Recommendations for plant materials - Ask Extension
The submerged area along the fence line all the way up including where the posts stand, up to the darker green (septic mound) is problematic (it’s a...
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Recommendations for plant materials #873365
Asked June 16, 2024, 8:49 PM EDT
The submerged area along the fence line all the way up including where the posts stand, up to the darker green (septic mound) is problematic (it’s a huge area). We would like recommendations for sustainable native wildflowers/wild grasses that can handle periods of excessive moisture. We’d like something that encourages butterflies, nectar collectors such as (tanagers, orioles, hummingbird's, honeybee’s) and or songbirds.
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Hi Chris,
You will need to be careful planting near a septic mound. Nothing with deep roots should be planted too close to that area.
See this page, especially the section "Guidelines for Planting On or Near Septic Mounds":
https://conservancy.umn.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/bf81d09d-cd16-43d1-879e-e9ed92ddf489/content
These pages have suggestions for plants that will tolerate wet spots:
https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=Plants_for_swales
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/rys/pg/meadow.html
Hope this helps! Thanks.