Verdun - I need the bits of grass there to stop the slope crumbling away. The soil is not deep enough for shrubs and it is very exposed on the side of a mountain. I just want something to cover the rocky slope and which will encourage wildlife. there is a rosa hedge planted along the grey gravel and behind that will be a wildflower meadow garden - this slope leads down on to my lawn area. I would be happy with more cotoneasters and I already have a sedum and a buddlea growing on the top part of the slope where it is deeper - the picture does not show them though.
the juniperus blue carpet does look well Verdun - im not so interested in the colourful plants - i think i prefer the ground covering shrubs - thanks.x
I would think aubretias and other alpines, especially since it is the side of a mountain. Try to find out about plant auctions in your area. We have good ones in Wisbech every week where you can get trays of plants at v. good prices. You could ask the local auction houses if they have them
It would also be possible to plant things at the bottom of the slope wich would grow up and disguise the slope. These would be more decorative than ivy and would look more unde rcontrol, as if you had actually been gardening and designed something. I agree with artjac about alpines. It could look great, but would obviously be more expensive and would take greater effort to start it off. You could try car boot sales, where some people get rid of their spare plants.in the end, thoguh, the slope would be much more of a design feature than if you covered it with ivy and would give you pleasure for a good part of the year once you got into learning what plants flower at different times. Another possibility might be rockery bulbs planted here and there. if you buy spring bulbs now you may still find some that are reduced to 50p a pack, as I did. They wouldn't flower this year, probably, but would recover from the late planting and flower next year. Just squeeze them gently to make sure they haven'tr dried right out and died. If they have green shoots, they are alive, of course.
Thank you everyone for your help and advice - I will take all your ideas onboard and start making plans to transform this slope. Happy gardening everyone!x
Only ask because last year I had a 2m X 4m strip of nothing, shaded strip, where I planted dug-up yellow deadnettle and in less than 12 months it has totally covered the area - (also put in a couple of bought lamium maculatum white nancy to mix up the colorus)
Believe me it spreads very quickly - spent one happy hour last weekend shearing back along the gravel path it had grown into (easy) and with more effort required digging up the runners it had put out into my curranrt bed! Good luck whatever!, Janet
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Verdun - I need the bits of grass there to stop the slope crumbling away. The soil is not deep enough for shrubs and it is very exposed on the side of a mountain. I just want something to cover the rocky slope and which will encourage wildlife. there is a rosa hedge planted along the grey gravel and behind that will be a wildflower meadow garden - this slope leads down on to my lawn area. I would be happy with more cotoneasters and I already have a sedum and a buddlea growing on the top part of the slope where it is deeper - the picture does not show them though.
the juniperus blue carpet does look well Verdun - im not so interested in the colourful plants - i think i prefer the ground covering shrubs - thanks.x
I would think aubretias and other alpines, especially since it is the side of a mountain. Try to find out about plant auctions in your area. We have good ones in Wisbech every week where you can get trays of plants at v. good prices. You could ask the local auction houses if they have them
It would also be possible to plant things at the bottom of the slope wich would grow up and disguise the slope. These would be more decorative than ivy and would look more unde rcontrol, as if you had actually been gardening and designed something. I agree with artjac about alpines. It could look great, but would obviously be more expensive and would take greater effort to start it off. You could try car boot sales, where some people get rid of their spare plants.in the end, thoguh, the slope would be much more of a design feature than if you covered it with ivy and would give you pleasure for a good part of the year once you got into learning what plants flower at different times. Another possibility might be rockery bulbs planted here and there. if you buy spring bulbs now you may still find some that are reduced to 50p a pack, as I did. They wouldn't flower this year, probably, but would recover from the late planting and flower next year. Just squeeze them gently to make sure they haven'tr dried right out and died. If they have green shoots, they are alive, of course.
Thank you everyone for your help and advice - I will take all your ideas onboard and start making plans to transform this slope. Happy gardening everyone!x
Yes please!
Hi DONS1979 - before you go! If are willing to dig up and plant ivy on your bank do you have any yellow deadnettle growing in your area?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamium
Only ask because last year I had a 2m X 4m strip of nothing, shaded strip, where I planted dug-up yellow deadnettle and in less than 12 months it has totally covered the area - (also put in a couple of bought lamium maculatum white nancy to mix up the colorus)
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=1110
Believe me it spreads very quickly - spent one happy hour last weekend shearing back along the gravel path it had grown into (easy) and with more effort required digging up the runners it had put out into my curranrt bed! Good luck whatever!, Janet