It will also help protect the young seedling from drying out by providing some shade and reducing excessive loss of water from the plants by evapotranspiration. The mulch may be anchored by using mulch netting or by disking with a dull disk that is set straight. The disk anchors the mulch by pushing it into the soil surface. Disking should be at right angles to the flow of water in the waterway. There are six grasses that well adapted to conditions in Illinois and make desirable vegetative covers in waterways.
Tall fescue is a moderately winter-hardy grass that makes a good vegetative cover.
It has been grown successfully in all parts of the state but is particularly suited to southern Illinois. In fact it is superior to other grasses in that area. Seeds germinate readily and seedlings grow rapidly, thus establishing a quick cover. Unfortunately, tall fescue is not a grass that attracts wildlife. When well established, it gives good protection to a waterway channel.