Landscape Tips for Hillsides
Whether steep or gentle, a slope in the yard presents several problems for the gardener. Two of the foremost issues with a landscape hillside are drainage and erosion. A slope leading into your yard or toward a house has the problem of water drainage. Erosion must be controlled, or the slope can collapse and cause structural issues for your home. Properly planting and landscaping a hillside garden can help. Does this Spark an idea?
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Planting a Hillside
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Plants' roots help stabilize a hillside's soil. As they take up moisture, the plants also help reduce some drainage issues. For a steep slope that is difficult to walk on, choose low-maintenance plants. A good planting strategy is to mix tall plants, low-growing plants and medium-sized plants. This makes the hillside look more natural and helps reduce the impact of falling rain, since it hits the plants first. North-facing slopes will need plants that tolerate shade, while south-facing slopes need plants for full sun.
Good Plants for Hillsides
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Good ground covers for slopes include yarrow, monkey flower and low-growing Arctostaphylos species. Shrubs for south-facing hillsides include ceanothus and artemisia. North-facing slopes will take shrubs such as spirea, wild rose and snowberry. You may also want to include trees. A few that will help stabilize your hillside are oaks, conifers and maples. Choose a variety of plants, not just one type, to make your hillside as stable as possible.
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Landscaping the Hillside
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Plants will provide the most stability for soil on a hill, but retaining walls also help, especially where a slope drops off rapidly. Walls of stacked rock add a natural look to your yard. For even more erosion control, you can put small plants in the spaces between the rocks. Terracing is labor-intensive, but it does make the hillside easier to walk on. Level each terrace as much as possible, and front each section with some type of retaining wall.
What Not to Do
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Avoid leaving a hillside bare. This hastens erosion and lessens the stability of the slope. Don't cover the hillside with mulch or plastic and assume this will solve your erosion problems. Mulch does slow down water washing away the soil, but not for very long, and plastic does nothing but hide the problem. Grass should only be used as a temporary fix, rather than a solution. The grass will only slow the erosion for a season or two. Shrubs and ground cover are more effective at taking in water and putting down roots to stabilize your slope.
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References
- Las Pilitas Nursery: How to Landscape a Hillside Slope
- Marin Master Gardeners; Hillside Gardening; Jane Scurich; May 2007
- Theodore Payne Foundation for Wildflowers and Native Plants: Plants for Erosion Control
- State of Washington Department of Ecology: Plant Selection Guide
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Terracing
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
