We design gardens in northwestern Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills, and many of our clients’ properties have sections that are rocky and steep. Embracing the unique contours of each site, we have built rock gardens, terraces, and plantings that flow downhill. We see each hillside as an opportunity to put together a satisfying plant palette that is easy to maintain and beautiful to behold. A bonus with slopes is that they provide good drainage by their very nature.
The first thing to consider when developing a planting plan is the direction the slope faces and the kind of sun exposure it has. Soil conditions and water availability will also help you decide what to plant. We are big proponents of working with what nature has provided. If there is ledge present, let it serve as your garden’s bones, and expose more ledge where you can instead of trying to cover it up. Starting from the ground up, we’ve assembled a list of some of our favorite tenacious stunners that will beautify almost any hillside.
Name:Carex pensylvanica
Zones: 3–8
Size: 6 to 12 inches tall and wide
Conditions: Partial to full shade; average to dry, well-drained soil
Native range: Eastern North America
Shade-loving Pennsylvania sedge is excellent when planted en masse, especially in areas where erosion control is needed. It has fine, arching, semi-evergreen foliage that can serve as a cloudlike lawn alternative in spots that are too shady for turfgrass and too steep to mow. It loves arid, well-drained soil, which makes it an ideal ground cover for dry shade. On a slope, plugs of Pennsylvania sedge can be placed 12 inches apart on center; the plants will quickly fill in to form a lush, dense carpet. For a similar look, sowing a no-mow seed mix (see below)
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A shady corner is often seen as a problem area in a garden, but it needn’t be so. There are masses of gorgeous plants that will thrive in shade. Silver or variegated leaves work really well to brighten a dark spot, as do white or pale flowers, which almost seem to glow in shade. There is a plant for every shady garden and here we share some of our favourites. Included are plants for both dry and moist soils, evergreen perennials to provide interest all year round, as well as deciduous plants that seem to appear from nowhere in spring to brighten the garden with their delicate beauty. Our choices include recommendations from the Gardeners’ World team and familiar faces from across the gardening industry.
When many gardeners hear the word “modern,” they often scrunch up their noses like they’ve suddenly caught a whiff of something foul. It’s true that many of us classify our landscapes as something other than contemporary. But even the most traditional of designs can benefit from an infusion of plants that one might describe as having a “modern look.” These plants serve as dynamic elements in a bed, easily becoming a focal point where perhaps one was missing. They can also seamlessly impart a space with a distinct sense of sophistication. With sleek architectural forms or moody foliage hues, these botanical elements give order to chaotic borders or simplicity to a color palette that has gotten out of control. Embracing these novel plants can help a staid design come alive. If you already have a modern home or landscape and are looking to fill in some blank spaces, the following selections are just what you need. But if you’re more of a traditionalist in search of some perennials that can breathe new life into tired beds and borders, the options below can also do the trick.
Spring cleanup can be a real mess. If you cut your own ornamental grasses, that’s especially true if it’s a windy day and you’re dealing with taller grasses (e.g., Miscanthus, Panicum) blowing everywhere as they’re cut and fall over.
Planting grass is more than just scattering seeds on soil; it's an art, a delicate dance with nature's rhythms. The key to a lush, vibrant lawn lies in timing. Understanding the nuances of the seasons is crucial. Spring brings warmth and rejuvenation, making it an ideal time for sowing grass. As the earth awakens from its winter slumber, seeds eagerly germinate, taking root in the fertile soil. With ample sunlight and moisture, the young grasslings flourish, setting the stage for a verdant carpet.
Most gardens have some dry shade, at the foot of walls where foundations draw water from the soil, or under eaves where little rain falls. Trees also create dry shade, as their roots take up a lot of water.
Colorful Summer Plantings for Sun and Shade Attract pollinators and wildlife to your garden with these colorful combinations for sun and shade gardens. Dreaming of summer
If you have limited space indoors, there is still a range of house plants you can buy to add greenery to your home. Succulents and cacti offer the biggest choice of small house plants, but there’s a wealth of other varieties to enjoy, from air plants that grow without compost to the carnivorous Venus flytrap. As well as small plants, look for slow-growing house plants that take time to reach their mature height, such as the nerve plant. Windowsills, desks, hanging planters and shelves can all be enhanced by space-saving house plants.
People who are living in an apartment are always looking for plant options that are easy to maintain and can be grown in a limited space. if you are one of those, this list is curated especially for you!