Steep bank in Schwenksville planted with Pachysandra
Consider planting groundcovers
Do you have a slope on your property that is too steep to mow and is a landscaping challenge? One simple solution is to plant groundcovers. Groundcovers spread and eventually form a solid mass. Establishing a groundcover will take time and you may have to weed yearly until it fills in. But once groundcovers are established, they work well!
Select the right plant for the site. Is the slope in shade, part shade or full sun? Is the soil heavy clay or does the soil drain well? Take these factors into consideration in choosing groundcovers. A perfect example of selecting the wrong plant for a site is to put pachysandra in a full-sun location. Don’t set yourself up for failure. Choose plants that will thrive either in sunny locations or shade and be aware of their soil preferences. Some are adaptable to a variety of conditions, others are more particular. Our advice….choose with care.
Plant choices for partial to full shade. Some choices are periwinkle, liriope, sweet woodruff, astilbe, coral bells, wild ginger, hosta, pachysandra, Pennsylvania sedge, ajuga (but likes a few hours of sun), Sarcococca hookerana (sweetbox).
Plant choices for sunny areas. Creeping thyme, wild geranium, blue pacific juniper, Rhus aromatica ‘Gro-Lo’, liropes like light shade with some sun, phlox subulata, golden star, artemesia, crown vetch.
Planting preparation. Eliminate all the weeds before planting. Work composted organic matter into the top 6 to 8 inches of the planting hole. Consider planting groundcover close together so plants will fill in more quickly. Mulch after planting to keep down weeds. And don’t forget to water regularly.
Other options. If you don’t like a carpet of a single species, try mixing up different plants. With enough planning, you can have a sea of textures and colors changing through the season. Consider placing large boulders throughout the slope and buried about half way into the soil. This breaks up the monotonous view of the same plant.
Slopes can be made low maintenance and visually appealing.
Whitehouse Landscaping can handle your landscaping challenges. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation on your yard’s challenges.