Project Idea: Hillside Garden

A sloping terrace is considered one of the more challenging aspects of a residential site. The design of a hillside should reflect the character of the overall landscape. Another important factor is the location of the bank and how it is viewed. If your hillside is in direct view from the street, along the driveway, or out of a kitchen or living room window, the design should be innovative and decorative. Without getting into the expense of a retaining wall, a creative design will include a combination of natural stone and interesting plant selection. Plants should also have a strong root system to prevent soil erosion. Try planting Barberry, Cypress, Creeping Juniper, Flower Carpet Rose, English Ivy, Pachysandra, Myrtle, or Wintercreeper. Also, do not hesitate to add interest with ornamental grasses such as Maiden, Pampas or Fountain grass. Add color with low growing perennial flowers like Candytuft, Thyme, and Creeping Phlox. A professionally designed hillside landscape will minimize maintenance and add considerable beauty to your home.

Garden Tasks

Lawn Care

• Apply a pre-emergent weed control with crab grass preventative in March before temperatures steadily reach above 50 degrees
• Apply a high nitrogen fertilizer to encourage bright green new growth from your lawn's winter dormant period
• Spring is also a great time to seed a new lawn or re-seed an existing lawn

Landscape Maintenance

• Apply a pre-emergent weed control to garden beds to reduce 80% of natural weed growth by killing the weeds at the root before they emerge
• Cut a fresh edge and apply a 2" thick coating of shredded bark mulch to all tree and shrub beds; it is best to mulch with a mushroom compost (or similar) in perennial and annual flower beds
• Spray a dormant oil on all ornamental trees and shrubs in early March to kill insects in their larvae stage before they do damage to your landscape

Planting

• Spring is a terrific time to transplant and plant new trees, shrubs, ground covers, and perennials to give your garden a fresh look

Plants of Interest: Flowering Trees and Shrubs

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