The most frequently asked question about problem areas in the garden is:
“What can I plant on an unruly bank that will keep the weeds down and take that dirty look off it?”
With a little bit of planning and the right plant selection unruly banks can become a creative feature in the garden. Here I want to share my advice on how to achieve successful bank planting that will provide colour and structure throughout the year.
- Assessment/ Soil Prep
If you’ve noticed that the bank suffers in extreme weather with water runoff in winter or drought in summer this will lessen the choice of plants you can use. If, however, the bank has an even slope, is in a good position to receive sunlight and has good soil the following steps will encourage successful planting. Clear the bank completely removing any weeds before planting.
- Plant Selection
Groundcover plants play a huge role in bank planting, their horizontal growing habit allows plants to cover the ground, matting with each other to form a colourful carpet. Not only is this aesthetically pleasing but it also prevents weed growth, aids with water retention, and prevents soil erosion.
My top favourite hardy groundcover plants are:
- Carpet Roses- Rosa ‘Flower Carpet’
Carpet roses are a great choice for a sunny bank, low growing with a spreading habit and repeat flowering. When mass planted, they have a huge impact all summer. Available in many colours, Amber happens to be my favourite
- Californian Lilac- Ceanothus thys. repens
This evergreen groundcover provides coverage and structure all year round and then erupts with blue blossoms in spring. A great plant for pollinators.
- Creeping Juniper- Juniperus horizontalis
Hardy – groundcover – evergreen, great plant for structure
- Creeping Rosemary – Rosmarinus off. Prostrata
Hardy – evergreen – fragrant
- Hardy Geranium- Geranium sanguineum species
Great groundcover- long flowering time- perennial
- Heather- Erica carnea/ Erica darleyensis
Good groundcover – pollinator friendly
- Planting Plan
If the bank is small (approx. 15m) pick one plant variety and mass plant the whole bank for the biggest impact. If the bank is larger divide the bank into sections and mass plant a few plant varieties using a repeat pattern for impact.
Take note of plant size at maturity to work out plant quantities and spacing. As the plants mature, they will create a carpet of greenery and the once unruly bank will become a feature.