Steep front yard hill?

9 years ago

We have a very steep front yard hill that I have no idea what to do with!

The picture shows the length well, but not the steepness, the previous owner mowed it with golf spikes, but after my husband slipped mowing it 2 years ago, we've stopped.

My neighbor (who lives on a rustic farm!) has made comment to how it should be mowed :/ sometimes his sheep get loose and graze on it though, haha.

Anyway, my husband is a second year teacher and I stay home for the next few years so our budget is miniscule.

Terracing is out, for now and probably long term too, even though I have dreams about a nicely terraced (lined with rocks, we've got plenty of those!) cottage garden. The truth is that's not something we'd be able to afford for 10 or more years.

But the tall grass and weeds aren't working either! This summer my MIL is helping me landscape along the porch, which will help the overall raggedy-ness, but I need some sort of solution for this hill!

What would you do?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

lilsprout
9 years ago
Ughhh that looks like mine. I feel your pain!

I have been weed whacking mine, and darned tired of doing the body wrenching balancing act. Yes I have fallen down mine several times lol....luckily not while weed whacking.

Last year I'd had enough and decided to plant blue rug junipers. Yuck I don't even like them but they spread 6-8 feet! I dream about that damn hill being completely covered!

I ended up planting 31.....spaced about 5' feet apart. What a job....I'm sure you can imagine lol.

Luckily they all survived. I just finished edging and mulching them....ughh!
I will contine to do so as needed in order to keep anything from growing into them until they are grown out.

In ways I feel like I created a monster, but I know eventually it will have all been worth it.....no more balancing acts lol.

I would have loved to terrace mine out but the funds just aren't there.

I do have creeping phlox in several areas along the top.

Now just trying to figure out something to add to it so it's not just one big ugly juniper blob!!

Sorry I don't really have any suggestions. Just wanted to let you know I can sympathize with you and give you an idea of what I resorted to.

I look forward to hearing other ideas, something perhaps that will work better for you.....

Lilsprout
User
9 years ago
garden,
Buy a goat.
I'm serious.
Or ask your neighbor if he knows anyone who will let thier goats eat your grass off the hill.
It's too dangerous, so why not just take advantage of a goat?
You can put one on a chain and let him take care of that for you.
Related Discussions
Front yard overhaul needed, problem with hill.
Q
Comments (2)
Spacing some stones would keep your wonderful neighbors from turfing your lawn and then you could grow some nice groundcover too. Depending on how high you want the stuff to grow, there is so many ground covers you can choose from. Vinca is nice, you can get a few colors to choose from. The deer/rabbits/mice/moles/voles etc don't eat it. Not sure how good it is for erosion control. You could also try bundle flower (desmanthus illinoensis), it's a perennial, for erosion control, and it's got decorative seed pods and is native to the US. It's hardy to -20, so since you are in Ma, not sure if that will survive or not, unless you use mulch. I got some to try where we have erosion problems, you can purchase it at horizonherbs.com, they got some interesting seeds and plants, and they have great customer service. You can also plant crownvetch, but it can be invasive and I personally don't like it. There are also shrubs that can help control erosion like candleberry.
...See More
Big Hill/Slope in Front Yard - Landscaping Advice
Q
Comments (5)
I should have mentioned, in order to avoid distortion, post the pictures individually instead of making them into computer generated panoramas. Much of the front of the house cannot be ameliorated by plantings, since more than 50% of it is covered by paving. White may not be the best color for the garage door. Maybe it should be different than trim or body color. Seems like the left side could use a tree in an island bed and the tree @ right could use a bed. Some groundcover, perennials and annuals could screen the foundation. There could be a spreading shrub off the corner of the front porch. I don't think that retaining walls and terraces are necessary or that they would resolve perceived shortcomings of the overall scene. Part of the solution will come when the existing young trees grow to larger size.
...See More
How to landscape a yard with a steep hill into river
Q
Comments (3)
Also, depending on the waterway, there are a fair number of environmental laws that regulate modifications to river banks since flooding and erosion can become a problem if changes aren't made with knowledge and care, either for you or for those downstream. Be sure that you investigate this well to avoid fines and legal costs. A steep hill that needs a high level of stability and in additional to possible environmental concerns says to me that this may be something for an engineer rather than this board, but posting photos will help decide that.
...See More
Roses on steep hill
Q
Comments (26)
I do what Lisa does for the couple of hills i planted on.... I made dry stacked stone berms to capture the water and allow a place to fertilize etc. the stones looked natural and I covered with mulch anyway. When I didn't do this, they suffered for water and it all ran off. Perhaps you could interplant with some flowering shrubs such as spirea, Hydrangea, viburnum and your current lilac just to ensure good erosion control. Also, mulch heavily. Nature loves a vacuum and will fill that area with weed before anything can establish otherwise. Perhaps, you can make a plan and just start with smaller areas. I have a constant mix in mine as it's a north-facing wall at the top of the hill, but I've been concetrating on Hybrid musks to cascade downward with pink pet and white meidiland at the the bottom.
...See More
dottiecarrano
8 years ago
Is there any view from the front porch /front windows you're trying to keep?

Obviously that's a state road in front of you and there's a stormwater gully along the road shoulder.

I take it your driveway outlet is on this road in the photo. How is the visibility to traffic coming if someone is backing out of the driveway?

Important questions before you choose what to plant. Mature height, water needs, density, deciduous or evergreen. I'm thinking maybe a pretty picket fence installed halfway up the slope with rambler roses falling over it and butterfly bushes behind them mixed with some loropetalums with the burgundy leaves for some color and contrast.

That looks like a comfortable porch and you want the view from your side of the fence to be as pretty and fragrant as is looks from the roadside view. Some white lattice to each side of the porch steps maybe two feet wide to hold clematis or jessimine vines and add a vertical element that draws the eye away from the hill and gully grass up to the pretty porch and house.

I'd forego the spreading juniper idea mainly because they don't block weeds and weeding them is a prickly job nobody wants since you'll also be picking roadside litter out of them.

When you have time and are ready to plant the lower area, go with liriope SPICATA which is the spreading kind. Stays under 10 inches and grows so dense you'll never have to set foot in there unless it's with one of those handled pickeruppers to grab the stray litter. It will choke out the grass that's there now and spread into the gully. (I can't believe I've finally found the right spot to recommend SPICATA for but this spot is perfect for that. )
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
8 years ago
Liriope spicata isn't hardy everywhere, so we would need to know the OP's zone or location. Here's how to add it:

Go to Your Houzz in upper right of every page, click Edit Profile, and on the left side click advanced settings. Well down the advanced settings page is a blank labeled Climate Zone for Garden Forums along with a link to find your zone.

If you add info on your state or the nearest large city you will get even better information since zone only relates to average coldest winter temperatures.

Then return to the top of the page and click Done Editing.
wantonamara Z8 CenTex
8 years ago
Retaining wall and overhanging plants.

Steep front yard hill?

Comments (5)

lilsprout

User

Related Discussions

dottiecarrano

NHBabs z4b-5a NH

wantonamara Z8 CenTex

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US