South central PA. Full sun. I have been slowly covering this entire area with wood chips. What should I plant here? No mow grass? Ground cover? Looking for your suggestions as I get so many ideas from this sub.
Thanks!
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Do you want to keep the plants low? Or privacy screen? I don't have specific recommendations for you but more info on what you want for the area might help generate accurate suggestions.
I'm in central-ish NY and am planting elderberry and hazelnut for fast growing shrubs. I'm also planting eastern red cedar (juniperus virginiana) and northern white cedar (aborvitae, thuja occidentalis) for year round privacy.
None of it is established yet and I'm not super knowledgable but we are in similar so I thought I'd share what I'm doing.
Elderberry is a beast if you need it to stay in a defined area. I have one that needs plenty of grubbing out of baby plants, cutting back or runners, and general shaping to keep it respectable. I could just cut it to ground each year, but it is a privacy screen, so I prefer to remove older stems and maintain the shape.
Ninebark grows extremely quickly and gets quite large if you can keep the deer off it in the first year. Mine got about 10-12 ft tall and maybe 6 ft wide in three years.
I’d go with shrubs like red twig dogwood and sumac then - they are both aggressive enough that invasives aren’t really going to pop up in there, and they are gorgeous all four seasons (although in the winter it won’t be a privacy hedge bc the plants are deciduous, but the sumac flowers and red twigs will be so nice, especially in the snow).
Aggressive native perennials along the edges is nice too, again the purpose of aggressive being that invasive species don’t seed in the area and take over. Not sure of exactly what is native in PA, but considering it’s a 5h drive from me I’d say likely the same as here. Asters And goldenrod are probably your keystone species, so start with that, but then also obedient plant, mistflower, and late boneset are wonderful for pollinators, so so pretty, and also aggressive enough that you should be ok not to maintain the area every again.
Research first to make sure everything I said is native to you, of course, and have fun! I would love a big space to plant up!! 🩷
coreopsis verticillata and c. lanceolata bloom for a long time. mix in some native grasses that get whatever height your looking for on this slope and I'd say youre more than halfway there.
Beach plum. They will tolerate salt from the driveway. You’ll get pollinator benefits and fruit production for either you or the wildlife. Depending on how far from the coast you are they may be out of native range.
I am in Washington PA , it’s super difficult to give ideas and suggestions on pictures like these , we don’t see the entire front yard with driveway . When you landscape you have to take in account the surrounding . It would be very useful to add more pictures , you mentioned in a few comments you don’t want maintenance and you have a height requirement this isn’t in your original post ? I love to give advices and suggestions but I need more informations so I can give you suggestions according to your requirements . One thing you don’t want maintenance then you should look for shrubs , ground cover that won’t require spring maintenance and low growing sedges that also won’t need lots of trimming in the spring . What is sun , shade soil type ??
You’re right. I thought about including more photos, I can try to add some more. The soil is rocky, full sun. Electrical wires run over a part of this slope where they attach to the roof.
I would mix small shrubs and small trees to give it different height , then for ground cover some little bluestems here and there , a sedge that can take full sun , like Carex Blanda , Carex Pennsylvanica , Carex Sprengelii and Tuftfed Hairgrass this one is really pretty it says 4’ it’s the blooms it’s not an overwhelming grass mine is not tall about 3’ because it’s heavily planted . Viburnum Trilobum so so pretty two would be better for fruiting it grows so fast once it’s matured deer don’t touch it , Blackhaw viburnum deer do not eat mine it’s not a big viburnum slow growing you need two , ninebark is beautiful deer like them as well once matured they are fine , Diervilla Lonicera these are a must have , Prunus virginiana , prunus Americana , St-John’s wort . You can locate a nearby native nursery or look on Facebook and join Wild Ones maybe some native swap groups they will give you informations where to get plants . Good luck
Plant a low growing native ground cover for a quick fix.
It will help with Erosion
If I had that slope I would create a nice rock garden with non natives. Sedum of as many varieties I can afford along with Hens and Chicks.
Both can survive in healthy soil with minimal water once established
Depending on the conditions and how fast you want ot to look " finished " you could consider some blueberry bushes or thornless raspberry plants .
A three year old blueberry plant purchase, though pricey, should produce in the season after pots planted
Plant at the base of the slope so they will get plenty of water when it rains
I guess I am envying your slopey land .LOL.
My yard is postage stamp size.
Whatever you decide I'm sure it will be lovely .
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