Sounds like you need to talk to your local extension agent.

You are going to have trouble getting water to stay long enough to water your plants unless you terrace that slope or plant a few shrubs and perennials or put some large rocks in to hold back the water. Watering that slope as is will have the water running straight down and puddling at the bottom. The bottom will be waterlogged and the top bone dry.

It does seem like an awfully steep hill. What happens when there is a deluge; just curious. Seems like a situation where some serious soil erosion could occur, but you are familiar with the site and we are not.

I worry, too, that annuals won't establish the kind of roots required to hold all of that soil in place.

Can you give us more information?

Thanks Folks:

The soil doesn't move during heavy rains. I should have mentioned it is a rocky area with smaller mica rocks mixed in. I think I may direct a good portion of the sprinkler output at the top area(edge of woods) so the water seeps down slowly.

Here's what it looked like July 1, 2010. I think what that pic is telling me it is too dry at the top, one reason for the irrigation. Summer around here the past two years has been bone dry. Lucky if I see 4-5 inches between June and August.

I have considered some kind of tiered areas, but I'm leery about disturbing what's holding the soil in place. Incidentally this is one of very limited full sun spaces I have.

{{gwi:4085}}

Perhaps some flowers suitable for xeriscapes should be considered for the top area, while some other sun-loving ones for the bottom. If it was me, I would put in portulacas, gazanias, poppies (for early summer blooms), dwarf cosmos at the top since they all grow well in dry soils that drain well. At the bottom, I think you have a greater range of choices, since it will be getting the bulk of the moisture. Send us the pics at the end of this season! I'd like to see how it pans out. I rent, so I have to do everything in pots and I don't have any spots of full sun. I am a bit envious ;-)

Annual Vinca and Verbena bonariensis are two annuals that thrive in hot conditions and tolerate drought reasonably well once established.

i think it will be very frustrating.. if not impossible .... to garden there...

and i would suggest you simply let it go back to native weeds ...

seriously ...lol

its too steep .. you are not going to succeed with non-natives .. etc ..

contact your COUNTY soil conservation dist.. and ask them for help.. and if they can sell you native wildflower seed in bulk ...

ken

I am a huge Angelonia fan! That plant is incredibly drought tolerant, heat loving, sun loving, and blooms non-stop from the time you plant them until the first heavy frost. As they establish themselves, each plant will spread to a robust 24 inches wide. It does not require deadheading, something we can't say for some of the other plants on your list.

Gardening wouldn't be much fun nor very interesting without some experimenting and challenges. Though it seems like a really difficult site to those of use who are looking at a couple of pictures, you are the best judge of the possibilities.

I would avoid disturbing the native soil as much as possible. I certainly wouldn't amend each little planting hole with anything. I'd think that your efforts at amending the area would end up at the bottom of the bank! So, too, would mulch.

But there are loads of very tough non-natives on the market, worthy of your project. It would be fun for us to see another photograph of this area, taken about three or four months from now.

Another photo? Sure. I'll have to bookmark this page. Forget the wildflower seed, but thanks for the suggestion. They're boring. I crave for full color.

Coleus. I just threw that in as they're going elsewhere this season, but I'm surprised there haven't been any votes for the trailing petunias. Reason I thought of them is the fact they thrive in gravel around here, or on the driveway down below.

Yes, I think I will try some Vinca in several areas. Cosmo's gets a vote too. Poppies? Too late to plant eh? By the way, there's another area further down the driveway (pic below). The soil is is held in firmly by trees above the bank.

Now...this is steep. It should be an interesting project. I don't give up easy. I've had all sorts of challenges around here over the last four years. A good number of failures but plenty of successes. This is definitely the biggest challenge.

{{gwi:4086}}

Hey, don't let our votes influence you! The Catharanthus roseus (called Vinca) is another workhorse, in the full sun. It's worthy to note that neither it nor the Angelonia will like a lot of watering. I'd consider both of them almost xeric plants. I think that I watered my Angelonia twice all last summer....in hard Northern Alabama clay. Will the petunias be okay with it being on the dry side?

To be honest I haven't had much success with Vinca in dry areas. It's quite the opposite for me. I wonder why? As far as those petunias they need some water. Here's a shot from mid summer last year before the fall shade hit it. Another reason why I want to try them in mass.

Similar soil but it had been amended. PH 6. Watered about 2 x per week when it was very dry.

{{gwi:4088}}

Incidentally I have some trialing petunias left over from last year with the warm winter we've had. I'm testing several areas on the large hill to see how they do the next four weeks.

Maybe I should grab some assorted annuals at the local Lowes and test them as well before the planned start date in early May. Lord knows they have enough stuff around. The place is loaded with plants...guess they don't foresee another frost? I don't think I saw any Angelonia. Our last frost date averages the third week of April.

Here's some more info from my blog. Thanks for the thought of "will they do well with watering." That lit up a light bulb. Plenty of time to test providing the weather holds.

Here is a link that might be useful: Petunias on A Hill

To be honest I haven't had much success with Vinca in dry areas. It's quite the opposite for me. I wonder why?

==>> perhaps because it takes years.. for it to become 'established' enough to be drought resistant ...

your original post.. indicated.. TO ME.. that you were a bit of a newbie.. on a new site...

but it now appears you have more than enough experience .. so live your dreams ... and report back often ... with pix ...

and good luck

ken

Ok, here's the perpetual confusion with common names raising its ugly head again, lol. Gamountain, do you mean Vinca minor/Vinca major the hardy perennials or the plant CALLED Vinca, Catharanthus roseus? Denn referred to them as annual vinca, because most of us treat them that way, but they are tender perennials.

Vinca is not a plant that I would think of as thriving in hot, dry locations, but Catharanthus IS. It's one of those plants that I can count on in the most hostile of conditions....a non-irrigated parking lot island.

The plant Vinca. Maybe that's wrong too scanning some search images. It's the common stuff found at any big box store. I'm in the midst of a considerable change of plans as I discovered some large embedded rock in the center of the first location (directly behind the rhodie)

Probably need something that grows tall. I can now see some areas aren't suitable. I'm testing out some Allysum for the time being at the base of the small wall. One problem I have at the bottom is collecting enough soil to fill in as it's very low PH or 4.5 from my tests. All the better and easily accessible soil has been "farmed" on this property

{{gwi:4089}}

I do have some perennials seeded last year in another location that are looking good. Maybe I can move some of those into the lower area.

Coneflowers
Gaillarida
Shasta Alaska

I also have some ornamental grass (panicum virgatum) from seed last year. That could be a good fill?

The current image is from the opposite direction of the original at the top. Looks like this is going to be more of a test year than anything, but hoping I get some success. By the way, let's get away from xeriscape for now. I even have problems with stonecop growing here. I have a good investment in irrigation going here. I'd just like to be able to get more moisture in here and see what works.

Thanks for the continued thoughts!

Another vote for annual vinca. They tolerate drought well and like full sun.

I am also a petunia fan. Try Proven Winners Vista Bubblegum, Vista Silverberry and Vista Fuchsia. I had two of them last year that I torched in a hanging basket. The basket went bone dry a few times and they looked awful but lived and perked up whenever they got a little care. They are a spreading landscape petunia. Petunias are heavy feeders. I am impressed enough to give them a try this year in the ground. Our local Lowe's has started carrying some PW plants but I don't know if they had the Vistas. My hanging basket is wearing a pot now and looking very fit.
Vinca are nice but do nothing until the heat. I don't know what zone you are in but my favorite time of year to conquer new land is in the fall. I use the winter rains to get perennials established. Otherwise drip is easy for summer. I just rigged a new line and hooked to the hose faucet. I use the little sprayers on 1/4" line run on half inch line. You could plant a few pockets in the better spots. If you have a big rock, all the better. Shin that puppy up and it can be a feature rock. The little wall and big rocks are interesting. Ornamental grasses have very good root systems for holding dirt.

GA Mountains, have you thought about making a 'pot display'?

Partially bury pots up and down that bank, fill with appropriate potting mix and plant whatever you like! No need to worry about soil erosion (the pots will help hold back the upper dirt) or pH.

Of course if you planted a groundcover like Ajuga or Vinca Minor all around the pots (even the dreaded Ice on the Mountain) it would pull everything together and make it a cohesive display. My neighbor has a pretty varigated Vinca with 1" light blue flowers that is stunning and overhangs the stones she has around the bed.

You could always put some perennials in the pots too, but the annuals would give that splash of color you desire. Interesting pot shapes and colors could be used to enhance the display.

Maybe this unusual space calls for thinking way out of the box!

Hey good idea Hudson. I'm gonna have to research an old thread at Daves garden where there's some information on making paper crete containers because my budget has been hit badly. I could also just as easily use all the gallon containers I have laying around from previous years. But realistically that may disturb more soil than basic plants?

I've also noticed some Vinca Minor (the vine) I have that has spread nicely in just one year in another location. Probably throw some of that in there too.

Btw Peggie, it's not a puppy but a full grown boulder or two and it holds back quite a bit of soil. I'm also testing some plants suggested. One small Petunia is near to flower with all the warm weather we've had. Looks like that is about to change.

Now it's just a matter of putting all the stuff into some kind or organized manner. I'm the type that tends to move stuff if I don't like it three months later.

It's been interesting. Below is an updated picture from April 5th of this thread. Added is another rock area to highlight the center. It was actually a depressed area that spoiled a continuous flow of the trailing Petunias. Other additions called for some pressure treated (PT) raised areas.

The original number of petunias has been cut back and planted above and below the PT area. Estimated; 60. No real problem with any soil erosion as the area is held in tightly with small rocks and tree roots from the area above.

Added is some Vinca Minor in the center. Four ornamental grass (left and right of center) Other annuals I plan are Angelonia in PT areas and some Verbena I found a great deal on.

Incidentally the test plants mentioned previously are doing great, but they had nice tap roots to begin with. These plugs will definitely need some attention before they become established.

{{gwi:4090}}

That's really going to look nice...

You've done a lot of work...my back hurts just thinking about it! Are you going to plant something that trails over the wooden terraces to "soften" the linear lines?

Have you thought of rudbeckias? There are several varieties
that would look great in your garden bed and will take the heat. I love one called Indian Summer.

Donna:

I put some Verbena (three colors) in there though I'm not sure what they'll look like in a few months. I get quite a bit of conflicting information on how much they spread. I've been throwing this and that in since the last photo on May 1. One includes two annual (or so they say) Samantha Lantana that offers yellow flowers and a variegated leaf. I also planted four Dusty Miller. Both the Lantana and Dusty are planted in the center area.

Should be interesting especially the trailing petunias and how to keep them full looking. In other words, with the steep incline in some spots I suppose I'll have to prop them up with bamboo sticks (cut to 6-8 inches and stick them in the soil) so they'll spread out instead of trail downhill. It could be more of a "training experience" for them.

Rudbeckias? In another location further up the drive from seed. I'm trying not to buy as many full size plants as possible. Here's a pic of the Samantha.

{{gwi:4091}}

Lantana is a great plant.I've grown it for years.
I'ts definately a sun and heat lover......
Have a great time gardening........

carol

How about zinnias also. Don't know how far away you are, but you're welcome to lots of young volunteers on my sunny slope. I'm in Sugar Hill, off State Rte. 20. Have been trying things on my slope for 6 years and have had great success with a variety of perennials and the zinnias, which I love. Let me know, k? email is right by my Gardenweb name.

Rosie

Thanks Rosie but I have oodles of itty bitty Zinnias popping up here and there. I've grown fond of them as well. As far as perennials it's taken me some time to get used to the idea, probably because they take so long to reach full maturity and many don't bloom as long. It's also still a matter of when certain things do bloom. I'm only in my third summer gardening..so lot's to learn. Besides, I need something to fill my time and annuals certainly do that.

I appreciate all the great ideas from everyone!

Ken