4 Aquatic Plants To Help Control Erosion In Wetlands

While wetlands were once unusable areas of swampland, the thinking concerning them has changed in recent years. Nowadays, wetlands are referred to as "kidneys of the landscape" due to their ability to assist with stormwater purification, erosion control, and sediment filtration. However, to be at their best, wetlands need various types of aquatic plants to help control erosion. If you are wondering which types of aquatic plants are best at helping to control erosion problems in Florida wetlands, the experts here at Crosscreek Environmental Inc. have four plants they highly recommend.

Native Submersed Plants

While many types of submersed plants grow in Florida, many are native to Florida. These include coontail, tape grass, and sago pondweed. Along with providing numerous habitats for fish and wildlife, these plants also are well-known for helping to stabilize sediments and shorelines. Should you want any of these plants for wetlands on your property, visit an aquatic plant nursery in Florida. To get additional information as to which of these plants could work best for you, look to lake and pond management companies in Florida such as Crosscreek Environmental Inc. that have experience in such matters.

Native Emersed Plants

Growing in submersed soil near the edge of water bodies, native emersed plants such as cattails, duck potato, and lemon bacopa all work very well to protect against erosion. Since they can also grow very well in areas where low water levels exist and sediment is exposed, they can protect against erosion while also giving habitat to wildlife and food to waterfowl.

Free-Floating and Floating-Leaved Plants

While these plants are not directly attached to the sediment around the shoreline of wetlands, they are still effective at controlling erosion. In fact, free-floating and floating-leaved plants are especially good at building up sediment around a shoreline, which results in making the body of water more shallow. As for which types may work best for you, visit an aquatic plant nursery in Florida and learn more about such plants as water lily, American lotus, and giant duckweed.

Sedges, Grasses, and Rushes

Though all of the plants in this category look as if they are growing directly out of the water itself, that is not the case. Actually, some are totally submerged, while others are rooted in the sediment around the shoreline. Very good at trapping soil, water, and a multitude of nutrients, these plants are widely considered to be some of the best by lake and pond management companies in Florida at helping to control wetlands erosion. As for specific plants to try, we recommend giant foxtail, soft rush, and Egyptian paspalidium.

Rather than look at wetlands and think there is nothing you can do to control erosion, get expert advice from Crosscreek Environmental Inc. as to which plants may be the best choices. Whether you select water lilies, duck potato, coontail, or many others, you'll be taking the first step to control wetlands erosion. If you need expert guidance on this matter, contact Crosscreek Environmental Inc. at 941-479-7811.