How to Landscape a Hillside With Rocks
Hillside landscaping presents the challenge of preventing erosion and creating an attractive area on a slope. Homeowners or commercial landowners need to assess a number of factors, including climate, amount of sun, and the composition of the hillside--quality of the soil, amount of rock and clay)--and how to water the area. Transform the hillside into an oasis with a rock garden of dramatic boulders and plantings designed to preserve topsoil. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Shovel
- Hand truck
- Gravel
- Garden hose
- Boulders
- Decorative rocks
- Trees (shallow-rooted pines and manzanitas if soil depth is limited)
- Shrubs
- Flowering plants
- Salvias (sage)
Instructions
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Use a shovel to determine if there is enough soil on the hillside for deep-rooted plants. Some trees and shrubs will grow in a foot of soil, most require more. Pick four sites on the hillside to put in large plants. Dig to a depth of 15 inches (if possible) at each location. Steve Boulden of S&S Designed Landscaping points out that home landscaping uses the same methods as nature to prevent erosion: plants and rocks.
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Look at some rocks and boulders and check prices. Consider color preferences, weight and sizes. For example, lava rock is porous and light. Red or black lava boulders embedded in the hillside make an eye-catching landscape without the strain of lugging heavy solid boulders uphill.
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3
Check the location of the nearest outdoor faucet and get a hose long enough to reach up the hillside. Select plants to intersperse with the rocks. The plants add visual interest and reduce erosion. Use trees and shrubs for the greatest stability and to add shade to the slope planting, if desired. Las PIlitas Nursery recommends using a variety of plants on a hillside, rather than multiples of the same species, and recommends sagebrush, monkey flowers, manzanitas and sages for protecting topsoil. Check for plants that thrive in the hillside's climate zone and level of sun.
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Place the boulders on the hillside in an irregular pattern to achieve a natural effect. Dig a 5-inch deep hole at the desired location for each boulder or large rock. Make the hole large enough for the base of the rock. Line the hole with gravel. Place the boulder in the hole and push down on it to get if firmly seated.
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Add ground cover plants to integrate the stones into the landscape. Use a 6-pack of ground cover around each boulder. Add more plants if faster coverage is desired.
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Plant the trees and shrubs at irregular spaces between the boulders. Use the deep-rooted varieties in the areas of deepest soil. Add flowering plants for color and sages to help hold topsoil.
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Tips & Warnings
Avoid light mulch such as compost and bark as these materials tend to slide down the hillside.
For dry or clay soil conditions, wet the soil in advance at the sites for the boulders. Use a hose to soak only those spots the night before, and dig in the morning. Don't water the entire hillside as that would cause a slipping hazard and increase the risk of a fall.
Work with an assistant and watch your footing on the hillside to reduce risk of falling. Wear boots with ankle support and deep tread to reduce the risk of slips and ankle strains while working on a hillside.
