How to plant on a slope, plus what you need to know about having a fabulous (and easy care) sloping border. Broadcaster and plantsman Stephen Ryan of Dicksonia Rare Plants tells you what works and what doesn’t (and why!)
For more of Stephen’s expert advice, subscribe to the YouTube channel he runs with Matthew Lucas, The Horti-Culturalists: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVP0JO-cSUUScAkI3YXpKRA
Dicksonia Rare Plants:http://stephenryan.com.au/nursery/
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50 Comments
๐ thanks
fantastic video full of expert advice, i will re watch this video several times over, thank you
Give me great information, and inspiration for my own large bank.๐จ๐ฆ
shady plants start @5:24 vincas, rascas? sunny @ 6:15
He was a great guest – lots of practical information and very enthusiastic!
Dont have a slope … but when I see a quality video, I KNOW. This is such a VALUABLE video. ๐๐ป๐๐ป๐๐ป๐๐ป๐๐ป hope u have him on again. This video is so thorough and inspirational. ๐๐พ๐๐พ๐๐พ๐๐พ
Wonderful video, specifically the "how-to" demonstrations. While there is some information (but not a ton) about planting on a slope, much of it is limited to which plants to choose (which is helpful, but even more helpful when taught how to plant properly).
I have a specific question that I can't find an answer to, but maybe you can help. Last year, I "tiered" a 24'L x 11'H/ 7.3 m x 3.4 m hill that has a ยฑ27-degree slope for some senior friends. It's a very unprofessional tier job because I''m not a landscape professional, just a friend that likes digging in the dirt. ๐ There is currently a full-length tier/landing about half-way down the hill, and some paver "steps" dug into the slope about 2.75'/0.85m from both the top and the bottom of the hill (i.e. there is a step up/down about every 0.85m). This is not the ideal set-up for an aging couple (73 & 71 y.o.), but I'm working with two strong personalities. ๐
The slope is still very steep, but their ability to get up and down the slope seems to be of less concern than what they will use to cover the weed barrier I installed. The coarse mulch is a good idea for the horizontal landing and most of the sloped, but mulch won't stay put on the vertical "risers" leading up to the paver steps or the landing. Installing a rock "wall"/riser isn't an option because we don't have enough rocks and their budget is very limited, especially now that they've likely lost a chunk of their retirement savings because of COVID-19 market volatility. This morning I was wondering whether moss might be a good option for the riser areas, but tend to think planting some rapid-growth trailing plants would be easier.
Do you have any suggestions about how to mask vertical risers in an aesthetically pleasing, budget friendly manner? I could dig out more of the hill to soften the slope, although I just spent yesterday afternoon planting their garden picks (feathergrass, daisies, pink dianthus, Candy Tuft – Snow Cone (Iberis sempervirens)). Last fall, I transplanted some Lamb'sEar (stachys byzantina) (which is doing great) and wooly thyme (not doing so great, surprisingly). They also have some bishop's wort in their backyard (contained between the house and a concrete barrier) they wish to transplant into the garden; however, I'm concerned about it taking over the other plants in the garden.
I know that this project is being done backwards. I would have preferred to have a plan in place before digging up the lawn and creating what feels to me like a bit of a mess. However, I'm working with a very strong "perceiver" who likes to go with what feels right when it feels right. I love both of them very much and am doing what I can to make something that makes them both happy. Neither of them know much about gardening and I personally don't want them spending much time on the steep hill, so I'm trying to present low-maintenance, fast-growing suggestions. I think the suggestions might mean more if they come from an expert.
That's probably much more info than necessary, but I'm hoping it gives a full scope of the parameters without being able to see it. Thanks in advance!
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Hi, Thank you so much for an informative slope gardening video!
I am a new gardener here. I have a very steep slope full of weeds right on a major city street. I am planning to prep my hill for planting. I read that I can do this with layering my hill 6-8 inches thick of mulch. I was told I need to continuously mulch for 3 years before I can even get a solid and healthy foundation of soil. So my questions is…
1. Can I start this process in the summer?
2. How do I layer the mulch on my hill without it running down to the streets?
3. I was planning to put the mulch on the hill immediately after I mow the lawn super low. Is this enough or do I need to uproot the large pieces of weeds first or use chemicals to kill the weeds before laying down the mulch?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
What is he saying โswaylesโ? @4:00
More help with sunny slopes, please…NW lower Michigan, Zone 6B. Great info, thanks!
I got a lot of great information from this video! I really like the idea of using a mulch that is like straw or hay because no one can see the slope in the back of my yard. Maybe pine needles?
does the ditch/swale need to be on precise contour lines, or just gauged by eye/feel?
Very helpful video! Thank you for sharingthis@
Please send this man home to me and my slope!
finally someone that explains and shows in detail what to do on a slope. I agree with someone else's comment, that it could be longer!!! Very informative and practical. Thank you!
I would love to know the list of plants he used among the blue bearded irises, lupine and that touch of yellow on tall stalks. Would you please share the list if possible. Thank you.
Thank you. This is so appropriate for my garden slopes and I am going to apply the trench above the plant hole with confidence it will work. I would like see more examples of sunny slope or terrace gardening for retaining soil.
Great video. Thanks guys
I am planting a terraced garden per your video. Can you tell me where I can buy azorella trifurcata nana or how to propagate the plants?
I must have the worst possible scenario of a slope. It's so steep it's impossible to stand on it. It's all hard compressed rocky red soil( more like cement than soil) and we get 35 degrees boiling hot sun in the summer. Sometimes even 40 degrees. It's also impossible to water. Suggestions anyone?๐คฆ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐คฆ๐ปโโ๏ธ๐๐๐
Alexandra thank you so much for these videos. I'm sooo excited I dreamed for year for a piece of property to have for the vision I have in my head..you videos help so much..with limited money I'm starting a bank with periwinkle as well a creek bank. Sorry I just get so excited when I watch and get more ideas. ! I'm so ready for spring her in U.S. …blessings
Thank-you! This was my first visit to your YouTube program. I am gardening a slope that is decidedly shady on its south side and sunny on its north which makes for a diverse selection of plants. Water conservation is an issue in southern California so I appreciate Stephen's comments on water's inclinations! Another of my challenges is to make my slope as pleasing to the eye from its bottom as from its top. It's an engaging project that benefits from good advice like yours. I look forward to future editions of "The Middle-Sized Garden!"
I wish I understood the shade tree and dry ground relationship ๐ years ago. So many dead plants and shrubs.
As I get older pachysandra & hosta are my favorites for certain areas.
This is a very useful video for me since our garden IS actually a rather steep slope adjacent to a small wood. Not the easiest basis for creating a garden. The video is also very reassuring because Stephen Ryan showed me I was doing the right thing building some borders; using tree trunks stems and rocks to keep the soil in place for individual or small groups of plants.. it looks very natural too and blends in with the sunny rest of the slope which I want to keep as a meadow. These parts however also need a bit of help by only mowing twice a year and introducing more diversity by sowing seeds or putting in plug plants. There your tips for making a wildflower meadow come in very handy. I am happy to have found your channel. Thank you for your great tips and pleasant presentation.
Have a look: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5OU7LG9Cl8
Swales- Part Two. Geoff Lawton visits The Weedy Garden
Very practical…thank you……A Yank……..take care.
Envying your lack of clay soil. Thanks for the brilliant video.
ive got really rocky ground sloped even more than in this video and the more stuff i watch about growing in sloped rocky ground the more im convinced its not worth trying to create a sloped fruit/veg garden/orchard. that on top of the $30,000 or so it would cost to clear the land of trees and stumps =(
I would stay away from vincas and any troublesome invasive plants
Very helpful. Hillsides require care to prevent erosion. It's discouraging to watch your best soil wash into the street. Iris beds helped me. Pick an iris with attractive foliage and consider it a flowering hedge.
โญโญโญโญโญ Excellent information!! Loved it โค๏ธ
Another action packed and meaty film. Thanks so much, Alexandra and team! ๐ฅฐ
Yay for sloping garden tips
โYuuchubeโ love it
TITLES when naming plants!!
How long does soil preparation with manure take? Is this something that would need to be done long term before beguining planting?
Hi. Can somebody write me the suggested plants? I need a list in written.
Smoke that damn tree
All your plants is flower poison I don't see a need edible vegetable tomato… Where are those tomatoes? And corn? All i see is poison flower you ate those too?
Fantastic video. So clear and precise. Thank you.
Thank you very much! The most info I have ever got on the planting on the slope. Beautiful
damn finally! I could only find stuff saying "build a giant terraced retaining wall" (for like 200 ft, 10 ft high)
Iโve been using sugar cane mulch on my slope. Love it! Great coverage and allows the rain through
What a beautiful garden! So many tips, a one-stop-shop for ideas and how to plant on a slope. Thank you.
Such an informative video! Thank you for your wealth of knowledge! Boston, MA๐ท
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I think he needed to add a way to access the garden like installing paver steps or someting because it will still need to be weeded or pruned or something.
I loved this guy! Great info and lovely modest Aussie man, thanks for your guest speaker middle-size!