Site Topography

updated Jan 26, 2009 by Nick Thorp

The topography of the site you are planting deserves significant consideration when choosing new plants to ensure not only that your new plants will survive the landscape but also that your landscape remains in tact. While steep slopes and hillsides can add some difficulty in terms of planting and access, they offer the gardener a wide variety of plant choices that require low maintenance. By taking the time to design a planting plan for a bare or overlooked hillside, gardeners become stewards of the land as their plant choices can establish roots to prevent soil erosion and create vibrant mini-ecosystems where before stood weeds and bare ground.

In the Pacific Northwest slopes can be major issue due to high saturation level of the soil during the rainy months. Supersaturated soil+bare slope= landslides of varying magnitudes. If a slope exists on your property, choosing the right plants for the site will help reduce the likelihood of a slide as well as increase the aesthetics.

The Washington Department of Ecology has created a guide for homeowners with slopes and bluffs to advise them on ways they can design a slope stabilization plan. The guide is full of information on how to assess your situation, how to make the right plant choices, as well as how to plant the slope itself. Visit the guide today to solve your slope problem and protect your property from erosion and landslides.

Important factors to consider when planting on a slope

Angle of Slope
Having a rough estimate of the incline or angle of your slope will help you to know which plants will be best at establishing themselves and setting up root systems to keep the slope in place and reduce erosion. Generally speaking, if you have a site with a slope over 45 degrees you will want to contact a landscape professional to assess your site and suggest ways to stabilize the slope before planting.

Sun Exposure
The direction your slope faces will have direct impacts on the moisture level in your soil. If your slope faces south or west it receives sunlight during the afternoon when it is at it's strongest. If you slope faces north and east, it receives sunlight during the morning, when it is weaker. Different plants have different needs in terms of sun exposure. Matching the plants to sites where those needs can be met is integral to successful plant growth.

Soil Moisture
The moisture of the soil found on slopes can vary depending on the direction of the slope and the different points on the slope itself. The amount of sun exposure a site receives during a day directly influence the moistness of the soil. South facing slopes will have drier soils than North facing slopes. The angle of the slope will also effect soil moisture. Any angled slope will have issues with water draining to the bottom. Hillsides with higher angles will have issues with water pooling at the bottom, creating areas where choosing plants tolerable of very moist conditions is integral. In contrast, the top and middle portions of the slope may have issues with dry conditions requiring plants that are drought tolerant.

The topography of the site you are planting deserves significant consideration when choosing new plants to ensure not only that your new plants will survive the landscape but also that your landscape remains in tact.  While steep slopes and hillsides can add some difficulty in terms of planting and access, they offer the gardener a wide variety of plant choices that require low maintenance.  By taking the time to design a planting plan for a bare or overlooked hillside, gardeners become stewards of the land as their plant choices can establish roots to prevent soil erosion and create vibrant mini-ecosystems where before stood weeds and bare ground.

In the Pacific Northwest slopes can be major issue due to high saturation level of the soil during the rainy months.  Supersaturated soil+bare slope= landslides of varying magnitudes.  If a slope exists on your property, choosing the right plants for the site will help reduce the likelihood of a slide as well as increase the aesthetics.

* [The Washington Department of Ecology|http://www.ecy.wa.gov/] has created a guide for homeowners with slopes and bluffs to advise them on ways they can design a slope stabilization plan.  The guide is full of information on how to assess your situation, how to make the right plant choices, as well as how to plant the slope itself.  Visit the [guide today|http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/pubs/93-30/index.html] to solve your slope problem and protect your property from erosion and landslides.\\

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h3. *Important factors to consider when planting on a slope*
* Angle of Slope
     Having a rough estimate of the incline or angle of your slope will help you to know which plants will be best at establishing themselves and setting up root systems to keep the slope in place and reduce erosion. Generally speaking, if you have a site with a slope over 45 degrees you will want to contact a landscape professional to assess your site and suggest ways to stabilize the slope before planting.

* [Sun Exposure]
     The direction your slope faces will have direct impacts on the moisture level in your soil.  If your slope faces south or west it receives sunlight during the afternoon when it is at it's strongest.  If you slope faces north and east, it receives sunlight during the morning, when it is weaker. Different plants have different needs in terms of sun exposure.  Matching the plants to sites where those needs can be met is integral to successful plant growth.

* Soil Moisture
     The moisture of the soil found on slopes can vary depending on the direction of the slope and the different points on the slope itself.  The amount of sun exposure a site receives during a day directly influence the moistness of the soil.  South facing slopes will have drier soils than North facing slopes. The angle of the slope will also effect soil moisture.  Any angled slope will have issues with water draining to the bottom.  Hillsides with higher angles will have issues with water pooling at the bottom, creating areas where choosing plants tolerable of very moist conditions is integral.  In contrast, the top and middle portions of the slope may have issues with dry conditions requiring plants that are drought tolerant.

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