Gardening on a slope

[Mel]

I've been house sitting this week at my sister's house. Her husband died a year ago in February. She did move closer to us (she was about 20 miles away) and my brother in law had said before he died that he wanted me to move in with her "when the time came." (Hint...I have Mom and Dad here). But 2 things. She says she doesn't want her yard tilled up and she's on a horrendous slope. Hopefully I won't have to make that move for a long time but as Bo the Tabby Cat and I gazed out at ground that was so up tilted you could stand straight and bite the ground I could not help but wonder if there are ways to overcome these obstacles?

 

[zoomzoom]

Terraced gardens. Have been used for centuries. Not as easy as flat-ground gardening.

 

[Weedygarden]

I've been house sitting this week at my sister's house. Her husband died a year ago in February. She did move closer to us (she was about 20 miles away) and my brother in law had said before he died that he wanted me to move in with her "when the time came." (Hint...I have Mom and Dad here). But 2 things. She says she doesn't want her yard tilled up and she's on a horrendous slope. Hopefully I won't have to make that move for a long time but as Bo the Tabby Cat and I gazed out at ground that was so up tilted you could stand straight and bite the ground I could not help but wonder if there are ways to overcome these obstacles?

I was going to suggest terracing the slope as zoomzoom did. The layers can be supported by landscaping timbers, rocks, and other hardscaping materials. But she doesn't want it tilled up? Is it lawn, grass? Is she just not into gardening? Do you have a garden where you are?

Brother in law is deceased. How is he running your life? I am someone who doesn't take orders from people who try to run my life or my behavior. I'm a little stubborn like that! Or are you the family servant, who takes care of everyone else?

 

[Mel]

I was going to suggest terracing the slope as zoomzoom did. The layers can be supported by landscaping timbers, rocks, and other hardscaping materials. But she doesn't want it tilled up? Is it lawn, grass? Is she just not into gardening? Do you have a garden where you are?

Brother in law is deceased. How is he running your life? I am someone who doesn't take orders from people who try to run my life or my behavior. I'm a little stubborn like that! Or are you the family servant, who takes care of everyone else?

It's sod. As it is right now I can't get her to see the value of growing your own food "when Walmart is just down the street."

And I told my sister if I can't garden I'm not happy.

 

[UrbanHunter]

@MoBookworm1957 has been doing raised container or raised raised bed gardening that could be used for a few items, but to grow on a slope will need some sort of terracing. I am dealing with a 6' drop over about 20' that I terraced creating walk ways and keeping everything constrained can become a big job.

The other thing that your sister may be wrestling with is home owner association (HOA) rules, I had friends living in a "high end" community and they could not have a flower bed without it aligning with their bylaws else fines be imposed. Gardens, woodpiles, and other structures are often banned by HOAs...

If she is simply unwilling to allow gardening, then the answer is simple, invite her to move in with you.....

 

[Neb]

I've been house sitting this week at my sister's house. Her husband died a year ago in February. She did move closer to us (she was about 20 miles away) and my brother in law had said before he died that he wanted me to move in with her "when the time came." (Hint...I have Mom and Dad here). But 2 things. She says she doesn't want her yard tilled up and she's on a horrendous slope. Hopefully I won't have to make that move for a long time but as Bo the Tabby Cat and I gazed out at ground that was so up tilted you could stand straight and bite the ground I could not help but wonder if there are ways to overcome these obstacles?

Start with one 4x4 raised and grow something she would like. When runs out...

Wouldn't it be nice to add another?

Ben

 

[Mel]

Start with one 4x4 raised and grow something she would like. When runs out...

Wouldn't it be nice to add another?

Ben

She's not gonna move in with me. I'm pretty sure of that. After her husband died, she started looking for NEW construction so she could be closer to us. Forget 30 year old homes that have withstood time. You're lucky if she looks at anything pre 1995. This house, she saw it when it was but a shell of a new home. She got to pick much of what she wanted, even though the builder had already started on it.

I kinda like the concept of starting something small for her and asking if she'd like another. Thankfully it's not like I've GOT to move in with her right away, so there may be time to see if this works.

 

[Neb]

She's not gonna move in with me. I'm pretty sure of that. After her husband died, she started looking for NEW construction so she could be closer to us. Forget 30 year old homes that have withstood time. You're lucky if she looks at anything pre 1995. This house, she saw it when it was but a shell of a new home. She got to pick much of what she wanted, even though the builder had already started on it.

I kinda like the concept of starting something small for her and asking if she'd like another. Thankfully it's not like I've GOT to move in with her right away, so there may be time to see if this works.

?

Volunteer to prettify her place with flowers. Introduce vegetables....


Be patient.

Ben

 

[montanabill]

Yet another reason why we moved 500 miles away from family to a cold climate.....now we get to pick our own "family".

The problem isn't gardening on a slope it is you wanting to garden and her not wanting any part of it. Search the internet for the common thread of " I want to prep but my (fill in blank) doesn't want to".

 

[Weedygarden]

The problem isn't gardening on a slope it is you wanting to garden and her not wanting any part of it. Search the internet for the common thread of " I want to prep but my (fill in blank) doesn't want to".

I don't know how to say this in a kinder way, but sometimes we want more for someone than they want for themself. When the fecal matter hits the ocillating device, who will she run to to take care of her? Who will be expected to HELP her? There are many more thoughts that I have, but I've already said too much.

 

[theheathen13]

Raised beds are the go to! Maybe pick up some free pallet and build some beds or a small retaining wall with some rebar spicks. Cheap and a great start. In my opinion

 

[Peanut]

Pull a "Virginia Creeper" on her! Start with a couple of fragrant and beautiful medicinal plants. Like lavender or one of the beebalms. Show her beautiful and useful can be one in the same. May take a little time to get to being proud of her tomato plants but it you do it right she'll get there. Show her that food can be just as enjoyable to grow as to eat.

(virginia creeper was an insulting nickname for civil war general George B. McClellan, also an annoying vine in the southeast... both slow moving/growing)

 

[theheathen13]

Put some tomatoes in some large pot on the patio and let her taste them she will come around! “ two things money can’t buy true love and home grown tomatoes “!

 

[Peanut]

Can you show us a pic of the slope? Folks here in the forum are from all over and grow plants in many different ways. Maybe someone knows just what will work best for your slope/water/soil type.

 

[montanabill]

Just for general interest I once terraced in some great growing areas with a troy built rear tine tiller. I just muscled it across the slope and let it dig (I was younger then). Very dry area so I watered the terraces with a simple ditch and they produced quite well.

 

[Mel]

Can you show us a pic of the slope? Folks here in the forum are from all over and grow plants in many different ways. Maybe someone knows just what will work best for your slope/water/soil type.

Let me see if I can look through my photos. It may take a day or so.

Btw someone mentioned beautiful and useful. OK I've never grown this but I have grown mint and someone gave me catnip seed. Bojangles (aka Bo) loves catnip and...well he's an indoor cat.

 

[Mel]

I don't know how to say this in a kinder way, but sometimes we want more for someone than they want for themself. When the fecal matter hits the ocillating device, who will she run to to take care of her? Who will be expected to HELP her? There are many more thoughts that I have, but I've already said too much.

I tend to agree with that. I think I want more for her than she wants for herself.

 

[Weedygarden]

(virginia creeper was an insulting nickname for civil war general George B. McClellan, also an annoying vine in the southeast... both slow moving/growing)

We have Virginia creeper here. I had a neighbor who planted it right by her fence, by me, I'm still digging it out. The person who bought her house dug it out when he replaced his sewer line, but the residual is still here. Another neighbor, further away, planted bamboo, and I have had to work to keep that at bay. It doesn't help that neighbors in between are not digging it out, so it keeps coming underground to my place.

 

[Weedygarden]

Raised beds are the go to! Maybe pick up some free pallet and build some beds or a small retaining wall with some rebar spicks. Cheap and a great start. In my opinion

The thing about using pallets is that you have to make sure they are not made from treated wood that would be toxic in a garden. There are pallets, or were, that were not treated wood.

 

[Magus]

Terraced gardens. Have been used for centuries. Not as easy as flat-ground gardening.

Yup, the Incas used terracing extensively and used legumes and other web rooted plants to prevent runoff.
Sweet taters and peanuts come to mind.

 

[Mel]

We have Virginia creeper here. I had a neighbor who planted it right by her fence, by me, I'm still digging it out. The person who bought her house dug it out when he replaced his sewer line, but the residual is still here. Another neighbor, further away, planted bamboo, and I have had to work to keep that at bay. It doesn't help that neighbors in between are not digging it out, so it keeps coming underground to my place.

I had a neighbor who planted bamboo once. After a tornado hit, no more bamboo for anyone.

 

[Weedygarden]

I had a neighbor who planted bamboo once. After a tornado hit, no more bamboo for anyone.

When I first purchased my home, I worked hard to dig out the bamboo. There was plenty of it, and it took lots of work to make it go away and I saw no hint of it for more than 20 years, but a couple of years ago, it started coming up in another part of my yard, growing under the fence. These neighbors just mow it down, and have never dug it out. Neighbor who planted it originally talked to me about how he planted it when he first purchased his place, and regretted having planted it. Too late. We all have to work on getting rid of it, just like the Virginia creeper.

 

[theheathen13]

You are correct on the the treated pallets… but these days 90 percent are heat treated. Just look for the brand on the wood. I haven’t seen a treated pallet in years. I cost much, heck look at what they call treated lumber these days, looks like stained wood to me.

 

[joel]

Starting in 9800 BC—yes, almost 12,000 years ago—ancient people across the world realized they could add terraces to their homes and structures as well as their land, with archeological records showing built setbacks and roof terraces dating back tens of thousands of years in the Middle East, Greece, Rome, Cambodia and even on some remote Pacific islands.

The most famous architectural terraces in ancient history are King Nebuchadnezzar’s Hanging Gardens of Babylon—planted in a series of setback structures and rooftops, the Hanging Gardens are cited as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Unfortunately, while there are multiple written accounts of these gardens, historians have never been able to establish where they were actually located, and definitive archeological evidence has never been found for their existence.

http://theterraceexperts.com/post-title-1/

 

[Mel]

Just letting yall know I've been looking through my photos of the house...we took several while it was being built...and I can't seem to find one of the backyard. I may have to do it the next time I am over there, if I can get Bo the cat to stay inside lol

 

[Mel]

Ok so I finally got to take some pics of her backyard but I had to do it while house sitting and keep Bo inside. I was able to take these while looking out windows. The fence is not complete. She does have a small porch.

 

[zoomzoom]

In the lower side of the pic, it looks like there's the nice beginnings of a first terrace.

 

[Neb]

In the lower side of the pic, it looks like there's the nice beginnings of a first terrace.

I think that may be a swale.

Put in terraced raised beds.

Ben

 

[Bacpacker]

I think that may be a swale.

Put in terraced raised beds.

View attachment 86910

Ben

Great place to catch water from a good rainfall

 

[Neb]

Great place to catch water from a good rainfall

Yes.

That picture screams multiple swales that are graded as switch backs down the grade.

The mounds can be planted with whatever.

Fruit trees, berries, sunflowers...

And still be mowed easily.

Raised beds can be added incrementally. (Wink wink nudge nudge).

Ben