A wall without plants can easily slip when it rains. It is therefore advisable to plant an earth bank with plants that have strong roots and thus prevent slipping. Below you will find out what needs to be taken into account when filling up an earth wall and which plants are suitable for greening.
Which plants are suitable for greening an earth bank?
Deep-rooted plants such as broom, bank myrtle, crabgrass or steppe sage, which provide good slope reinforcement, are suitable for planting an earth bank. In addition, shallow-rooted, spreading ground cover plants such as carpet phlox or cranesbill should be planted.
Creating a wall: This is what you need to consider
Few people know: You may need a permit to create an earth wall. The main deciding factors are the height of the earth wall and which federal state you live in. Find out about the applicable regulations before you start filling up. You should also make sure that the wall should not be steeper than 45°.
Plant the earth wall sensibly
When planting the wall, the proximity to the water must be taken into account. Not only do the plants in the upper area have more moisture in the soil, the upper part also tends to dry out because it gets the most sun. Therefore, sun-loving, drought-resistant deep-rooted plants should be grown here if possible. You can plant shallow-rooted plants in the middle and lower areas. Make sure your plants have sufficient winter hardiness so that they do not die in winter. If you want to look at a green slope even in winter, you can choose evergreen plants. When choosing plants, consider the location of your slope. Is it more in the sun or in the shade? Choose the plants accordingly.
Deep-rooted plants for the upper area
| Name | Location | Evergreen | Special features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broom | Sun | Not evergreen | Blooms golden yellow in May-June |
| Sea myrtle (Evergreen honeysuckle) | Sun to shade | Evergreen | Poisonous |
| fingerbush | Sun to partial shade | Not evergreen | Blooms yellow from June to October |
| Common Juniper | Sun to partial shade | Evergreen | Coniferous trees |
| Dog Rose | Sun to shade | Not evergreen | Blooms light pink in early summer |
| Lupins | Sun to partial shade | Not evergreen | Leaves and seeds poisonous |
| Magnificent candle | Sun | Not evergreen | Long flowering period |
| Spurflower | Sun | Not evergreen | Seeds itself |
| Steppe Sage | Sun | Not evergreen | Native to Central Europe, self-sowing |
| Daylily | Sun | Not evergreen | Bold colors |
It makes sense to combine these deep-rooted plants, which ensure a firm anchoring in the ground, with shallow-rooted, widely spreading plants. Ground cover plants are ideal for this. You can find a detailed list of the most beautiful ground cover plants for securing slopes here.
Tip
If you want to avoid landslides during the growing season, fortify your earth wall with embankment mats.
