Gardening on banks and slopes presents a unique challenge and a rewarding opportunity to create visually stunning and functional landscapes. These areas require a little more planning and consideration, especially when stabilising the soil, managing erosion, and ensuring adequate water retention for plants to thrive.

Key Considerations for Planting on Banks

• Strong Roots for Stability: Plants on banks must have robust root systems to anchor the soil and prevent erosion. The right plant choices can help secure the ground and promote healthy growth.
• Erosion Control: One of the main challenges of gardening on a slope is preventing soil erosion, especially on steep banks. The right plant choice helps.
• Watering: Watering can be tricky, especially on sloped areas. Plants need to be established quickly to cope with potential moisture loss.

Best Plants for Bank Planting

General Bank Planting:

• Agapanthus
• Carex (grasses)
• Corokia
• Ceanothus
• Flax
• Gunnera
• Hebes
• Leucadendron
• Nandina
• Pittosporum
• Pseudopanax
• Pieris
• Rubus (orange berry)
• Rosemary (prostrate)
• Sophora (kowhai)

These plants are known for their strong roots and resilience, which make them ideal for stabilising soil. Some, like Ceanothus and orange berry, also work well as ground covers on steeper slopes to prevent erosion.

For Wet Banks (e.g., creek or stream banks):

• Ajugas
• Gunneras
• Flaxes
• Pseudopanax
• Willows
• Fruiting Pears

Plants that tolerate moist, boggy conditions are crucial in these areas. They help keep the soil in place while managing the additional moisture of the environment.

For Extreme Slopes

Consider adding retaining walls to help manage the slope, stabilise the soil, and create a more controlled planting environment. While more expensive, retaining walls significantly reduce the risk of slips, creating a safer and more stable area for planting.

Trailing plants like Prostrate Rosemary, Dichondra Silverfalls, Parahebes, Malvastrum, and Silene can be used on the edge of the wall, trailing down to create a beautiful cascading effect.

Do’s and Don’ts for Successful Bank Planting

Do’s:

• Know Your Soil Type: Different soils require different approaches. For example, clay soils retain moisture, which may cause slipping on steep slopes. In such cases, a retaining wall could be a good investment.
• Add Compost: Improve soil quality by mixing Oderings Compost into the planting holes. This helps establish plants and their root systems faster, providing essential nutrients.
• Consider Water Retention: If planting in dry areas, use water retention products to help your plants get the needed moisture.
• Irrigate Properly: Set up an irrigation system that uses small water droplets, which reduces the chances of disturbing the soil and causing runoff.
• Water Well in the Early Stages: Especially in the warmer months, ensure your plants get enough water to establish their roots. For steep banks, create a slight indentation at the top of each plant hole to capture water.

Don’ts:

• Don’t Overwater: While watering is important in the first few weeks, excessive watering can damage plants and the bank.
• Don’t Overplant: Although filling a garden quickly is tempting, avoid overcrowding. Overplanting can lead to a disorganised garden as plants grow larger, and it won’t necessarily help stabilise the bank faster.

By carefully selecting the right plants and incorporating thoughtful strategies, gardening on banks and slopes can become a unique and enjoyable challenge. The result is a stunning, functional, beautiful landscape, with stable, healthy plantings that thrive in their challenging environment.