Thanks Stephen. I saw the site yesterday. I wouldn't want to do the maintenance. It's brutal. Dave Palmer Commercial Horticulture Manatee County Extension 1303 17th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-722-4524 x 226 [log in to unmask] http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu/comm-hort/ Blog - http://prohortmanatee.wordpress.com/ ________________________________________ From: South Central Green Team Discussion List [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Brown, Stephen [[log in to unmask]] Sent: Thursday, June 16, 2011 5:26 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: looking for knowledge/experience/success on steep berms Dave: Maintenance is going to be tough. I like the idea of the wax myrtle or saw palmetto planted close between a fiber blanket covered with a heavy layer of mulch. This should cut down on maintenance. Dune sunflower, railroad vine, mulhy grass, sea purslane and beach bean are short term perennials and I would not use any of those. Again, maintenance will be tough using any of these. For a groundcover consider Mimosa or golden creeper. For what it's worth, here are my own references on some of the plants mentioned. http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/Hort/GardenPubsAZ/beach_dune_sunflower_Helianthus_debilis.pdf http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/Hort/GardenPubsAZ/Golden_Creeper.pdf http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/Hort/GardenPubsAZ/Mimosa.pdf http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep417 http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/Hort/GardenPubsAZ/wax_myrtle.pdf Stephen H. Brown Interim County Director & Horticulture Program Leader University of Florida/IFAS 3406 Palm Beach Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33916 Lawns, Gardens, and Nurseries Solutions Phone: (239) 533-7513 Fax: (239) 485-2305 [log in to unmask] http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu//hort/GardenHome.shtml Solutions For Your Life" http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/TOPIC_SFYL_Start -----Original Message----- From: South Central Green Team Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Patricia Porchey Sent: Thursday, June 16, 2011 3:51 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: looking for knowledge/experience/success on steep berms Mimosa has a medium salt tolerance and its aggressive growth should hold the soil in place. -----Original Message----- From: South Central Green Team Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Palmer, Dave Sent: Thursday, June 16, 2011 2:50 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: looking for knowledge/experience/success on steep berms I saw the berm and it's truly 45 degrees and 30'-40' high, partly planted and much overgrown. It's must be a monster to maintain. I appreciate all the suggestions. I've made a lot of notes. Dave Palmer Commercial Horticulture Manatee County Extension 1303 17th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-722-4524 x 226 [log in to unmask] http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu/comm-hort/ Blog - http://prohortmanatee.wordpress.com/ ________________________________________ From: South Central Green Team Discussion List [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Annemarie Post [[log in to unmask]] Sent: Thursday, June 16, 2011 1:27 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: looking for knowledge/experience/success on steep berms Thanks Susan! I would possibly add: dune sunflower, beach elder, beach creeper, and railroad vine. Most of these are typical beach plants and John Stevely should have some good references. Best, Annemarie Post Interim Extension Director Extension Agent, Environmental Horticulture Florida-Friendly LandscapingT Program University of Florida/IFAS Sarasota County Extension 6700 Clark Road, Sarasota, FL 34241 941.861.9815 (office) 941.861.9886 (fax) [log in to unmask] http://sarasota.ifas.ufl.edu -----Original Message----- From: South Central Green Team Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Haddock,Susan R Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 10:56 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: looking for knowledge/experience/success on steep berms Hey Dave, What height plants are they wanting and what is the soil type? Some of the coastal dune plants may work with micro or directed drip irrigation. Plants like: Wax Myrtle or Dwarf Wax Myrtle, Muhly Grass, Salt Cordgrass, Saw Palmetto, Sea Purslane, Beach Bean. The plants would be set straight up (not angled) with a portion of the root in the hill (back half covered with soil) and a portion exposed on the front side. The soil (slope) should be protected and stabilized to prevent erosion with a surface mulch such as bonded fiber blanket anchored until the plants are established. A less expensive option is to use hay, but the fiber mat works much better. It's expensive to do it right, but it can be done. Susan Haddock Commercial Hort/IPM/Small Farms Agent Hillsborough County Extension UF/IFAS (813)744-5519 ext. 103 [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask] ________________________________________ From: South Central Green Team Discussion List [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Palmer, Dave [[log in to unmask]] Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 3:26 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: looking for knowledge/experience/success on steep berms Do any of you know anyone who has been successful establishing plants on a tall (30-40 ft), steep (45 degree) berm? Water is salty, pH is high. I'd like to talk to them. Specifically my questions are 1) How to get (and keep) the soil wet enough to establish plants? 2) What plants would be most likely to be successfully established under these conditions? Thanks, Dave Dave Palmer Commercial Horticulture Manatee County Extension 1303 17th Street West Palmetto, FL 34221 941-722-4524 x 226 [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu/comm-hort/ Blog - http://prohortmanatee.wordpress.com/ Please note: Florida has a very broad public records law. Most written communications to or from County Employees and officials regarding County business are public records available to the public and media upon request. Your email communication may be subject to public disclosure. Under Florida law, email addresses are public records. If you do not want your email address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.