• Coastal grasses can stabilize sand with their deep root systems.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Coastal grasses are both ornamental and practical. A wide range of grasses grow on the shores of the Great Lakes, as well as the Eastern and Pacific seaboards. According to SeaGrant New York and Cornell University, they provide soil stabilization for the dunes and food for wildlife, as well as adding an attractive natural landscaping element. Tall and graceful or short and creeping, coastal grasses often have deep root systems that require large amounts of water and sandy soil. Plant them in full sun to add hardy, perennial beauty to your coastal landscape.
  
  

Coastal Grasses on the Beach

• Plant little bluestem, switchgrass and seaside goldenrod to stabilize areas where sand is blowing, shifting and eroding. Little bluestem grows in clumps 1 to 3 feet high, but has roots that go as deep as 8 feet. Switchgrass and seaside goldenrod grow much taller, and can provide a good windbreak against blowing sand. Plant them in staggered groupings to get a natural effect, making sure the root crown of each clump is slightly above the soil line.
  
  

Grow Coastal Grasses in Beds

• Amend soil with two parts sand to one part organic compost when planting coastal grasses away from their natural habitats. Cultivate to a depth of at least 2 feet to allow roots to spread downward. Plant several species for their ornamental qualities. Indiangrass, for example, makes an attractive landscape plant, with a 6 to 8 foot spray of spiky blue-green leaves that turn bronze in fall. American beachgrass also has a dense, clumping habit. Sea oats spread and creep, but are so popular in dried arrangements they are a protected species on many coastal beaches.
  
  

Interplant Coastal Grasses

• Plant a variety of different coastal grasses by interplanting them. Combinations of height, spread, rooting depth and hardiness add a visual interest to every season of the year. Planting several species of coastal grasses also ensures sand stabilization, and litter produced by old vegetation provides a rich environment for other coastal shrubs and trees to take root and grow.