Embankment Planting Ideas & Plans

Terraces

• Terraces may be formed entirely from soil, or use a plastic or plywood structure beneath the dirt to provide support and force the terraces to keep their shape. Terraces provide a great deal of flat surface area for planting any type of flower, shrub or tree. Terraces also are useful for planting vegetables and fruits, since the flat land makes it easy to access the plants to harvest them.

Plan a Pathway

• Part of the problem with planting on an embankment may be the difficulty in accessing plants. Without an easy access point, it can be a challenge to perform simple duties such as watering and weeding. A pathway that runs from the top of the embankment to the bottom makes it easier to get to the plants. Place those plants that need more care closest to the path, while others that thrive without help can be placed in a more inaccessible space. For especially steep embankments, a brick, wood or cement stairway may be safer and more convenient than a pathway.

Use Perennials

• Perennial flowers require little care, and remove the need to plant a new batch each spring. Perennials grow in size each time they reappear, adding to the variety and density of the embankment garden. Some options for perennials on an embankment include lavender, coreopsis and black-eyed Susan.

Add Climbing Plants

• Climbing plants such as ivy and juniper cover the dirt with greenery and give the entire slope a more finished appearance. When planted between other plants, they grow up the side of the slope, providing a green base and helping to hold the soil together.

Retaining Walls

• If an embankment ends with a sharp drop-off, or near a sidewalk or road, a retaining wall may be the first necessary step in planting and landscaping the slope. A brick or poured concrete wall can keep the earth back even as it erodes over time or new plants cause the soil to shift. A retaining wall prevents roots from trees on the embankment from entering the space beyond the wall and causing damage or choking out other plants.