Mowing a steep bank is hard. Usually it is not practical to level out that area but there are other possibilities to reduce mowing and make it look attractive.

“Most people plant a ground cover,” said Chuck Smith of Muddy Creek Township, a Penn State master gardener.

He likes periwinkle because it comes back every year.

“It only grows about a foot tall and has little blue flowers,” said Smith. “It is underappreciated. It blooms all summer.”

“Once it is established it grows very dense,” said Smith. “Generally, you don’t need to weed it, and it spreads very fast. It doesn’t particularly care about what kind of soil you have.”

“English ivy is another one, but it has no flower,” said Smith. “It stays green through the winter.”

English ivy spreads and can grow up tree trunks.

“If you can keep it contained, it’s all right,” said Smith.

Bob Stirling of Stirling Landscaping and Nursery Center in Center Township mentioned creeping red fescue as a plant to use. The state Department of Transportation planted it in the 1960s, and it does not require mowing.

Banks along many Pennsylvania highways soon will bloom with crown vetch. Smith said the plant controls erosion along the roads. He said it can be useful on a steep hillside that is out of the way.

“The trouble is that when it dries in the fall, it leaves a lot of brambles,” said Smith.

What about bushes?

“If you plant them side by side, they won’t do well because their roots need room,” said Smith.

He also said they take a long time to cover the hill and there is too much weeding while the bushes fill out.

Blue rug juniper is a commonly planted because it is a low growing evergreen that gradually spreads. It can cover the site, but Stirling says that mice sometimes eat it.

Terraced gardens can work but Stirling said these are high maintenance and timbers holding the soil can rot. He suggested other possibilities such as a rock garden.

“I don’t think they think of rock displays,” said Stirling. “They don’t think of waterfalls. Take advantage and put the rocks and water there. It is a clever way to use a hillside.”

“Rock is long lived,” said Stirling. He also suggests ornamental stones.

For example, hardscape walls and interlocking blocks, are popular but they are expensive, Stirling said.

The Penn State Extension website, extension.psu.edu, describes ornamental grasses that work in some cases.

These include zebra grass, blue fescue, and various types of miscanthus and sea oats. They can be different heights and colors; some multiply and some do not. Some add interest to the winter landscape.

Revamping steep areas can decrease mowing but there is still some maintenance. Stirling and Smith said the plants can get out of control and grow too far.

Changing the plants and adding stones or waterfalls can be a big help. Unfortunately, they will not cure all the issues of a hillside.

“Weeds you cannot stop no matter what you do,” said Smith.