Best Ways to Landscape a Hillside

Landscaped hillside

The success of hillside landscaping depends on a number of factors, including the steepness of the hill, soil type and budget constraints. The number one goal when landscaping a hill is to stop water run-off or erosion. Follow these tips and strategies to stop this problem while adding to the aesthetic appeal of the yard.

Things You'll Need

• Ground covers Shrubs Perennials Boulders Hardscape contractor

Instructions

1. Adding plants to a hillside is one of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to beautify your yard while cutting back on erosion. You can purchase a variety of "erosion-friendly" plants at a local nursery or home improvement store. Such plants include ground covers, shrubs and perennials.

2. Cover the hill liberally with the plants listed in Step 1 and fill the spaces between the plants with triple-shredded root mulch. Be sure to dig holes large enough to accommodate the root balls of your plants to ensure proper growth. Similarly, you may want to use compost manure, fertilizer or top soil to stimulate the roots if you are working with less than adequate soil, such as clay or sand.

3. Scatter boulders and large rocks along the hillside, especially between gaps in the plants. Dirmly secure the rocks in the ground, as they too can run-off and cause damage in the event of a rain storm.

4. If you are dealing with a very steep hill, hardscaping will generally put an end to the problem of erosion. With the help of a contractor, you can create terraces using retaining walls that break up the hill into flat, manageable layers. This is obviously the most effective (and visually pleasing way) to landscape a hillside, but it's also the most expensive. Depending on the size of the hill, such work could cost in excess of $15,000.