My Lawn on a Steep Bank is Dead. What is the Best Way to Handle It?
In late summer, many lawns that appear dead are simply dormant. Many will green up again with the arrival of fall rains. However, maintaining a lawn on a steep slope is a constant difficulty. Many homes in the hillier sections of Seattle and in many maritime Northwest suburban areas have lawns installed on slopes.Watering is difficult and mowing is a challenge. Lawns do best when placed on sunny, well-drained, level spots. One suggestion is terracing the bank and planting drought tolerant plants, such as various smaller juniper cultivars (check nurseries for evergreens that are drought tolerant.) Making this change takes time and work initially but will save trouble as the years go by, and it will enhance the landscape. Other areas unsuitable for turf can be parking strips, very shady spots under trees (moss heaven), in the shadow of buildings. Also unsuitable are poorly-drained sites which stay soggy nearly year round, and areas of heavy traffic that compacts the soil. Turf that is co
