Re: my erosion problem

For temporary measures, get some straw bales and place where the erosion
is worst. The state uses this methods on road cuts. As for longer term
control, daylilies would be a effective and attractive planting. There
root systems really hold the ground. I've used them along irragation
ditches. Also Spuria and siberian iris, some of the wild iris species. I
have one iris specie that I raised for seed that is native to Alasks and
Siberia that will reseed itself. They have small blue beardless flowers
in blue, form husky plants with foliage that stays looking good all
summer. If you are neatness fanatic, you can burn off the old leaves in
the spring. I've had one plant in the same place for over ten years and
it it has never needed trasplanting. 

Another thought are some of the rugosa ground cover roses. Bright tough
foliage and flowers all summer. Max Graf is one very flat one that
spreads wide with pink single flowers. There is a white one also. Two
clematis comes to mind. C. tangutica rambles all over the place with
interesting yellow downward facing bells and fuzzy seed heads all
summer. Once started, it will root new plants all along the stems.
Control is easy as it doesn't come up in grass. You can cut it  back
each spring or simply let it alone.  Another one may be C.
dioscoreifolia (c. paniculata) Sweet Autumn Clematis. This has lots of
close, dark green foliage and will sprawl over the ground. In the fall
it will erupt with millions of tiny cream white starlike flowers of
about 1". It seems to spring on me every fall like a surprise. I have it
where it goes over the ground and up into some old lilac bushes. 

There are lots of great ground covers. Look for those that spread easily
but won't creep into the lawn, need little upkeep, no dividing and maybe
flowering/fruiting or foliage color. Vines are often forgotten because
we think they need to climb.

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