Slopes are often a headache for home gardeners. But that doesn't have to be the case: embankments can be beautifully integrated into the garden as a special design element and secured with plants, stones and other things. Below you will find out how to plant your slope and which plants and elements can be used for particularly steep slopes.
How do I plant a slope correctly?
To plant an embankment, use deep-rooted shrubs such as Bux or yew and ground cover such as cotoneaster. Fix the slope with elements such as natural stones, plant mats or gabions and plan effective irrigation.
Fixing the embankment
An embankment can be secured with different elements. Plants are a very effective option, but they only have an effect once the plants have grown well. These elements will help to fix the slope:
- Natural stones
- Planting stones
- Wooden boards
- branches
- Planting mats
- Gabions
- Mulch
- Shrubs
- Groundcover
Creating terraces
On very steep slopes, planting alone will not be enough. Instead, it makes sense to create terraces by setting horizontally low walls into the ground at regular intervals. Natural stones offer a cheap and beautiful option; gabions are also popular due to their easy installation. If you have leftover wood or branches, you can also fortify the slope with boards or woven fences.
Planting mats
An invisible variant is the use of plant mats. These are spread out over the slope and attached to the sides using stones, for example. Then holes are cut in the places where plants are to be planted. To cover the planting mat until the plants have spread, you can cover it with gravel or mulch.
Planting an embankment
Which plants are best suited for the embankment depends primarily on the slope and the sky orientation. While practically anything can be grown on flat slopes, deep-rooted perennials and shrubs should be grown on very steep slopes, which cling to the slope and thus prevent erosion. A combination of shrubs and ground cover plants makes sense, as ground cover form a kind of network and thus also protect the embankment from erosion.
Deep-rooted shrubs for steep slopes
Various shrubs and bushes can be used for slope planting. When making your choice, pay attention to the desired height and your preferences regarding the location. If you place sun-hungry shrubs in shady locations, they will grow poorly and possibly die. Conversely, shade-loving plants burn in the blazing sun.
| Name | Growth height | Winter protection needed | Location preferences |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bensengster | 0, 5 to 3 meters | Yes | Full sunny |
| Boxwood | 2 to 6 meters | No | Shady to partially shaded |
| Yew | 0.5 to 1.5 meters | No, wintergreen | Sunny to shady |
| Firethorn | 2 to 4 meters | Probably no | Sunny to partially shaded |
| Common Juniper | 1 to 8 meters | No | Sunny to partially shaded |
| Dog Rose | 2 to 3 meters | No | Sunny |
| Laurel loquat (loquat) | 3 to 8 meters | Rather no, evergreen | Partial shade |
| Mahony | Up to 1.5m | No | Sunny to partially shaded |
| paper bush | Approx. 1 meter | No | Sunny to partially shaded |
| Thuja | Up to 10 meters | No | Sunny to partially shaded |
| Black Cherry | 5 to 10 meters | No | Sunny to partially shaded |
| Holly | 1, 5 to 3 meters | No | Sheltered, partially shaded |
| Magic Haze | 2 to 6 meters | No, blooms in winter | Sunny, protected |
You can get more suggestions for easy-care plants for your embankment here.
Watering the hanging plants
Planning the water supply is particularly important when planting on slopes. If you set an automatic irrigation system, you don't need to worry about accessibility. However, if you want to water yourself with a hose or even a watering can, you should create paths on your slope so that you can easily reach all places.