Slope Planting With Evergreens

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There are many ways to plant on a slope. A variety of evergreens worked great for a bank. So many of our hillsides along the roadways are filled with junipers. Junipers cover the entire area well but there are a lot of other different plants you can use on your bank. There is some preparation involved. Below are a few thoughts on prepping your hill.

1. The first step to prepping, are there any erosion problems? Are there cracks in your ground? If there are cracks, the best way to address the issue is to fill the cracks in with dirt or top soil.
2. A tiller isn't going to work to well on a hillside. Raking and removing any rocks and debris will help you when you go to plant.
3. Depending if you have erosion areas will determine if you need the commercial landscaping fabric, One I have used is Jute. It is made of burlap fibers and and will help hold the soil in place. I highly recommend it on major slopes. It is heavy and you may need a couple of people to carry it. Roll it out lengthwise and put landscape stakes through the gaps to hold the jute in place. Put the jute down first before you start to plant. Jute is available at many landscape supply stores.









4. Once the jute is down keep your plants in their containers and arrange the plants in the landscape area where you are going to plant. Cut the jute out to the size of the container. Put mushroom compost in and around the plant and spread mulch or pine straw to hold in the moisture.

Take a look at the photo gallery for pictures and descriptions of evergreens you can plant on your slope. You can plant a tree, but it may be difficult to plant a ball and burlap. It is tough to plant a big tree on an angle. Think about putting a 7, 10, or 15 gallon size tree in. Maybe consider 1 or 3 trees depending on the size of your slope. Here are some suggestions for you to plant that I have used in previous jobs.

• Indian Hawthorn - evergreen shrub with pink or white flowers in spring. Blue berries will appear in the fall and winter months. Indian Hawthorn minor is a bigger shrub and will grow four to six feet wide. The major is a little smaller and will grow three to four feet high and two to three feet wide. Very durable shrub. Variety of zones but most will do well in zones four through nine. Popular also along the front of a house, and compliments variegated or solid evergreen shrubs.

• Mop Cypress - evergreen shrub growing well in zones five through eight. Variegated bright yellow and green leaves. The leaves are long and skinny, and their texture and flowing pattern resembles a mop. Grows three to four feet high and three to four wide. Can take full sun but will also do well in part shade. A wonderful shrub for any garden area. It is great next to a solid shrub like an Indian Hawthorn or a Globe Arborvitae.

• Blue Pacific Juniper - evergreen low growing shrub. Grows well in zones five through nine. Likes full sun but can take shade better then other junipers. Great plant specimen draping over or in and around rocks or stones. Will grow around one foot high and can sprawl out five to nine feet. Great ground cover. Color is green with teal tones on the long needle like leaves.

• Fill in with some Ornamental Grasses - Most Ornamental Grasses are annuals. They vary in color and sizes. Their leaves are long and skinny and can have very sharp sides and ends. Pampas Grass is a tall grass that grows well in zones 7-9. This is definitely a grass gloves will be need when cutting back. Ornamentals compliment evergreens and variegated shrubs.

• Loropetalum or Chinese Pizazz - evergreen shrub with purple and green leaves year around. Pink/red flowers will bloom in spring and summer. The Ruby Loropetalum is a dwarf and will grow 3 to 4 feet high and 3 wide. The larger versions will grow 8 to 10 feet high and 4 to 5 feet wide. Pruning should be done on the Loropetalum in the fall, but also can be in the early spring months. Grows well in zones five through eight.

• Cryptomeria - evergreen upright tree that can reach ten to twenty feet high and three to five feet wide. Great in zones five through nine. Soft needle shaped long leaves. A bright green color and this tree has an open airy feeling. Great for a backdrop in an open landscape garden. You can top this tree to keep the height down. Don't be afraid to plant trees on a bank. They look wonderful if positioned right.
• Add some of your favorite perennial or annual flowers throughout the bank and you will have a colorful slope. Shasta Daisies, balloon flowers, Coreopsis, Bee Balm, Sedum and Daylilies, are just a few examples.

Above are a few examples of plants. There are some considerations when planning out your plant selection. Is your hillside in a sunny location or are you in shade? If you need help with plant selection in your zone contact me and I would be happy to get you started. Planting on a slope requires a little bit different technique. You don't just dig a hole and plant. Your hole has to be dug at an angle. Stand at the top of your bank and look down. Picture each tree, shrub, or flower being planted. The hole has to be dug with the back side higher then the front side. Always have a slant to the hole so the plant can grow properly.

Preparing the bank, applying jute, raking out smoothly as much as you can, adding mushroom compost, and planting at an angle, will insure your plants a happy and healthy life. Your slope will add a new dimension to your yard. Slope Planting can be eye catching if the right steps are done. On the home page there is a picture of a bank newly planted. There is also a couple of updated photos from growth of some of the plants after a three year growth period. If you have a bank go ahead and plant some shrubs and begin to enjoy the area you couldn't stand to view.