Plantings for erosion control

[BostonBull]

I posted this a couple of years ago, cant find the old post, and havent tackled the job yet.

I have a steep grade, 60*-70* in my back yard. It is maybe 15' tall, and leads down to my neighbors yard and some Norway Maples. I want to plant something that will help with erosion, look nice, and be on the smaller side. I dont want something like Forsythia that will give the appearance of a jungle back there. I also dont want the typical carpet Junipers.

It is a very shady spot, with poor soil. The builder dumped the soil from the foundation back there, so we have sand and clay for "soil"

What do you think?

 

[jayclay]

What about Sweet Fern (Comptonia perigrina) or False Spirea (Sorbaria sorbifolia)? Are you looking for something woody or a herbaceous groundcover?

 

[Starlet]

give me an idea if you want woody or groundcover, i have a source that has plants/shrubs for erosion control is it all shade? roughly any sun 1-2 hours?

 

[BostonBull]

I was thinking a form of Spirea myself.

I am looking for something no taller than 5' at maturity, 3' would be great. My neighbors yard and house looks onto this small slope, and I will be able to see it from the deck and playing in the yard with kids. Groundcover or shrub form is fine

 

[BostonBull]

Some morning sun coming over the top of the slope, and then slivers of late afternoon sun coming through the canopies of the trees, maybe 3 hours total?

 

[banjo]

You could load it up with hostas.

 

[tomthetreeman]

Comptonia is an awesome recommendation. Tough plant, adaptable, and attractive.

-Tom

 

[macrocarpa]

Not sure how it would do up there + the shade factor??? But winter jasmine looks nice to cover steep hill sides down here. Abelia is similar to spirea, flowers nice through summer.

 

[jayclay]

Comptonia smells great too if you brush up against it (not sure how much of that would be happening on the slope). It does like acidic soil though. How's the soil where you are?

 

[macrocarpa]

this is another shot in the dark. Fetter bush also called dog hobble. good native understory spreading shrubish.

Called dog hobble cause when bear trackers using dogs are in pursuit, the dogs trip up and the bears are not fazed.

 

[tomthetreeman]

Skimmia, male and female would also fit the bill.

-Tom

 

[banjo]

[ QUOTE ]
this is another shot in the dark. Fetter bush also called dog hobble. good native understory spreading shrubish.

Called dog hobble cause when bear trackers using dogs are in pursuit, the dogs trip up and the bears are not fazed.

[/ QUOTE ]

He's talking about Luecothoe. Which is a cool plant.

 

[macrocarpa]

Ya, I suppose I should stick to latin.

 

[banjo]

Latin schmatin. Don't worry about it.

 

[davepell]

Here's a couple northwest natives that would work.

Mahonia nervosa- low oregon grape
Fragaria vesca - woodland strawberry

Thanks,
Dave

 

[tomthetreeman]

[ QUOTE ]
Latin schmatin.

[/ QUOTE ]

What's schmatin? Sounds German.

 

[banjo]

Its yiddish.

 

[macrocarpa]

[ QUOTE ]
Here's a couple northwest natives that would work.

Mahonia nervosa- low oregon grape
Fragaria vesca - woodland strawberry

Thanks,
Dave

[/ QUOTE ]

Mahonia smells good!

 

[tomthetreeman]

That stuff is crazy looking, too!