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Plants &
"Your resourcefulness, ingenuity, and fearlessness in attacking this tough project and rapidly completing it has put us in the very best possible position to have a shot at surviving until next year. We are thrilled with your EXTRAORDINARY restoration of our dune. Your workmanship is superb, and you left our place looking terrific." -- Melissa, Sawyer MI
Naked dune areas? Need plants? DRS can help!
Naked dune areas? Need plants? DRS can help!
How do plants help with erosion?
How do plants help with erosion?
Grasses and other plants slow erosion in several ways. First, they slow the wind that carries sand, causing the sand to fall and accumulate around the stems of plants, which stimulates grass growth while rebuilding the dune. In addition, plants' underground root systems also stabilize the dune. For example, dune grass roots (rhizomes) can spread 6 feet per year and will eventually grow more than 10 feet deep. This stabilized dune provides a good foundation for the growth of forbs (e.g., milkweed, goldenrod, puccoon), groundcovers (e. g., creeping juniper, bearberry), shrubs (e. g., sand cherries, willow), and trees (e.g., white cedar, oak, pine, cottonwood, quaking aspen). In addition to slowing erosion, vegetation shelters many small creatures and provides important resting places for migrating birds and butterflies.*
Grasses and other plants slow erosion in several ways. First, they slow the wind that carries sand, causing the sand to fall and accumulate around the stems of plants, which stimulates grass growth while rebuilding the dune. In addition, plants' underground root systems also stabilize the dune. For example, dune grass roots (rhizomes) can spread 6 feet per year and will eventually grow more than 10 feet deep. This stabilized dune provides a good foundation for the growth of forbs (e.g., milkweed, goldenrod, puccoon), groundcovers (e. g., creeping juniper, bearberry), shrubs (e. g., sand cherries, willow), and trees (e.g., white cedar, oak, pine, cottonwood, quaking aspen). In addition to slowing erosion, vegetation shelters many small creatures and provides important resting places for migrating birds and butterflies.*
DRS plants quick-growing and locally sourced American dune grass stems (Ammophila breviligulata) in the fall or spring for best viability (they are less likely to survive in the summer heat). In the first year, the plants grow 5-6 stems and start sending up new plants along the running root system (rhizomes). In two years, the grasses almost completely cover the planted area (see photos below). As the grass grows, it collects sand around itself to build the dune. Gradually, a secondary wave of native plants will begin growing among the grasses (e.g., milkweed, goldenrod, grapevine). Owners may add plants to attract pollinators, remove invasive or non-native plants (e.g., poison ivy, bittersweet), add native shrubs and trees (e.g., sand cherry, willow, cottonwood), or wait for these to naturally establish themselves.
DRS plants quick-growing and locally sourced American dune grass stems (Ammophila breviligulata) in the fall or spring for best viability (they are less likely to survive in the summer heat). In the first year, the plants grow 5-6 stems and start sending up new plants along the running root system (rhizomes). In two years, the grasses almost completely cover the planted area (see photos below). As the grass grows, it collects sand around itself to build the dune. Gradually, a secondary wave of native plants will begin growing among the grasses (e.g., milkweed, goldenrod, grapevine). Owners may add plants to attract pollinators, remove invasive or non-native plants (e.g., poison ivy, bittersweet), add native shrubs and trees (e.g., sand cherry, willow, cottonwood), or wait for these to naturally establish themselves.
How does erosion-control matting help?
How does erosion-control matting help?
Good matting slows wind and water erosion, allows sun and water through to enhance plant growth, and biodegrades over a few years to add nutrients to the soil. For the steep slopes of Lake Michigan dunes, DRS installs woven bristle coir matting (made of coconut husks) because it is a strong natural material that is very effective for both dune protection and plant growth. Our coir matting and wooden stakes also enhance human and animal safety compared to plastic nettings, plastic stakes, or steel staples.
* For excellent homeowner resources about dune planting, see here, here and here.
Just-planted single grass corms are busy growing roots into the dune under the coir matting.
After 10 months, the grass is a vibrant green with several new stems; the coir has faded to gray that blends with the sand.
After 2 years, the grass is almost completely filled in and the roots are woven deeply into the dune, holding it in place for the next generation of plants.
In October 2020, DRS installed geotextile bags at the toe of the dune (saving a lovely tree that slid 40' down), built a lumber framework to hold tons of backfilled sand that had been lost to erosion, and planted hundreds of dune grass corms. This photo shows the dune in October 2022 (Sawyer, MI).
"The people of DRS are well-organized and competent, and phone calls are promptly returned.
It’s been a pleasure to work with them." -- Mike, Grand Haven MI
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