Gardening on a Hill

By tinabarlow
June 7, 2017

I have battled mowing a hill for years, I finally decided to plant flowers and do landscaping where it was hard to stand up. Putting in railroad ties for steps on a hill is great. Now I can actually walk up and down the hill without rolling down. You can also see in the pictures that I put flowerbeds on either side of the steps. An arbor, simply made out of pressure-treated posts, with long bolts holding them together and then set in concrete, gives the wisteria plenty of support. When planting on a steep hill, you have to make sure everything gets watered well until established as rain runs off a hill so fast it doesn't give the plants the water it needs. I also have juniper shrubs on another hillside that help with erosion and that's another area I don't have to worry about mowing. I actually have raised beds on some of my slopes.

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Jun 6, 2017 8:09 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Bev
Salem OR (Zone 8a)
Container Gardener Foliage Fan Sempervivums Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Garden Ideas: Master Level
What a positive message you provided in the sharing of your experience, your photo and your words of encouragement to spur on/motivate/help someone to spring into action and do what you did which was to tackle that hill and make it your own!
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Jun 7, 2017 6:47 AM CST
Name: Betty
MN zone 4b
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You most certainly have created a lovely view to relax while enjoying the scene. Great way to get rid of dangerous mowing.
If you want to be happy for a lifetime plant a garden!
Faith is the postage stamp on our prayers!
Betty MN Zone4 AHS member

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Jun 7, 2017 7:50 AM CST
Name: Leon
Indiana (Zone 5a)
Light is the shadow of God!
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I agree with the above posts. And it looks so inviting! Thumbs up
Even a fool, when he shuts his mouth, is counted (as being) wise.Proverbs 17:28
MY BLOG
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Jun 7, 2017 3:49 PM CST
Name: greene
Savannah, GA (Sunset 28) (Zone 8b)
I have no use for internet bullies!
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Very good article, thank you. It's nice to envision a gardener relaxing in a hammock while waiting for 2,300 gallons of water to fill a Koi pond. Thumbs up Gonnna need more lemonade. Rolling on the floor laughing

Here is a link to an article that was written by @chelle some time ago, part of which also deals with planting on a slope. Check out the planting pockets:
https://garden.org/ideas/view/...
Sunset Zone 28, AHS Heat Zone 9, USDA zone 8b~"Leaf of Faith"
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Jun 8, 2017 3:33 AM CST
Name: Bonnie Sojourner
Harris Brake Lake, Arkansas (Zone 7a)
Magnolia zone
Region: United States of America Region: Arkansas Master Gardener: Arkansas Irises Plant and/or Seed Trader Moon Gardener
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I live on a hill in the hills. I have been making steps and terraced beds for a long time now. I agree it is always a work in progress. The bottom line for me is NO MORE MOWING. One thing I have found that helps with the water runoff is to carve enough depth out of the beds to slightly slant them backwards towards the slope. This helps catch a bit of water, whether rain or with the hose, before it can run off. I like planting creeping phlox of different colors just inside the soil barrier. This allows a wonderful cascade of color in the spring and the plant does not take over the bed so does not interfere with other growing things.

Thanks for the article. Thinking 'outside the box' is what makes a garden uniquely your own space. Your garden is lovely and definitely one of a kind.
Thro' all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing; It finds an echo in my soul— How can I keep from singing?
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