Planting on a very steep slope?

13 years ago

I'd like to plant some pines on a slope that is steeper than you can comfortably walk down.

I was hoping for 3-5' b&b trees.

I can't visualize a method that would work long term, aside from planting seedlings- and I simply don't have enough time to be weeding the trees for 3 years until trees are tall enough to handle.

Any ideas? Thanks.

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Comments (7)

Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
13 years ago
With my seedlings I have had problems with even natural backfilled soil washing out. To get around this I've used rocks and these cheezy semi-circles of brick they sell at the hardware store to keep the soil from moving downhill.

To get around weed problems, grass really, I have turned to the dark side and actually :gasp: used landscape fabric as a method of weed control. Once a year I can go out and tear up the 5 year stuff and replace it. I never use the 20 year plastic weed barrier. The ground under the 5 year fabric barrier and mulch doesn't feel right to be honest but my small transplants seem happy.

dirtslinger, are you worried about problems with 1/2 the rootball being exposed by the slope? I have no answer for that. For mulch retention chicken wire on the downhill side or a tomato cage around the tree helps but I still have to go rearrange the stuff after heavy rains.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
13 years ago
hey ..... pic below .... you will have to use your imagination to scale it up ...

in words .. you dig into the high side .... and pull it down to create a moat for the tree to sit in ...

you plant so it is level with the undisturbed soil ...

and you use the retaining pond to water it for the first year or 3 ....

all that aside .. are you nuts????!!!!!

what are we talking.. 200 pound root ball on a steep slope ... really???? or are you holding back on the facts and have some real heavy equipment involved ...

IMHO.. hire it out to guys with big machines.. or cut the size in half.. so YOU DONT KILL YOURSELF DOING IT ????

besides.. i would bet a 2 footer will outgrow a transplanted 5 footer inside of 5 years ...

smaller will reduce the weight ... the hole size.. the water needs.. the disc hernia surgery ...

it is a fools errand to think you will get further ahead.. planting bigger .. when dealing with trees and conifers ... smaller will re-establish faster.. and begin the normal annual growth rate.. easily surpassing the larger one.. that will struggle for years to come ....

if there is some sight line issue ... then maybe.. every other one can be bigger .... but i would not going buying a dozen of them .. before you find out if the project is within your physical abilities ....

just my 2 cents ...

ken

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fotisr
13 years ago
Hello,
this is the way I've done it. Big bolders to retain the soil leveled. I know, probably your slope is steeper but I think it's doable.

{{gwi:632353}}

Best regards,
Fotis
gardener365
13 years ago
Good ideas Ken and Fotis. That's exactly right. And you too torando.

The ground needs to be flat where you plant, and a reservoir in front of the hole to hold water to also drain to the roots. That's the basic principle or idea involved.

What's that fir Ken? It's tight!

Dax
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
13 years ago
hey dax ....

its one of Gee's machinations .... Abies procera x Abies koreana

I THINK.. lol

ken
dirtslinger2
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks!!
It is way steeper than these slopes though, I'm thinking erosion on both up and downhill sides could be an issue.

Ken- a 3-5' tree will probably weigh in at under 80 pounds...

Will get smaller trees and create a flate spot with rocks and throw down clover seeds for stabilizing.
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
13 years ago
I'd go smaller just to get a container plant instead of B&B. It would have a better root mass to more easily hydrate the plant as well as easier planting.

tj

Planting on a very steep slope?

Comments (7)

Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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Planting on a very steep slope?

Comments (7)

Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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fotisr

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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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dirtslinger2
Original Author