Steep Slope Gardening

Not everyone is blessed with a perfectly flat plot of land in which to garden, and steep slope gardening brings with it a number of special challenges.

"Steep slopes" are defined as slopes rising at an angle greater than 20 percent, and are far less stable – and tougher to maintain – than gentler garden slopes. Mowing can be difficult, if not downright dangerous, and rain can cause soil erosion due to runoff. They can be a hazard to your home, as well, as soil erosion can threaten your foundation.

Heading off soil erosion is the first priority in steep slope gardening, so steer clear of your traditional sod-type lawn and look at planting trees and shrubs, whose root systems will anchor the soil and slow runoff during heavy rains. Tall perennial grasses such as Pampas grass are also a good choice.

Even seeding the area with wildflowers will do a better job of keeping the soil from washing away that lawn grasses, and it will look a lot prettier, too. If lawn grass already exists on your steep slope, you'll first need to use a good herbicide to kill it, then till the ground to create a bed for seeds. Wildflower seeds can be purchased in bulk from your lawn and garden store, in sizes ranging from small cans to large sacks. You'll need about 50 seeds per square foot, or five to 10 pounds per acre. On a very large slope, hydroseeding is the easiest method – seed and water is combined to make a slurry and then mixed with fertilizer and mulch. The mixture is then colored green to make it obvious where it's been applied, and sprayed on the prepared ground.

Shady slopes, when flowers are unlikely to grow, are ideal spots for low-growing vines, ferns and perennials. Besides setting down roots that will keep the dirt from washing away during rains, the carpet of leaves will catch raindrops before they hit the ground, this slowing erosion.

A thoughtful landscaping plan can make steep slope gardening low maintenance, make un underutilized area attractive, and cut down on the risks to a home's foundation.