ᐅ What types of planting are suitable for very steep slopes?

Hello everyone.

Our property is located right next to a forest, but the residential area is situated significantly higher. Our plot also includes a steep slope of about 150 sqm (1,615 sq ft), at the bottom of which there is a small stream. The slope is estimated to be around 4m (13 ft) high and is intended to be planted in a natural way, meaning no construction will take place on it. Retaining walls made of L-shaped concrete blocks are not an option here, both for this reason and due to cost considerations.

We would like to fence our property later and plan to place the fence at the top, just before the slope, with a small gate to allow access for maintenance down the slope.

Now the question is: What can be done with this area? We have been advised to either sow wildflowers annually and mow regularly, which is quite difficult to do there, or to plant shrubs that require virtually no upkeep. We would like to plant something and make it look attractive but are unsure what is possible and which plants would need almost no maintenance.

Do you have any ideas? 🙂

Photos are attached; the area marked in red is the one in question.

Ground cover plants and taller perennials, possibly self-sowing flowers
Drought-resistant and frost-hardy
Soil moist at the bottom and rather dry at the top
What do you have?
Sandy soil, humus-rich or clay soil?
Sun, partial shade, shade?

haydee schrieb:

Ground cover plants and taller perennials, possibly self-seeding flowers
drought-resistant and frost-hardy
Soil moist at the bottom and rather dry at the top
What do you have?
Sandy soil, humus-rich soil, or clay soil?
Sunny, partial shade, shaded?

We have clay soil with a lot of clay content, south-facing side.

A rough compilation for a "steep southern slope location":

Small-leaved lime
Hornbeam
Thyme (where it is steep, it dislikes waterlogging)
Comfrey (I think it always belongs there)
Flowering cherry
Autumn monkshood
Goldenrod
Geranium
Candlestick or snake knotweed
Golden deadnettle
Bugleweed
Medlar
Juniper
Yew

Can you ask around among friends, neighbors, or colleagues?
Appearance is secondary for you in this area, right?
You can often get many perennials and cuttings for free. Ask around to see who can give you seeds, plants, cuttings, or divisions.

I would try to cover a large area, for example with ivy, creeping spindle, or groundcover thyme.

I’ll send you a list of flowers, herbs, and perennials this evening. Just take it as a suggestion.
If you follow a detailed planting plan here, it will get expensive. The most important thing at first is to simply have the area planted and the plants doing their job to stabilize the slope. If you don’t like the location later, you can always replace them with more suitable ones.

Let's start with the basics.
The swamp area by the stream/ditch
Ecologically an important area, secondarily for slope stabilization

Marsh marigold
Bitter clover
Marsh milkweed
Comfrey
Meadowsweet
Showy carnation
God's grace herb

There are more, but this ensures food supply from March to October.