Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Steep slope from Charlotte NC

Topic:
Author: Barbara Medford
Date: Thursday - May 03, 2012
From: Concord, NC

QUESTION: I live near Charlotte, NC and I have a very steep sloped area from the edge of our front yard down to the road. It's a huge eyesore mainly because it is red clay dirt and has nothing growing on it. We also have two very large trees directly beside the hills so it gives us a very hard time with all of the roots. Please help, what plant - annual flower/vine - do you recommend and what do I do to make sure it grows?

ANSWER:

Boy, you do have problems with clay slopes in North Carolina. We did a quick scan of previous Mr. Smarty Plant questions on this subject and found several that had good answers and even plant lists, and all from North Carolina.

Durham, NC - Durham County, very close to Wake and Chatham Counties

Cary, NC - Wake and Chatham Counties

Charlotte, in Mecklenburg County, is on the central southern border of North Carolina with South Carolina.

So, we're thinking that the plant lists and instructions on the previous questions should be of help to you, and we won't be repeating ourselves. As for making them grow, you have made a vital first step in using plants native to the region. Follow each plant link on the lists of plants to our webpage on that plant, and read how much moisture, sunlight, etc. it needs and place the plants accordingly in your garden.