What kind of (groundcover?) plantings for a steeply sloping, partly shaded area of a yard? ?

[matyas]

I need inexpensive ideas for the part of my yard that slopes down and away, so that anything I plant I wouldnt be able to really see or appreciate very well. Its a rental and presently the hilly part is mostly some kind of ugky tall weedy kutzu type weed that I weedwack, but its difficult given the angle. I mean, I actually had to climb up on my hands and knees last nite after slipping on a muddy spot!

Its been suggested a line of trees for the bottom part of the yard (if so, Im planning on using free plantings from the Arbor Day Foundation)-but what could I plant on the steep part of the yard? As a rental, landscaping such as terracing is out of the question. I was hoping for some kind of groundcover that would would reduce or eliminate the need to walk that part of the yard, preferably evergreen? And that could survive the occasional blast of water from the hill extending up, beyond my property. Soil seems poor, heavy, compacted, fair amount of clay. Zone 7, generally lots of moisture. Im hoping to put in a border of echinechia right before the hill takes the deep slope. Would that work? The rest of the yard is flatter but shadier and has fill dirt. Back (highest part) of backyard is a retaining wall. Yard is maybe 12 feet deep and maybe 18 feet wide but flatter area, from retaining wall to back door, is only 8-10 feet at best. After that, it slopes down steeply. So any and all planting ideas are welcomed. I do have a tiny patio right off the back door.

Thank you!

[hjortur]

I need inexpensive ideas for the part of my yard that slopes down and away, so that anything I plant I wouldnt be able to really see or appreciate very well. Its a rental and presently the hilly part is mostly some kind of ugky tall weedy kutzu type weed that I weedwack, but its difficult given the angle. I mean, I actually had to climb up on my hands and knees last nite after slipping on a muddy spot!

Its been suggested a line of trees for the bottom part of the yard (if so, Im planning on using free plantings from the Arbor Day Foundation)-but what could I plant on the steep part of the yard? As a rental, landscaping such as terracing is out of the question. I was hoping for some kind of groundcover that would would reduce or eliminate the need to walk that part of the yard, preferably evergreen? And that could survive the occasional blast of water from the hill extending up, beyond my property. Soil seems poor, heavy, compacted, fair amount of clay. Zone 7, generally lots of moisture. Im hoping to put in a border of echinechia right before the hill takes the deep slope. Would that work? The rest of the yard is flatter but shadier and has fill dirt. Back (highest part) of backyard is a retaining wall. Yard is maybe 12 feet deep and maybe 18 feet wide but flatter area, from retaining wall to back door, is only 8-10 feet at best. After that, it slopes down steeply. So any and all planting ideas are welcomed. I do have a tiny patio right off the back door.

Thank you!

Periwinkle and sweet woodruff would do well under your conditions. Sweet woodruff is also very fragrant, smells like vanilla.

periwinkle: http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0PDoV5.JhhQJUIAjHaJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBlMTQ4cGxyBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1n?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Dclay%2Bsoil%2Bperiwinkle%26fr2%3Dpiv-web%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D35&w=531&h=800&imgurl=plants.ritchiefeed.com%2FContent%2FImages%2FPhotos%2FF169-24.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fplants.ritchiefeed.com%2F11090003%2FPlant%2F5017&size=167+KB&name=Dart%26%2339%3Bs+Blue+Periwinkle+%28Vinca+minor+%26quot%3BDart%26%2339%3Bs+Blue%26quot%3B%29+in+Ottawa%2C+Ontario+...&p=clay+soil+periwinkle&oid=b7a9466eca19e571262874e6fd968b0d&fr2=piv-web&fr=&tt=Dart%2526%252339%253Bs%2BBlue%2BPeriwinkle%2B%2528Vinca%2Bminor%2B%2526quot%253BDart%2526%252339%253Bs%2BBlue%2526quot%253B%2529%2Bin%2BOttawa%252C%2BOntario%2B...&b=31&ni=56&no=35&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=11hqq10b8&sigb=1314v8nnc&sigi=11o8lc3np&.crumb=tq4qQe.d1Rm

sweet woodruff: http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0PDoV7CJhhQNiYAAPeJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBlMTQ4cGxyBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1n?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Dsweet%2Bwoodruff%26fr2%3Dpiv-web%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D1&w=720&h=478&imgurl=i.pbase.com%2Fo6%2F71%2F417271%2F1%2F43467115.v5qJO7gV.228_7010113_SweetWoodruff.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbase.com%2Fimage%2F43467115&size=305.2+KB&name=Sweet+Woodruff+photo+-+Vic+Harris+photos+at+pbase.com&p=sweet+woodruff&oid=99bdb7c4ac71a8385bcca96d9a60c7bc&fr2=piv-web&fr=&tt=Sweet%2BWoodruff%2Bphoto%2B-%2BVic%2BHarris%2Bphotos%2Bat%2Bpbase.com&b=0&ni=56&no=1&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=11375l8b7&sigb=12q5hii56&sigi=12akltln1&.crumb=tq4qQe.d1Rm

[oakley]

Pachysandra is very nice and it will live under pretty much any conditions, flowers in the spring. Another beautiful ground cover would be ground Sedum. Much smaller leaves and beautiful spring/fall blooms.

[kyledyr]

I happen to love pachysandra but around me lots of people use prostate euonymous and juniper with good success too.

[marmion]

I happen to love pachysandra but around me lots of people use prostate euonymous and juniper with good success too.

pachysandra