How to Landscape a Hill – Ask.com

By Susan Miller , last updated March 17, 2011

The main goal in landscaping a hill is preventing erosion. If the soil is not anchored with deep enough roots, the soil will wash away over time since water flows downhill. You can achieve this goal by choosing the right landscaping while keeping in mind how you want to use the hill.

Will you need to climb up and down your hill? If your hill has your boat dock and a lake at the bottom, the answer will be yes. This means you will need to embed stairs in the hill, such as huge railroad ties with a hand railing so you can get up and down the hill easily. Your soil type will determine whether the hill can support the railroad ties or other types of steps. Consult with a professional landscape architect, your local university extension or your local garden center to help determine what type of stairs will hold in your hill, or what must be done to secure them.

You will also need to make sure your soil type drains well and will provide the nutrients your plants will need. Before planting and landscaping, make any additions to the soil that are needed so your plants will flourish.

One easy way to prevent erosion on a hillside is to plant a hardy groundcover, like English ivy. Eventually, the ivy will completely cover the hill. You will have to clip it back from the stairs (if you have them) three or four times every growing season, but pruning ivy is much easier maintenance than mowing a hillside every week.

Terraced gardens edged in rocks in the hillside are a beautiful option and will also prevent erosion, but will require more maintenance. How much time you intend to spend gardening will help you decide how you want to landscape your hill.

Go here to read the rest:
How to Landscape a Hill - Ask.com