In addition to shrubs and trees, perennials and other easy-care plants can be used to cover slopes. Perennials are generally easier to care for than shrubs and trees, but they will require regular cleaning and maintenance. Ideally, you’ll plant perennials at the base of a slope, as they will require less maintenance. Installing plants in drifts is easier than planting individual plants, but it will require more climbing. Spreading plants out will also create a sense of continuity.
Evergreens
If you are looking for the best plants for slopes, consider growing a variety of evergreens. Evergreen shrubs can make great groundcover, and some are even very attractive. The best choice for slopes is the Euonymus, which has extensive root systems and requires little care. Euonymus is a good choice for slopes because it is drought-tolerant and produces fiery red foliage in the fall. For an even more interesting groundcover, try the vine-forming Evergreen Euonymus fortunei. It is a great groundcover, and a bit invasive.
Other plants for slopes include golden St. John’s wort, a groundcover plant that grows in zones 5 to 8 and produces bright yellow flowers and rust-colored fruit capsules. If you don’t want to install a retaining wall on the slope, consider a groundcover that grows only six inches tall. Golden St. John’s wort is a great choice for slopes because of its hardiness range, but is also a groundcover with a low growth habit.
Other plants suitable for slopes include Japanese maples, dwarf versions of the classic maple tree. Japanese maples grow well on slopes and have attractive leaves that come in a variety of colors. Most Japanese maples stay below twenty-five feet, while others can grow up to eight feet. Another popular plant for slopes is hydrangea, which has strong branches and can hold its own on an incline. There are many types of hydrangeas, including many varieties and shapes.
Foxglove: This evergreen shrub is native to many regions of the United States. Its foliage is a pale shade of pink or white and has yellow stamens. It is low-growing, low-maintenance, and requires little care. The flowers bloom in late summer and fall, and the foliage is attractive all year round. These plants also require little maintenance, and they can be used as groundcovers as well as in rock gardens.
Drought-tolerant
Drought-tolerant plants are an excellent choice for sunny, dry, or sloppy areas. They require less water than their regular counterparts, but provide beauty and function for the landscape. Listed below are a few examples. You’ll want to choose plants with these characteristics to add to the beauty of your landscape. Read on for more tips on how to choose drought-tolerant plants. And don’t forget to check out our article on water-wise landscaping on slopes!
Plants that resist drought include native grasses and sedges. These grasses will stabilize the slope and provide coverage. In addition, they will grow rapidly and are not eaten by deer. Choose the right varieties for your region. Some of the most commonly used drought-tolerant plants include ostrich fern and sedge. They are easy to grow and require little care. Soil erosion is also minimized with a variety of native grasses.
Another plant to consider for sloping areas is creeping California lilac. These plants have scented foliage and bell-shaped, pink flowers. Climbing roses can be an excellent choice if you’re looking for a low-maintenance plant. These shrubs are great for sloping areas, but they can also become invasive in the area. Another choice is vinca, which is also drought-tolerant.
Lavender is another plant to consider for sloping areas. While it does need some extra watering to thrive, it does not require much. This fragrant plant can tolerate full sun or partial shade. Its slender, silvery foliage makes it an attractive specimen for a slope. And the fragrant flowers are long-lasting and beautiful. Lavender is also an excellent companion plant for deer.
Low maintenance
If you have a sloped garden and are concerned about retaining the soil’s moisture content, consider planting evergreen shrubs and deciduous groundcover. These types of plants will thrive on a slope and prefer well-drained soil and deep roots. In addition, they require very little maintenance once established. You can also choose trailing geraniums or English ivy, which are both low-maintenance and require little maintenance.
In addition to choosing low-maintenance plants for slopes, it’s important to keep in mind that many of them are invasive, so it’s important to research them carefully before planting. Crown Vetch, Japanese Barberry, Scotch Broom, and Virginia Creeper are some plants to avoid because of their invasive nature. They can also spread to neighboring lawns. In order to prevent a potential invasion, use barrier edging to contain these plants and clip stray stems. You should also avoid planting trees on steep slopes because their shallow roots pose a risk of toppling.
If you don’t have time for a lot of maintenance, consider planting Euonymus. This shrub can grow up to 8 feet tall and has extensive root systems. It’s also extremely drought-resistant and tolerant, making it the perfect plant for slope gardens. Euonymus fortunei is an especially low-maintenance variety, but is invasive in some regions. If you’re interested in a groundcover plant that won’t take over your landscape, consider Euonymus fortunei, a vining evergreen with red and green leaves.
Another low-maintenance plant for slopes is the creeping myrtle. This plant produces flowers that are blush-purple and white and have star-like shapes. This plant is great for steep slopes because it diffuses the effect of rain and provides beauty to the area. These plants are low-maintenance but high-value. They are highly resistant to drought and are low-maintenance. They’re also good for erosion control.
Spreading to squeeze out weeds
Weeds will always sprout up in bare spots, and this is particularly true of slopes. However, you can prevent weeds from forming in these areas by planting ground cover plants that quickly fill in the slope. The weed-resistant plants you need to use on slopes include little periwinkle, bishop’s weed, English thyme, and tansy.
Perennials
There are many different types of perennials that work well on slopes. The ‘Firewitch’ dianthus, voted the 2006 Perennial Plant of the Year, is an excellent choice for slopes. Its small, pink flowers are enclosed in a needle-like enclosure. It has a compact growth habit and is drought-tolerant. It grows best in full sun, but can tolerate cool summer temperatures.
This beautiful plant thrives as a slope and basin plant. It grows two to three feet tall and tolerates a wide variety of soils. The blooms begin in mid-summer and continue into the early fall months. Rudbeckia is a great plant for mass plantings. The seed heads attract songbirds and are hardy in zones 4-10. It has a long flowering period and is a great choice for a slope garden.
When choosing perennial plants for slopes, be sure to consider the direction of the slope. Most plants grow straight up, but planting them at an angle can make them look disfigured. Instead, choose a plant that grows sideways. Plants with weeping foliage can also be planted sideways. Examples include Threadleaf Cypress. These shrubs are often invasive and can cause serious damage to neighboring lawns.
Spotted dead netter is another perennial plant that can be used for slopes. This plant is a ground cover that fills in areas where sunlight or moisture are lacking. They tolerate partial or full shade and are easily trimmed. They will quickly cover the ground. Another choice is Japanese spurge, which grows in zones 4 to 8, but produces tiny white flowers. They are also a great plant for slopes because they attract pollinators.
