Are you tired of struggling to maintain your garden on a slope?
Do you want to reduce the amount of turf grass in your yard or have areas that are difficult to mow?
Look no further than groundcovers! These low-maintenance plants not only reduce erosion and weed incursion, but they also add color and texture to your landscape.
From herbaceous perennials to woody shrubs, there are many options to choose from.
In this article, we’ll explore the best plants for ground cover on slopes and hillsides, as well as tips for planting and maintenance.
Get ready to transform your slope into a stunning and stable landscape!
What Can I Plant On Slope For Ground Cover
When it comes to ground cover on slopes and hillsides, there are many options to choose from. Here are some of the best plants for the job:
1. Creeping Phlox: This herbaceous perennial is perfect for steep, sunny slopes. It produces beautiful clusters of flowers in the spring and has a low-growing, spreading habit.
2. False Rock Cress: This cheerful ground cover is great for edging or as a fast-growing plant for slopes. It produces magenta blooms in the spring and has handsome grayish-green foliage.
3. Lamb’s Ears: This herbaceous perennial has soft, fuzzy leaves and produces spikes of pink or purple flowers in the summer. It’s perfect for sunny slopes and is drought-tolerant.
4. Creeping Juniper: This woody shrub is great for slopes that are prone to erosion. It has a low-growing, spreading habit and produces blue-green foliage that turns purplish in the winter.
5. Fragrant Sumac: This woody shrub is perfect for slopes that receive full sun to partial shade. It has a low-growing, spreading habit and produces fragrant yellow flowers in the spring.
6. Bearberry: This woody shrub is great for slopes that are prone to erosion. It has a low-growing, spreading habit and produces red berries in the fall.
7. Ornamental Grasses: Many ornamental grasses make great groundcovers on slopes. They have deep roots that help stabilize the soil and produce beautiful plumes of foliage in the summer.
Why Use Ground Cover On Slopes?
Using ground cover on slopes has many benefits, making it an excellent choice for those looking to reduce the amount of turf grass in their garden or have areas that are difficult to mow. One of the most significant benefits is erosion control. Planting ground cover helps stabilize the soil and prevent erosion caused by heavy rains and high winds. This is especially important on steep slopes, which are prone to unstable soils.
Ground cover plants also help prevent weed growth in hard-to-reach areas. They develop a root system that makes it difficult for weeds to take hold, reducing the need for herbicides and manual weeding. Additionally, ground covers require relatively few inputs and do not require mowing, making them a low maintenance option for any landscape.
Ground covers are particularly useful on slopes because they reduce erosion and lessen weed incursion. Many gardeners think of ground covers as low growing, herbaceous, evergreen plants that spread quickly to form thick layers of vegetation. While this certainly describes the typical ground cover such as spurge or English ivy, there are many other options available.
Choosing The Right Ground Cover Plants
When selecting ground cover plants for slopes and hillsides, it’s important to consider their growth habits and root systems. Plants with deep roots are ideal for stabilizing the soil and preventing erosion, while low-growing, spreading plants are best for covering large areas.
Another important factor to consider is the amount of sunlight the slope receives. Some plants prefer full sun, while others thrive in partial shade. It’s important to choose plants that are well-suited to the specific conditions of your slope.
Creeping phlox is a great choice for sunny slopes, as it has a low-growing habit and produces beautiful clusters of flowers in the spring. False rock cress is another good option for sunny slopes, as it has a fast-growing habit and produces magenta blooms.
For slopes that receive partial shade, lamb’s ears is a good choice. This herbaceous perennial has soft, fuzzy leaves and produces spikes of pink or purple flowers in the summer. Creeping juniper is also a good option for slopes that are prone to erosion, as it has a low-growing, spreading habit and produces blue-green foliage.
Ornamental grasses are another great option for ground cover on slopes. They have deep roots that help stabilize the soil and produce beautiful plumes of foliage in the summer. Some good choices include feather reed grass, blue fescue, and switchgrass.
Ultimately, the key to choosing the right ground cover plants for your slope is to consider the specific conditions of your landscape and choose plants that are well-suited to those conditions. With a little research and careful planning, you can create a beautiful and stable slope that requires minimal maintenance.
Herbaceous Perennials For Slope Ground Cover
Herbaceous perennials are a great option for slope ground cover. They are low maintenance, easy to care for and come in a variety of colors and textures. Here are some of the best options:
1. Creeping Phlox: This herbaceous perennial is perfect for sunny slopes. It produces beautiful clusters of flowers in the spring and has a low-growing, spreading habit.
2. False Rock Cress: This cheerful ground cover is great for edging or as a fast-growing plant for slopes. It produces magenta blooms in the spring and has handsome grayish-green foliage.
3. Lamb’s Ears: This herbaceous perennial has soft, fuzzy leaves and produces spikes of pink or purple flowers in the summer. It’s perfect for sunny slopes and is drought-tolerant.
4. Stonecrop: This succulent plant is great for sunny slopes with well-drained soil. It has a low-growing, spreading habit and produces beautiful pink or yellow flowers in the summer.
5. Daylilies: These herbaceous perennials are perfect for sunny slopes with well-drained soil. They produce beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers in a variety of colors and have a low-growing, spreading habit.
6. Sedum: This herbaceous perennial is great for sunny slopes with well-drained soil. It has a low-growing, spreading habit and produces beautiful pink or yellow flowers in the summer.
7. Ornamental Grasses: Many ornamental grasses make great groundcovers on slopes. They have deep roots that help stabilize the soil and produce beautiful plumes of foliage in the summer.
When choosing herbaceous perennials for slope ground cover, it’s important to consider the amount of sun exposure, soil type and moisture levels of the area. By selecting the right plants for your slope, you can create a beautiful and low-maintenance landscape that will thrive for years to come.
Woody Shrubs For Slope Ground Cover
In addition to the herbaceous perennials and ornamental grasses, woody shrubs can also serve as great groundcovers on slopes. Here are some of the best woody shrubs for slope ground cover:
1. Creeping Juniper: This low-growing, spreading shrub is a popular choice for slopes due to its ability to stabilize soil and prevent erosion. It has blue-green foliage that turns purplish in the winter, providing year-round interest.
2. Fragrant Sumac: This low-growing, spreading shrub produces fragrant yellow flowers in the spring and has attractive, glossy green foliage that turns red in the fall. It’s perfect for slopes that receive full sun to partial shade.
3. Bearberry: This low-growing, spreading shrub is native to North America and produces small red berries in the fall. It’s a great choice for slopes that are prone to erosion.
4. Russian Arborvitae: This evergreen shrub has a low-growing, spreading habit and produces attractive, feathery foliage. It’s drought-tolerant and perfect for sunny slopes.
5. Wintercreeper: This low-growing, spreading shrub has glossy green foliage that turns purple in the winter. It’s a great choice for slopes that receive full sun to partial shade and is drought-tolerant once established.
When selecting woody shrubs for slope ground cover, it’s important to consider their growth habits and how they will interact with other plants in the area. Planting a variety of species with different growth habits can create a more diverse and interesting landscape while also providing better soil stabilization. As with any ground cover plantings, it’s important to properly prepare the soil, provide adequate water and nutrients, and protect the plants from heavy rainfall until they become established.
Tips For Planting Ground Cover On Slopes
Planting ground cover on slopes can be a bit tricky, but with the right steps, it can be done successfully. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
1. Prepare the soil: Before planting any ground cover, it’s important to prepare the soil properly. Remove any existing weeds and loosen the soil on flat areas by tilling or turning with a shovel to a depth of six inches. Apply all-purpose, time-released fertilizer per package directions. Do not till steep slopes, because loose soil can lead to even more erosion.
2. Choose the right plants: When choosing ground cover for slopes, it’s important to consider how quickly it grows, what type of soil it needs, and how much sun it requires. Ground covers develop a root system that stabilizes the soil, making them an effective means of preventing soil erosion. Moderate slopes of up to 33% or 3.1 have a good chance of getting runoff under control using groundcover and mulch. Slopes with a higher gradient than 33% or 3.1 will have poorer success in using plants to prevent soil erosion.
3. Spacing: Once your planting area has been prepared, lay out your plants in staggered rows according to your design. How far apart you space your plants will depend on how quickly you want to cover your ground, the type of growth habit each plant has, and the size of the plants you purchase—a 1-gallon plant will fill the area more quickly than a 3-inch plug. Carpeters can be spaced as close or as far apart as you would like. The closer the plants are placed, the faster they will cover the ground and eliminate follow-up weeding.
4. Planting Angle: Flat growing ground covers can be planted at an angle so that when planting is complete, it is positioned to spread flat over the ground. Just dig an angled hole and place the container in it frequently to adjust the angle of the hole as necessary. The top of the container soil should be level with the ground. On a pretty steep hill you will darn near be planting sideways. Flat growing ground covers are ideal for the steepest slopes. Small potted perennials can be planted slightly angled so that the root ball can be completely covered.
5. Maintenance: Although groundcovers are generally low maintenance plants, they will still require some care, especially until they become established in the landscape. Until the new ground cover fills in, it can be assumed that weeds will make their way into the garden. Some groundcovers are more prone to weed problems than others. Short, herbaceous ground covers are more likely to become infested with weeds than taller shrubs, because taller plants do a better job of blocking light from reaching the soil.
Maintenance Of Ground Cover On Slopes
While groundcovers are generally low maintenance plants, they will still require some care, especially until they become established on the slope. Weed control is a must until the groundcover is fully established. A 2-inch layer of mulch will help in the control of weeds. On slopes, coarse netting can also be used to hold the slope until the groundcover is established. It may take up to two years to establish a groundcover area.
Fertilizing and watering will probably be required during this period. Apply fertilizer based on how fast you want full coverage to occur. Begin fertilizing 4 to 6 weeks after planting, then make one application in the spring, another during summer, and a third in September. If rapid coverage is desired, make a fourth application during the summer months. A complete fertilizer such as 12-4-8 or 16-4-8 or a similar analysis applied at the rate of 1 pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet is adequate.
To determine how much fertilizer to apply per bed, measure the area of the bed in square feet (length x width). Then, use this equation: Area of bed divided by 1,000 square feet, divided by the percent of nitrogen in the bag, will give you the amount of fertilizer that needs to be applied to the bed.
The next consideration is adequate and timely watering. Water requirements vary with different plants. Groundcover plants should not be allowed to wilt. Some groundcovers are improved by occasional shearing. Wintercreeper can be clipped at a 4- to 6-inch height. Others, such as dwarf mondograss, can be clipped with hedge shears or mown when they appear shabby.
To rejuvenate pachysandra and other herbaceous evergreen groundcovers that have suffered winter burn, use a rotary mower on its highest setting. Early spring is usually the best time to prune groundcovers because new growth will quickly cover the bare stubs. Cut out dead branches and remove winter-damaged branch tips to encourage dense new growth. Avoid severe pruning in late summer or fall since it can force tender growth that will not have time to harden off properly before winter.
Horizontal junipers like ‘Blue Rug’, ‘Bar Harbor’, and ‘Prince of Wales’ tend to form new foliage on top of older foliage and become thick and dense once their canopies meet. Thinning improves air circulation between the plants and prevents insect and disease problems. Overall, proper maintenance of ground cover on slopes is crucial for the success of the plants and the overall health of the landscape.
