainmoistureforseedlinggrowth.Tillagegenerallyinvolvesdisking,harrowing,raking,orsimilarmethod.Limeandfertilizershouldbeincorporatedduringtillage.

TopsoilingThesurfacelayerofanundisturbedsoilisoftenenrichedinorganic

matterandhasphysical,chemical,andbiologicalpropertiesthatmake

itadesirableplantingandgrowthmedium.Topsoilshouldbestrippedoffpriortoconstructionandstockpiledforuseinfinalrevegetationof

thesite.Topsoilingmaynotberequiredfortheestablishmentofless

demanding,lowermaintenanceplants,butitisessentialonsiteshavingcriticallyshallowsoilsorsoilswithotherseverelimitations.Itisalsoessentialforestablishingfineturfandornamentals.


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Soil AmendmentsLiming

Limingisalmostalwaysrequiredondisturbedsitestodecreasethe

acidity(raisepH),reduceexchangeablealuminum,andsupplycalciumandmagnesium.Evenonthebestsoils,somefertilizerisrequired.Suitableratesandtypesofsoilamendmentsshouldbedeterminedthroughsoiltests.Limestoneandfertilizershouldbeapplieduniformlyduringseedbed

preparationandmixedwellwiththetop4to6inchesofsoil.

Organic amendmentsOrganicamendments,inadditiontolimeandfertilizer,mayimprove

soiltilth,structure,andwater-holdingcapacityallofwhicharehighlybeneficialtoseedlingsestablishmentandgrowth.Someamendmentsalsoprovidenutrients.Examplesofusefulorganicamendmentsincludewell-

rottedanimalmanureandbedding,cropresidue,peat,andcompost.Organicamendmentsareparticularlyusefulwheretopsoilisabsent,

wheresoilsareexcessivelydrained,andwheresoilsarehighinclay.Theapplicationofseveralinchesoftopsoilusuallyeliminatestheneedfor

organicamendments.

Surface RougheningAroughsurfaceisespeciallyimportanttoseedingslopedareas.Contourdepressionsandloosesurfacesoilhelpretainlime,fertilizer,andseed.A

roughsurfacealsoreducesrunoffvelocityandincreasesinfiltration.

Permanent CoverApermanenttypeofvegetationshouldbeestablishedassoonaspossible: toreducedamagesfromsedimentandrunofftodownstreamareas;andto avoidsevereerosiononthesiteitself. Vegetationmaybeintheformofgrass-typegrowthbyseedingorsodding,

oritmaybetreesorshrubs,oracombinationofthese.Establishingthis covermayrequiretheuseofsupplementalmaterials,suchasmulchor jutenetting.

Planting MethodsSeedingisthefastestandmosteconomicalmethodthatcanbeused

withmostspecies.However,somegrassesdonotproduceseedandmust

beestablishedbyplantingrunnersorstems(sprigging)orplugscutfromsod(plugging).Seedbedpreparation,liming,andfertilizationare

essentiallythesameregardlessofthemethodchosen.

SeedingUniformseeddistributionisessential.Thisisbestobtainedusinga

cycloneseeder(hand-held),dropspreader,conventionalgraindrill,

cultipackerseeder,orhydraulicseeder.Thegraindrillandcultipackerseeders(alsocalledgrassseederpackerorBrilliondrill)arepulledbyatractorandrequireaclean,evenseedbed.


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Onsteepslopes,hydroseedingmaybetheonlyeffectiveseedingmethod.Surfacerougheningisparticularlyimportantwhenpreparingslopesforhydroseeding.Incontrasttootherseedingmethods,arugged

andeventrashyseedbedgivesthebestresults.Hand-broadcastingshouldbeconsideredonlyasalastresort,becauseuniformdistributionisdifficulttoachieve.Whenhand-broadcastingof

seedisnecessary,minimizeunevendistributionbyapplyinghalftheseedinonedirectionandtheotherhalfatrightanglestothefirst.Smallseedshouldbemixedwithsandforbetterdistribution.Asodseeder(no-tillplanter)isusedtorestoreorrepairweakcover.It

canbeusedonmoderatelystonysoilsandunevensurfaces.Itisdesignedtopenetratethesod,opennarrowslits,anddepositseedwithaminimumofsurfacedisturbance.Fertilizerisappliedinthesameoperation.

Inoculation of legumesLegumeshavebacteria,rhizobia,whichinvadetheroothairsandformgall-likenodules.Thehostplantsuppliescarbohydratestothe

bacteria,whichsupplytheplantwithnitrogencompoundsfixedfromtheatmosphere.Ahealthystandoflegumes,therefore,doesnotrequirenitrogenfertilizer.Rhizobiumspeciesarehostspecific;agivenspecieswillinoculatesomelegumesbutnotothers.Successfulestablishmentof

legumes,therefore,requiresthepresenceofspecificstrainsofnodule-forming,nitrogen-fixingbacteriaontheirroots.Inareaswherealegumehasbeengrowing,sufficientbacteriamaybepresentinthesoiltoinoculateseededplants,butinotherareasthenaturalRhizobium

populationmaybetoolow.Inacidsubsoilmaterial,ifthespecificRhizobiumisnotalreadypresent,itmustbesuppliedbymixingitwiththeseedatplanting.Culturesfor

thispurposeareavailablethroughseeddealers.

Sprigging and PluggingSpriggingreferstoplantingstemfragmentsconsistingofrunners

(stolons)orlateral,belowgroundstems(rhizomes),whicharesoldby

thebushel.Thismethodcanbeusedwithmostwarm-seasongrassesandwithsomegroundcovers,suchasperiwinkle.Certainduneandmarshgrassesaretransplantedusingverticalshootswithattached

rootsorrhizomes.Lawn-typeplantsareusuallyspriggedmuchmorethickly.

Broadcastingiseasierbutrequiresmoreplantingmaterial.Broadcastsprigsmustbepressedintothetopto1inchofsoilby

handorwithasmoothdisksetstraight,specialplanter,cultipacker,orroller.

Pluggingdiffersfromspriggingonlyintheuseofplugscutfromestablishedsod,inplaceofsprigs.Itisusuallyusedtointroducea

superiorgrassintoanoldlawn.Itrequiresmoreplantingstock,butusuallyproducesacompletecovermorequicklythansprigging.


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SoddingInsodding,thesoilsurfaceiscompletelycoveredbylayingcut

sectionsofturf.Acommercialsourceofhigh-qualityturfisrequiredand

watermustbeavailable.Plantingsmustbewetdownimmediatelyafterplanting,andkeptwellwateredforaweekortwothereafter.

Sodding,thoughquiteexpensive,iswarrantedwhereimmediateestablishmentisrequired,asinstabilizingdrainagewaysandsteepslopes,

orintheestablishmentofhigh-qualityturf.Ifproperlydone,itisthemostdependablemethodandthemostflexibleinseasonalrequiremen

massachusetts erosion and sedimentation control guidelines - part 3

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