How to handle a backyard with a hill
6 years ago
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- 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
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VERY steep hill in backyard...need suggestions pls
Comments (9)The shrubs growing on the slope look that they have been there quite a while and seem to be growing straight up. (Sometimes, if there is a bend like an old-fashioned walking stick handle in the stem near to the ground, that bend can indicate that the land is slumping.) About the tree roots showing: there's not a great deal of topsoil from what I could see so the roots have probably spread out to forage for food and water. A number of tree species have suface roots - some quite gnarled and obvious. Think swamp cypress for a start. Unless the trees are very tall and your local prevailing winds are fierce or unpredictable you aren't likely to get windthrow. On a slope such as yours I'd be looking for grooves cut by runoff from the top as the precursor to shallow gullying - and that didn't seem to be happening. Personally, I wouldn't spend on 'posh plants' for such a slope. I'd ask for 'pioneer-type' shrubs - preferably native to your area. If you have a native plants nursery near you - pick their brains. Grasses, creepers, low-nutrient environment shrubs and sub-shrubs. That soil is obviously not rich - it hasn't been colonised by much at all. If you need clues and there are cuttings at the sides of your roads check there for what will establish and thrive and stay seemly. (No one needs a slope covered in fire risk weeds!) When you visit with the plant place/s ask for SPECIFIC guidance on how to plant up a steep slope. If it has a high clay content - let them know because it will change what they will advise. If there is any better soil available on your lot, and you can spare some - mix it in with the slope soil when planting but don't bother putting in fine compost. All that happens is the plants grow out to the limits of the top grade environment and then either sulk or die. Think about buying your reveg plants in 'root trainer' tubes rather than big cans or baggies. They'll be younger and better equipped to strike out, rootwise. Hear you when you say you're budget-constrained. See if you can legally collect native seedlings of suitable plants, grow them on, then plant out. Sometimes a neighbour can be a good source. Under the bird feeder, in a garden, can be another - but expect a lot of berry-producing plants ;-) And, as the slope is a bit of a challenge - could you devise a ladder to get you upslope for planting? Or a scaffoldiong arrangement. Something with wide enough treads so you don't end up with anguished feet!...See Moreivy planted on hill in backyard
Comments (16)I'm also in Atlanta, and purchased a foreclosed home with a lot of poison... I mean English Ivy. Again: Rip it out. It is a big undertaking, but you'll be surprised at how fast it goes. You will need a shovel, but you don't need to dig out the whole thing. I suggest getting your gloves, find a good strong vine, and pull up- as in vertical. Try not to break the vine, but follow it, follow it follow it to the base, then give a little shovel to it to try and get the roots. The trick is to get the vines as long as you can. They may come back a little, but if you're a gardener, its just like vigilant weeding when it's coming back. I also tried a couple of kinds of brush killer, but it was largely ineffective because of the thick, waxy leaves and resilient nature. The poison did more of a number on other plants around it. I regret that (though, I don't regret using it on the privet and poison ivy!). Get rid of it get rid of it get rid of it. Lots of other ground cover options. Here's another to add to previous suggestions: Royal Alyssium Here is a link that might be useful: Royal Alyssium...See MoreHelp with backyard hill layout
Comments (26)I didn't want to mention the rock slide that crashed through the wall if it wasn't already bothering the homeowner's. Sometimes people don't want to have their attention drawn to something that's expensive to fix, if they're otherwise accepting of it. Since it came up, I'll not disagree with kiminpl's comments about the two elements being radically out of sync. I think the problem lies entirely with the rock fountain. We notice that the rocks are of relatively uniform, small size. In nature we would see some boulders in the mix. Also, the chute is straight, like a manufactured object. At the termination point, the stacking of stones is not at all like nature would do it, stable and in equilibrium. Instead, some stones are stacked vertically so an accidental bump could send them tumbling. That the "stream" has a given width at its base, but where it penetrates the wall it is only half that width, which looks unnatural. The pool at the base should be wider -- probably considerably wider -- than the stream, if it is to look natural. And It seems that replicating/simulating nature is the whole point. Looking at an example of a natural stream (or a good fake stream!) a quasi-alternating arrangement of boulders occurs more or less along the sides (encircled in yellow.) The boulders are "helped" by large, dome-shaped plant masses (encircled in orange) furthering the random, alternating arrangement. One might think of their arrangement as how a steel ball might travel a pinball course (red line.) In some cases these boulders extend, separate and outside of the stream, adding depth and drama to the scene. In the case of the property in question, no boulders to speak of exist at all! I would be tempted to mortar some stones together, making simulated boulders. (To be sure, though, it would require someone with an artistic sense to do this and massage the existing contents into a more natural arrangement.) Consolidating stones into larger masses could help to create more of a meandering effect. (It looks like the actual path of water flow might be curved.) It could also help to narrow the overall stream so that it fits better with the wall opening. It's going to be nearly impossible for me to describe in a concise way how the stream should meet the wall, but I think this portion needs a complete redesign. While the largest "boulders" might begin to penetrate the wall, I don't think all the "gravel" looks good spilling out and filling the pool. It should be more pool and less stream bed on the patio side of the wall. Given that the "pool" probably needs to be filled with gravel, it might be a smaller, different colored (dark) stone that simulates the effect of water. Don't know if this will help. Usually, creating these things like this are not for people working it out as they go. It generally takes someone with experience....See Morehow should I maintain this backyard steep hill?
Comments (40)Sorry for the delayed response. Really appreciate everyone's input and learning a lot here. I think my next step is to research everyone's advice as well as visit some big nurseries and see what recommendations they have and go from there. I'll try to ask my neighbors if they know any more about the hill (and how deep the soil is) and any advice they have to maintain it. @Cathy Anderson I never heard of that word. That's exactly what I need! @Justin Holbrook I will look into your suggestions. @L Sure I will check it out. @ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5- The wall is not that tall. It's about 3 feet so I just climb it. Thanks!...See MoreRelated Professionals
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