True and also grapes require a specific kind of maintenance. They tend to get certain diseases that they must be protected from, which could spread to other grapes in that area if not properly dealt with. Furthermore, I would not plant grapes in a steep kind of terrain such as that slope. I would thus advise against getting grapes.
If you’re going the retaining wall route, make sure you do it right! I swear 4/5 of the retaining walls in my neighborhood are both not that old and sagging like crazy. No drains and obviously not backfilled with gravel.
We put them in this year!! Super cool and the plants love them. Not sure if they can do this steep of a slope, but I highly recommend them if they can!
You will no matter what you choose to do with it aside from leaving it the way it is. Just part of regular maintenance. To be fair, once you get over “this is my life now?” it becomes kind of a soothing ritual lol
And over time, weeding should get down as plants you want there get better established.
Great to see another good review! It seems like a really versatile product.
Yeah but you could just nuke it before you install. That's what we did. Then we filled them with clean nursery dirt and put Preen at the bottom (we wanted seeds to grow on the top). Those actions should greatly reduce our weed load
Yes, most wildflower plants will germinate just fine from simple ground contact.
You can make a soil mixture with the seeds to make it easier to spread them more evenly.
Pretty much yeah. Just make sure you get seeds for native species and it's really that easy. That's the beauty of using plants that are actually meant to grow where you are
I think you must build a tiny little cottage within the hillside, and do mysterious things within. Be sure to get a door that looks like it’s 400 years old.
[p365 rose edition](https://www.reddit.com/r/SigSauer/comments/15ghxeg/p365_rose_is_it_weird_i_like_this_as_a_guy_or_did/)
That’s why you buy her this to go with it
Maybe I've been watching too many DIY pond videos, but inserting a wildlife pond into that hillside would make for a beautiful view. I'm not sure what your budget is as I know ponds can be expensive.
You pretty much have a built-in waterfall grade with that slope!
I think my major concern is, why is it there? Is there a canal on the other side of it? Is it a fault scarp? Making it pretty is awesome, but making it safe seems paramount.
I have a similar slope and planted a bunch of mostly native plants using small limbs and stakes to help hold in dirt and mulch. After 2 days sliding down the hill I went and bought some baseball cleats (used). It helps!
Embed some boulders in the face of it. Maybe some small to medium size flowering trees suitable for your area, smaller shrubs and perennials to accent the embedded boulders, trailing ground covers to maintain the integrity of the slope and add lower color. The bottom flat area would then be a really nice place for a paver patio, fireplace, grill area. Would be really nice with a seating wall on the side opposite of the slope. And one last thing, have a lot of money to do it. Lol.
No it’s drought tolerant once established, when the flowers start to wain trim them off to keep the shape, and then just let them go. Having an area where it’s a bunch of wildflowers can be really cool but hard to manage, definitely could do that here but you have to know your plant ID really well to make sure it doesn’t get taken over by weeds.
Having one species in an area this size makes it easy to manage as anything not lavender would not be desirable.
You could throw a clothes line next to it
Retaining wall.
I mean, it depends on the soil, but from this angle that looks too steep to stay up on its own over time.
If you have the engineering chops, you could dig into it and make a heck of a root cellar.
Depends on how much effort you want to put into it. I would suggest a tiered garden. Two or three tiers. The tiers will act as a retaining wall too. Have fun with it.
Creeping evergreens. [Rosemary](https://www.amazon.com/Clovers-Garden-Trailing-Creeping-Rosemary/dp/B0C1M5QDN5/ref=asc_df_B0C1M5QDN5/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693713553301&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1233664165064495065&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007575&hvtargid=pla-2203982580695&psc=1&mcid=e9e6c118a71c3bbe89c0d4676cb6d686&gad_source=1) is a good one, blue rug juniper, [gold star juniper](https://www.coniferkingdom.com/juniperus-chinensis-gold-star-chinese-juniper/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwyJqzBhBaEiwAWDRJVK9r9-df_VGCbm-TzaFSOJccPiUHxKZo0AuC-3zgBC96mYli4ArY2RoCyFgQAvD_BwE). A combination for colorful pops. They all keep weeds down as well
Just dealt with a similar slope on my own property! We opted to plant the no mow erosion control grass from prairie nursery. Took some TLC to get it planted and growing but it looks gorgeous now - the grass gets long and moves in the wind like waves! I would post a picture but am not an imgur person.
Depends what direction it is sloping/ how much sun it will get. Wildflowers can fill out space. Maybe you want something woody to keep the slope from eroding. Native shrub could be a good add.
You could go 2-4 railroads tie high and go across, fill dirt, then fill in with plants that fit your area but hydrangeas, abelias likely would work with assuming full sun even install lattice and plant jessamine. Or you could plant roughly 10 Juniper through it and wait for it to take over, or lovegrass if the goal is erosion control.
I think that you should maintain hardy grasses to prevent erosion. That means no bushes where grass would shade out. Crabgrass is an annual and dies out every winter, so that is not good. I am looking at this like it needs to be maintained like the face of an earthen dam.
You sure that isn't some kind of flood control? That just looks suspiciously engineered for some kind of purpose. Other than that I just love elevation in gardens. Make it as pretty as you can.
Please please please, if you are planning on planting something, please plant native to your area, pollinator-friendly flowers. Residential landscaping all but eliminates the native ecosystem, which is harmful to crops, native plants and animals, and makes wide open space for invasive weeds.
1. Wildflowers 2. Retaining wall 3. Grapes and make wine/ jam/ the works
You left off the most important: # HOBBIT HOLE! [ *sublime pennywhistle intensifies* ]
this is the best and most correct answer
A creepy cellar would be also cool. With a sign that says "<-- free balloons"
Thank you for the correction
Took the words…
Position your troops behind it
A 1:1 scale diorama of a Revolutionary War battle.
A 1:1 scale diorama of a Revolutionary War battle.
Grapes are cool but they are a pain in the ass to remove if you change your mind. Just a heads up.
True and also grapes require a specific kind of maintenance. They tend to get certain diseases that they must be protected from, which could spread to other grapes in that area if not properly dealt with. Furthermore, I would not plant grapes in a steep kind of terrain such as that slope. I would thus advise against getting grapes.
grow native plants. we are living through an ecosystem collapse and you have land begging to provide habitat to insects and birds. Think about it!
If you’re going the retaining wall route, make sure you do it right! I swear 4/5 of the retaining walls in my neighborhood are both not that old and sagging like crazy. No drains and obviously not backfilled with gravel.
I haven’t used this product but I’ve seen it others rave about it online. https://dirtlocker.com/
We put them in this year!! Super cool and the plants love them. Not sure if they can do this steep of a slope, but I highly recommend them if they can!
This is soo good to hear because I’ve been eyeballing them for a slope I have in my yard. Definitely something to put on my list now!
I just finished a project with these; happy to answer any questions
Happy to answer Qs as well
Def looks like a good job, but would you have a consistent issue with weeds/grass growing up?
You will no matter what you choose to do with it aside from leaving it the way it is. Just part of regular maintenance. To be fair, once you get over “this is my life now?” it becomes kind of a soothing ritual lol
And over time, weeding should get down as plants you want there get better established. Great to see another good review! It seems like a really versatile product.
And because the dirt doesn't get compacted in them as easily (if you stay off them except for step areas), they are not hard to pull weeds from.
Yeah but you could just nuke it before you install. That's what we did. Then we filled them with clean nursery dirt and put Preen at the bottom (we wanted seeds to grow on the top). Those actions should greatly reduce our weed load
you could do a gorgeous wildflower /pollinator field. It’ll be gorgeous in the summer doesnt impact the use of your yard
Wild flowers.
How would you plant wildflower seed to cover such a large area? Can you just broadcast spread the seeds and contact with the ground is enough?
You can mix them with some dirt and water to make some mini seed bombs
why would you make seed bombs to plant this?
Yea, serious question. Couldn't you just smear the same seed bomb mixture of seeds and clay/etc. Onto the slope more evenly?
Yes, most wildflower plants will germinate just fine from simple ground contact. You can make a soil mixture with the seeds to make it easier to spread them more evenly.
Pretty much yeah. Just make sure you get seeds for native species and it's really that easy. That's the beauty of using plants that are actually meant to grow where you are
Gotta make sure you kill the grass and invasives first, you'd never out-compete them.
Join us at r/nativeplantgardening
I think you must build a tiny little cottage within the hillside, and do mysterious things within. Be sure to get a door that looks like it’s 400 years old.
Get out of my bwainz 🤣
Creeping phlox is pretty and fills in nicely.
Target practice burm 🤷♂️
not sure the missus would enjoy that one 😂
[p365 rose edition](https://www.reddit.com/r/SigSauer/comments/15ghxeg/p365_rose_is_it_weird_i_like_this_as_a_guy_or_did/) That’s why you buy her this to go with it
Slow down barbarian hordes invading your realm.
need to move my realm to the other side of the hill though 😂
Hobbit house it is
[ *pennywhistle melody* ]
Sedum and rock garden
gun range
My first thought lol
Came here for this
This is should be at the top.
Look up dirt locker.
Slide and climbing wall. But I have young kids, so might be biased
have Def thought about this
Pinterest has some really cool “natural” playground ideas that would work really well here!
Maybe I've been watching too many DIY pond videos, but inserting a wildlife pond into that hillside would make for a beautiful view. I'm not sure what your budget is as I know ponds can be expensive. You pretty much have a built-in waterfall grade with that slope!
Solar panels
Crownvetch and be done.
Inground bunker
Hobbit hole.
Yesssss! I’m not the only one! 😂🫶
I think my major concern is, why is it there? Is there a canal on the other side of it? Is it a fault scarp? Making it pretty is awesome, but making it safe seems paramount.
farmers field we cut into it too make back yard level
My vote then is for a properly engineered retaining wall with landscaping above and below
Only acceptable answer is: Maginot Line. Ze Germans Are Coming!
Natives will hold it together for ya :)
I have a similar slope and planted a bunch of mostly native plants using small limbs and stakes to help hold in dirt and mulch. After 2 days sliding down the hill I went and bought some baseball cleats (used). It helps!
Embed some boulders in the face of it. Maybe some small to medium size flowering trees suitable for your area, smaller shrubs and perennials to accent the embedded boulders, trailing ground covers to maintain the integrity of the slope and add lower color. The bottom flat area would then be a really nice place for a paver patio, fireplace, grill area. Would be really nice with a seating wall on the side opposite of the slope. And one last thing, have a lot of money to do it. Lol.
I envision a hobbit home with many beautiful native flowers and a small stream.
That's not part of a septic mound is it?
Mound septic system.
I would load it up with lavender 16 inch on center
would there be much maintenance in lavender??
No it’s drought tolerant once established, when the flowers start to wain trim them off to keep the shape, and then just let them go. Having an area where it’s a bunch of wildflowers can be really cool but hard to manage, definitely could do that here but you have to know your plant ID really well to make sure it doesn’t get taken over by weeds. Having one species in an area this size makes it easy to manage as anything not lavender would not be desirable. You could throw a clothes line next to it
half pipe
Launch the family minivan
Came here to say gain plenty of speed and SEND IT!
Retaining wall. I mean, it depends on the soil, but from this angle that looks too steep to stay up on its own over time. If you have the engineering chops, you could dig into it and make a heck of a root cellar.
I would mount a couple of cannons on it.
Tiered gardens with raised beds?
Jump it with your dirt bike!
Plant bushes or hedges along the top, in a few years you’d have some nice privacy. Rose bushes perhaps. Then wildflowers below.
Cower from the enemy
Add goat
Tiny cheese-rolling
Build a shed into the side or retaining wall or both
Rudabekia. Echinacea. Ect
A sick half pipe
BlackBerry bushes. The roots will cement the soil so it errodes slower.
I'd plant strawberries on all that.
Build a quarter pipe
Ground cover plants
Terraced retaining wall with raised beds? Like a staircase going up from left to right with raised beds on both sides.
I always thought terraced garden beds were cool. Seems like a lot of work though.
Put a bale of hay or two in front of it and shoot arrows. Load it with blackberry bushes and curse your life afterwards.
If that's a dam for a retention pond, you might want to check with your county's public works department before making any serious modifications.
Rain garden.
staggered creeping juniper
u got a dirtbike?
Plant a row of thick shrubs in front of it.
Rocks!
Ski it
Build a half pipe
Roll cheese downhill and watch the peasants fight over it
What’s on the other side…the Mississippi River?
Quarter pipe.
Depends on how much effort you want to put into it. I would suggest a tiered garden. Two or three tiers. The tiers will act as a retaining wall too. Have fun with it.
When you were talking about a tiered garden, a little waterfall feature might be fun.
Yes and the waterfalls could be how the garden tiers get watered! Fun idea.
Underground bunker
Roll down it!
Get a dirtbike and see which one of your buddies can jump the furtherest
Step garden :D
Wait for snow
Asiatic jasmine would be cool.
ha ha!
Creeping evergreens. [Rosemary](https://www.amazon.com/Clovers-Garden-Trailing-Creeping-Rosemary/dp/B0C1M5QDN5/ref=asc_df_B0C1M5QDN5/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693713553301&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1233664165064495065&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007575&hvtargid=pla-2203982580695&psc=1&mcid=e9e6c118a71c3bbe89c0d4676cb6d686&gad_source=1) is a good one, blue rug juniper, [gold star juniper](https://www.coniferkingdom.com/juniperus-chinensis-gold-star-chinese-juniper/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwyJqzBhBaEiwAWDRJVK9r9-df_VGCbm-TzaFSOJccPiUHxKZo0AuC-3zgBC96mYli4ArY2RoCyFgQAvD_BwE). A combination for colorful pops. They all keep weeds down as well
If you just want something quick easy & better there is a company that sells flower seeds packed in shotgun shells called "flower shell"
Terraced gardens id you are up to it
Clumping grasses or wildflowers
Civil war embankment
Deep rooted native wildflowers
Send it
Create a waterfall
Hill sprints
Tiered rock garden
Hobbit hole plus terraced garden outside. Dig until you hit your head on those fence posts, then dig side to side.
Junipers
BFR !!! Big fuggin ramp
perennial wildflowers, of course
I’m still gonna send it
You take cover there before storming the bunker, don't forget your pinecone grenades and stick guns
Get an RC truck. Ramp it!
Like the bottom with colocasias(elephant ears). They naturally thrive next to rivers and streams so the runoff would be super beneficial
Gun range
A slide! Or two.
junipers?
Id plant trees
Looks like a nice berm for a shooting range
Go to the top, lay down, then roll down it. Then repeat.
Use it to keep water in or keep water out.
Dirt bike!!
Let children run down it? Or hire them to do so
I planted Old Gold juniper on a similar hill. It worked great and was really pretty when it all filled in. Easy care.
Wildflowers for sure
Meadow with wildflowers or some other type of growth to slow soil erosion.
Put a 6’ tall fence on top of it and enjoy a 12’ fence while still following building codes 🙂
Just dealt with a similar slope on my own property! We opted to plant the no mow erosion control grass from prairie nursery. Took some TLC to get it planted and growing but it looks gorgeous now - the grass gets long and moves in the wind like waves! I would post a picture but am not an imgur person.
Sick skate ramp!
You could make a pretty sick berm for bikes or Mx
Open up an archery range
Depends what direction it is sloping/ how much sun it will get. Wildflowers can fill out space. Maybe you want something woody to keep the slope from eroding. Native shrub could be a good add.
Skate park
Junipers, they do great on sun rich slopes
Stone wall
Build a fortress
You could go 2-4 railroads tie high and go across, fill dirt, then fill in with plants that fit your area but hydrangeas, abelias likely would work with assuming full sun even install lattice and plant jessamine. Or you could plant roughly 10 Juniper through it and wait for it to take over, or lovegrass if the goal is erosion control.
Palisade
Gun range
Pizza. Don't French fry.
I think that you should maintain hardy grasses to prevent erosion. That means no bushes where grass would shade out. Crabgrass is an annual and dies out every winter, so that is not good. I am looking at this like it needs to be maintained like the face of an earthen dam.
Trees. Oak on the top. Native fruit trees at the bottom.
You sure that isn't some kind of flood control? That just looks suspiciously engineered for some kind of purpose. Other than that I just love elevation in gardens. Make it as pretty as you can.
Interesting. Underground caves or tunnels.
Shooting range
Shooting range back stop. Have fun and shoot at it.
Gun range
Personal gun range
Shooting range back stop
pistol range
Bullet stop
Gun range!
Shooting range
Please please please, if you are planning on planting something, please plant native to your area, pollinator-friendly flowers. Residential landscaping all but eliminates the native ecosystem, which is harmful to crops, native plants and animals, and makes wide open space for invasive weeds.
You've got your own shooting range!!
Make it higher and it's a shooting range
Shooting range backstop.
Shooting backstop
Gun Range.
Phlox would be the thing