Clover - Ask Extension
I have a steep hill that I want to keep from eroding. The hill was made a couple years ago when we put in a pool. We planted great,fescue I think to g...
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Clover #871310
Asked June 03, 2024, 1:09 PM EDT
I have a steep hill that I want to keep from eroding. The hill was made a couple years ago when we put in a pool. We planted great,fescue I think to get something growing right away. It grew well but over the winter when it all dies it lays flat and nothing can grow and I have to crawl up and take it all down. So I was thinking of planting clover since the seeds are much cheaper than ground cover and it grow quickly. I am near woods and there are quite a lot of deer. I don’t want to attract them. Would clover attract them more than the grass did ( which wasn’t much)?
My other possibilities are ajuga and or spotted dead nettle but they are a lot more expensive. It’s a pretty big area maybe 50x40 ft. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I tried to attach some photos but it wouldn’t work. Maybe I can email them when you respond. Thanks!
Holmes County Ohio
Expert Response
Caryn, there are several options for you to consider. I'm not sure what you are looking for esthetically but a good grass for erosion control and low maintenance and resistance to deer is little bluestem. Seeds for this prairie grass are available from Amazon. For a lower growth habit you could consider the spotted dead nettle or ajuga or vinca minor (periwinkle) or crown vetch. You could also perhaps consider some combination of these plants for a tiered effect. You may have some trouble getting the plants started on the steep slope but with patience you will surely succeed. Deer are not particularly fond of grasses or the above plants, except for perhaps the crown vetch. I suspect that the deer may find clover somewhat attractive.
Thanks for your response. The trouble i have with the grasses are that thery grow tall and i can't cut it, then it dies over the winter and ends up being a bunch of straw that doesn't let anything grow through it unless i rake it all off, which i have to do crawling down the hill. I happened to see some sweet woodruff growing in another part of the yard and may try to pull some of that up. It's not really too possible to actually plant stuff on the slope, i more have to just toss stuff down and hope it grows. Clover seeds are just so much cheaper than ground cover seeds but i think i better stay away from that. I definitely don't want deer climbing the hill.
Pictures are of the slope after i raked all the dead stuff down.
Caryn, I see your problem. If you wanted to invest the money, you could make a nice tiered garden using railroad ties and perhaps concrete walls at the very bottom to cover the rocky base. Regardless of what you plant, you will need to remove weeds that will naturally be planted by birds and the wind. An alternative for you to consider is a no-mow lawn fescue grass. You can find sources of seed for this type of grass on Amazon.
