I've posted on my new thread that there is a lot more in the way of plants, particularly grass, on the bank than there was last year; and I'm now wondering whether the roots of these plants, particularly if I leave them to spread, will stabilise the bank without my having to do anything further?
Des, I should think you might have a reasonable indication by now of how stable the bank is going to be. Has anything fallen off it since last year? Any soil sliding down? If not, you're probably fine as you are. But if there's any sign of instability you might need to do more to keep everything in place.
Maybe a picture might help...
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
You're probably right, and I might be guilty of worrying unnecessarily. Although the face of the bank is quite crumbly to the touch, there's not much clay on the path at the base so it doesn't look as if there's any significant erosion. As I think I've already said, the previous occupiers have told me that the bank has been in more or less the same condition for about 30 years, and I've no reason to doubt them.
This is the first decent sized garden we've had, and its all slightly intimidating, so suppose I'm looking for reassurance rather than advice. Although I am of course grateful for either, or indeed any response.
Please bear with me for resurrecting this ancient thread--further advice required.
After the extremely heavy and persistent rain of the last five or six weeks I've noticed that a few lumps of clay have broken loose from the clay bank in question. Nothing significant so far, but I'm now thinking that rather than assuming that its apparent longevity indicates the bank will remain stable and simply monitoring the situation, I may have to take some positive action in case this wet weather, as looks likely, persists into the Spring and perhaps becomes a regular winter feature.
Since last year a fair amount of grass has rooted itself in the horizontal pathway below the bank; however, not much has established so far on the bank itself. I've noticed that my neighbour, who has a similar, if slightly lower bank alongside his property, has allowed ivy to grow up the bank and into the hazel hedge, giving all the year round coverage of both bank and bush. I feel inclined to do this myself but my question is, firstly, which variety of ivy should I plant at the base of the bank and how; and secondly, would allowing ivy to grow into a hazel bush have any detrimental effect on the health of the hazel itself? My neighbour's hazel bush seems to be coping OK as far as I can tell.
Hello Desthemoaner. I garden on a slope so understand your concern about the soil ending up elsewhere! Mine is stabilised by Cotoneaster dammerii
An evergreen shrub only 25cms tall, but one plant covers 2 metres of bank (kerching ??), has white flowers and then red berries, wildlife LOVES it. Happy to grow on clay (which can shrink and crack in summer and becomes slime in winter) and practically maintenance free. Grabs soil well and Is so secure I plonk seasonal pots in between the woody stems if the mood takes me. HTH
I'd second the cotoneaster too Des - it does a good job on any awkward surface. I haven't read the whole thread re your bank but have you thought about tough ground cover plants like Vinca and Bugle (Ajuga) as well? These will also knit together and hold everything. If you feel it could be a particular issue for the future, you could even pin some chicken wire onto the worst areas and plant through it - a bit like the method used with landscape fabric.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks to you both. The cotoneaster sounds interesting, as does the idea of planting through chicken wire (which I acknowledge was mentioned during the first manifestation of this thread), but is it feasible that such a plant could root on a bank where, in places, the angle isn't far off 90 degrees?
I've just had a look at pics of the Cotoneaster, and realised there are already some isolated examples on the bank, as well as in other parts of the garden. I wonder: might it have been expected to spread further than just the odd two or three plants if it was happy in that location?
I suppose I really do have to go down the chicken wire route and take the planting decisions once that's in place.
Another plant worth considering is Vinca minor (lesser periwinkle) which is an evergreen and will spread by rooting where it touches the ground. Here is an article about using it on slopes:
Was the soil treated with weed killer PJL? The mound's "patchy grass" you described, suggests chemical residue may be inhibiting regular growth. Run-off from the farmer's field may also be an issue depending whether selective herbicides or fertilisers are used and have drained down and NPK levels are skewed.
BTW If cotoneaster dammeri or cotoneaster salcifloius repents are planted they will do away with the need for chicken wire or gabions. Landscaper's use these plants on cliff faces.
I'd be tempted to put a small (2 foot tall) retaining wall anywhere the slope might go into buildings if it was to fail, please be aware that heavy clay can fail quickly and spectacularly in wet weather with very little warning - part of my local cliffs went at the weekend taking a chunk of the Cleveland Way with it, and I only walked that section before xmas!
that way the slope should be reduced and therefore made 'safer' and then cover the whole bank with wire and plants with plenty of fibrous roots!
Posts
Thanks, Dove.
I've posted on my new thread that there is a lot more in the way of plants, particularly grass, on the bank than there was last year; and I'm now wondering whether the roots of these plants, particularly if I leave them to spread, will stabilise the bank without my having to do anything further?
Maybe a picture would help.
Des, I should think you might have a reasonable indication by now of how stable the bank is going to be. Has anything fallen off it since last year? Any soil sliding down? If not, you're probably fine as you are. But if there's any sign of instability you might need to do more to keep everything in place.
Maybe a picture might help...
You're probably right, and I might be guilty of worrying unnecessarily. Although the face of the bank is quite crumbly to the touch, there's not much clay on the path at the base so it doesn't look as if there's any significant erosion. As I think I've already said, the previous occupiers have told me that the bank has been in more or less the same condition for about 30 years, and I've no reason to doubt them.
This is the first decent sized garden we've had, and its all slightly intimidating, so suppose I'm looking for reassurance rather than advice. Although I am of course grateful for either, or indeed any response.
Hi All
Please bear with me for resurrecting this ancient thread--further advice required.
After the extremely heavy and persistent rain of the last five or six weeks I've noticed that a few lumps of clay have broken loose from the clay bank in question. Nothing significant so far, but I'm now thinking that rather than assuming that its apparent longevity indicates the bank will remain stable and simply monitoring the situation, I may have to take some positive action in case this wet weather, as looks likely, persists into the Spring and perhaps becomes a regular winter feature.
Since last year a fair amount of grass has rooted itself in the horizontal pathway below the bank; however, not much has established so far on the bank itself. I've noticed that my neighbour, who has a similar, if slightly lower bank alongside his property, has allowed ivy to grow up the bank and into the hazel hedge, giving all the year round coverage of both bank and bush. I feel inclined to do this myself but my question is, firstly, which variety of ivy should I plant at the base of the bank and how; and secondly, would allowing ivy to grow into a hazel bush have any detrimental effect on the health of the hazel itself? My neighbour's hazel bush seems to be coping OK as far as I can tell.
Thanks in advance.
An evergreen shrub only 25cms tall, but one plant covers 2 metres of bank (kerching ??), has white flowers and then red berries, wildlife LOVES it. Happy to grow on clay (which can shrink and crack in summer and becomes slime in winter) and practically maintenance free. Grabs soil well and Is so secure I plonk seasonal pots in between the woody stems if the mood takes me. HTH
I'd second the cotoneaster too Des - it does a good job on any awkward surface. I haven't read the whole thread re your bank but have you thought about tough ground cover plants like Vinca and Bugle (Ajuga) as well? These will also knit together and hold everything. If you feel it could be a particular issue for the future, you could even pin some chicken wire onto the worst areas and plant through it - a bit like the method used with landscape fabric.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks to you both. The cotoneaster sounds interesting, as does the idea of planting through chicken wire (which I acknowledge was mentioned during the first manifestation of this thread), but is it feasible that such a plant could root on a bank where, in places, the angle isn't far off 90 degrees?
I've just had a look at pics of the Cotoneaster, and realised there are already some isolated examples on the bank, as well as in other parts of the garden. I wonder: might it have been expected to spread further than just the odd two or three plants if it was happy in that location?
I suppose I really do have to go down the chicken wire route and take the planting decisions once that's in place.
Another plant worth considering is Vinca minor (lesser periwinkle) which is an evergreen and will spread by rooting where it touches the ground. Here is an article about using it on slopes:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/plants/10709197/The-perfect-plant-for...-ground-cover.html
I've seen this successfully used on 45 degree clay banks in shade where grass wouldn't grow.
BTW If cotoneaster dammeri or cotoneaster salcifloius repents are planted they will do away with the need for chicken wire or gabions. Landscaper's use these plants on cliff faces.
I'd be tempted to put a small (2 foot tall) retaining wall anywhere the slope might go into buildings if it was to fail, please be aware that heavy clay can fail quickly and spectacularly in wet weather with very little warning - part of my local cliffs went at the weekend taking a chunk of the Cleveland Way with it, and I only walked that section before xmas!
that way the slope should be reduced and therefore made 'safer' and then cover the whole bank with wire and plants with plenty of fibrous roots!