Holding It Together

Whether in an upland or in a riparian area, when it comes to soil stabilization, very few grasses will hold soil in place more effectively than Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum):

Switchgrass can easily grow to a height of eight, sometimes even ten, feet tall. The dense fibrous roots will grow as deep in the soil as the plant is tall and they are strong enough to penetrate soil stratification. The soil around these roots will be held firmly in place through wind, runoff and flood events.

This set of photographs was taken along the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River near the Roosevelt Park Trailhead on Thursday, October 31, 2013.