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Shrubs on a slope
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Posted by whaas 5a Milwaukee (My Page) on Sun, Feb 7, 10 at 14:47
| Talking small shrubs here..4' tall at most.
When you plant them on a slope do you plant them so the crown matches the slope angle or do you plant it straight upright?...and why? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Shrubs on a slope
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| hey you plant so the plant is vertical.. regardless of the root mass ... but the issue on a slope.. IS HOW TO DELIVER WATER until the plant is established .... in the heat of summer... water tends to run down hill, rather than soak in.. so you have to create a moat to hold the water.. until the soil releases its ... lost the word ... tension .. water repellancy??? ... and allows the water to soak in to the root zone... i accomplish this by creating a moat.. by digging into the slope.. and bringing the soil out to the front ... to create the moat .... after a few years ... the mulch you apply will break down .. and fill the moat to the slope level.. by which time you should not be watering .... free range and all ... you may remove the front lip of the moat by this time ... or just find better things to do with your time ... so the plant should be positioned so that it is vertical [regardless of the root ball... note in the pix at the link that i planted it straighter than it was in the first pix ..] ... and it should be planted.. so that 5 years down the line.. it is proper to the slope .... this is based on my experience on sand.. and your high drainage rocky soil .... how you would deal with a hill made of clay .. is beyond me ... instead of posting the pix here... check the link below .... better have a high speed link ... good luck ken |
Here is a link that might be useful: link
RE: Shrubs on a slope
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| I am SO excited!!! I do the same thing thing as Ken. I am, therefore, not as much of an idiot as I thought. Yippee! |
RE: Shrubs on a slope
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| you are much too harsh on yourself .... ken ps: who says i am not as much of an idiot as you in other parts of my life.. rotflmbo .. |
RE: Shrubs on a slope
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- Posted by whaas 5a Milwaukee (My Page) on
Mon, Feb 8, 10 at 21:38
| I've always planted as you mentioned above...I typically have to amend the soil so I have some available to build up and create the moat on the slope side. I just wondered if anyone planted with the slope angle as the root mass would then be level with the soil. Seems the majority of roots typically grow horizontally vs. down...which seems counter productive for the roots on the sloped side. I've seen both ways done before. |
RE: Shrubs on a slope
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| Ken's method is the standard accepted practice. Planting so that the plant is aligned with the slope will only create a situation where the plant bends itself to grow up vertically. Not to worry about root development - often roots are impeded from growing out equally all around the plant. The roots on the "short" side will grow out enough to anchor the plant and down as necessary to reach moisture or nutrients while those on the "long" side will grow as typical. Ignoring the outdated recommendation to amend the planting hole, the attached link has good directions and an excellent illustration of how to plant on a slope. |
Here is a link that might be useful: how to plant slopes
RE: Shrubs on a slope
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- Posted by whaas 5a Milwaukee (My Page) on
Tue, Feb 9, 10 at 14:03
| Great posts/links. Now a new question... Do you build up the mulch on the short side or do you amend the soil so you have "more" soil to build up on the short side....to create the moat. Both seem to go against common practice but with a slope you have no choice. Assume there are trees and shrubs planted all over this slope. |
RE: Shrubs on a slope
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| never.. ever.. waste money on amending soil with trees.... shrubs.. or conifers ... unless a soil test says your soil is lacking in something important ... or you have that god awful clay ... if you need soil.. bring it in from some other place ... besides.. the soil in the pot.. or the BB, should give you an excess .... mulch is applied on top of the soil.. and should cover all exposed soil appropriately .... ken |
RE: Shrubs on a slope
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- Posted by whaas 5a Milwaukee (My Page) on
Tue, Feb 9, 10 at 17:34
| Lets say there is no excess soil from the pot or BB and you can't (or don't want to) take soil from another part of the yard. Do you... A) build up the mulch on the short side (it could end up 8" high)
or
B) Ammend the soil, so you have enough soil to build up the short side. I've done both and curious what may be the better choice. |
RE: Shrubs on a slope
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- Posted by whaas 5a Milwaukee (My Page) on
Tue, Feb 9, 10 at 21:08
| Looking closer at gardengal's link I see where the extra soil comes from now....so I take that back, I haven't broke down the slope on the long side. I have a few arbs I need to plant this spring on a slope. |
RE: Shrubs on a slope
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| whaas ... i think your terms are confusing .... you get extra soil by digging INTO the slope.. and bringing the slope forward ... sorta like a mud slide... god help you ... are we in agreement with that word choice?? ken PS: if lack of soil is that problematic.. get a yard of soil from the dirt store.. and store it behind the garage or something.. something relatively close to your native soil ... |
RE: Shrubs on a slope
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- Posted by whaas 5a Milwaukee (My Page) on
Wed, Feb 10, 10 at 9:33
| Breaking into the slope, breaking down the long side...half dozen to one. You betcha though, we are on the same page. |
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