Looking for landscaping recommendations for a slope. NW Illinois Zone5

5 years ago

I’m just looking for suggestions on what to plant in this area. It was completely shaded by trees and that’s why it looks barren. At this point I’ve just put some of my split Hostas, lilies in there along with some small evergreens. I also have an azalea in there and a lilac at the top that was borderline dead that appears to be coming back slowly. More or less just to take up some space. This is on the South side and isn’t visible to anyone besides us when we are on our back porch. I don’t want to spend a ton of money, don’t want to build tiered retaining walls, etc. It doesn’t need to be magazine worthy - I just want to spruce it up a bit and hopefully hide the dirt for the bulk of the year. Thanks!!

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Illini Fan
Original Author

5 years ago

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Comments (14)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years ago
I'd define the bed edging to begin with and remove any encroaching grasses or weeds. Then I'd probably just allow what's currently planted there to fill in but mulch well in the meantime. It looks like once the plants have established, the bed will be quite full.
GardenHo_MI_Z5
5 years ago
I agree it looks like it will be quite full once it fills in.

If you like the looks of creeping phlox you could always add some for early spring color. Long blooming and just shear it back when blooms fade. Stays a neat evergreen clump for the rest of the season. I have it scattered throughout my sloped bed... here is one end of bed. The lavender is more hardy for me here in zone 5.
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Sigrid
5 years ago
I have Solomon seal doing well in dry shade. Tiarella is a good choice, too. Also try Actea and Goatsbeard.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
5 years ago
you will need to mulch all the bare soil .. or it will be choked with weeds.. long before it ever fills in .. which might be in a few years ..

its a cost worth spending ... trust me ...

no landscape fabric ....

ken
Illini Fan
Original Author
5 years ago
My wife would like to throw some wildflower seeds in there as well. I’m concerned that would be way too much going on, but what do I know? :) Thoughts?
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years ago
"I’m concerned that would be way too much going on"

I agree :-) If anything, you can add some annuals for this season. But wildflower plantings are messy looking to begin with and just tend to be weedy in any subsequent years. Best left to meadows or unplanted areas.
Illini Fan
Original Author
5 years ago
It’s all wood chips. Next step will be to transplant things in the Fall since I extended the bed
btydrvn
5 years ago
It looks so pretty now…maybe …to define the space ….a border of stones?…bricks?…or just a plastic pound in border to keep the grass border crisp and not spreading into the planted area
Illini Fan
Original Author
4 years ago
Update. A lot going on. And a lot of Hostas! I may get those 2 big ones out to another location but I think I’ll leave the rest as is.
sherrygirl zone5 N il
4 years ago
I like the big hostas, adds some contrast. Are you looking for color contrast?

Sherry
Illini Fan
Original Author
4 years ago
Yes I’d like to have some contrast. I do have some color in there towards the top, just hasn’t matured yet.
btydrvn
4 years ago
Maybe stick in a few flowering annuals?.. instant color..we do this every spring..
btydrvn
4 years ago
They flower all summer…