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NEEP HELP FOR MY HILLSIDE!

2 years ago

We have one section towards the middle where the Ivy ground cover does not grow. Looking for ideas where we can put some type of a stone landscape border in a curved pattern almost a third of the way up and maybe just plant grass below for easy maintenance? We do have one area to the right with a large boulder and some boxwoods around it and Myrtle ground cover. But nothing grows in the area to the left of it. Looks sloppy and requires too much time weeding etc. We much prefer planting grass versus trying another ground cover. Just wanting to know the most visually pleasing way to incorporate grass and a border. Open to suggestions! 😀

Comments (12)

  • PRO
    2 years ago

    More views..

  • 2 years ago

    Where are you located? What direction does the problem area face?

  • PRO
    2 years ago

    Southwestern PA. faces west

  • PRO
    2 years ago

    So the front yard should be terraced in some fashion. Whatever you do should not impede the driver's ability to see a vehicle coming from the cross street.








  • PRO
    2 years ago

    Beautiful options. We are trying to keep it as low maintenance as possible. My husband wants to just do a border with grass below it so he can simply cut the grass and the rest will take care of itself. Any thoughts on that or ideas on where to Put borders etc?

  • 2 years ago

    Since this is a pretty visible part of your lot/home I think it's worth biting the bullet and getting a landscape architect to help create a plan - terracing as Beverly suggested will help with erosion (looks like that one tree has exposed roots?) and will create some structure. I wouldn't want to mow any grass in that area

  • 2 years ago

    I think there some caution in terracing with the pretty rocks & crevices, if area even can’t be reached for maintenance. Because over time the birds will deliver pesky weed seeds and also it will be awhile until even good- coverage plants establish coverage. It’s different if able to create swathes of terrace levels.

    Not wanting to be Debbie Downer though. Just that the grade of slope & where, is important. Mild - to -moderate slope, if not a huge uphill strip,
    plus in full sun could still be very manageable for grass. This especially if that part is where any driver visibility is needed. Then, if the rocks/boulders are used in some part, use BIG boulders ( more rock/ less soil surface.

    So yes, a LA with design skills could be essential but needs to be experienced/ understans maintainence / listen to you, and not install an unrealistic Insta feature.

  • PRO
    2 years ago

    Mowing on a slope can kill you. I had some culverts and grass on the slope had to be cut using a weed wacker. Mowers tip and hand mowers will break your back on a slope this big.

  • 2 years ago

    A LA is a good idea in such a tricky situation. Tell him or her your goals, especially low maintenance, and get a plan. Grass on a slope is dangerous and difficult to cut and is by "border" you mean a flower border, it will require ongoing maintenance(weeding, mulching etc.) as well.

  • 2 years ago

    Before doing any planting I would get rid of all that plastic landscape fabric. It already looks a mess and will get worse as weeds root in it. And it will never go away, polluting your soil for years to come. You can get Hessian slope stabilization fabric which will hold the soil in place and, over the years, gradually biodegrade. You can plant through it.

  • PRO
    2 years ago

    Get a landscaper in to help you on this. A steeper hill can be a challenge. Don't tear anything out untill you have your plan and what you want in there at the ready. If you tear out too early you are going to end up with more erosion mess when it rains. You might want to consider laying down an erosion blanket right over the landscaping stuff where you can see the bare dirt- hold that whole thing in place for now till you get your plan+stuff in place. Erosion blankets are not the same as landscaping fabric. If you can't find erosion blankets, try to find some cheap burlap and tack that down. For now the point is to trap/stop any more dirt from sliding in that area.

    You can do some terracing. You can also do so plantings meant for hillsides and/or erosion problem areas. Doing both can help lock your hill in place better.

  • 2 years ago

    I'd put some creeping juniper on it. It grows pretty quickly, doesn't need mowing, and will cover your hill. It's the stuff above the stone wall in the pic below.

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