Alkaline result

Hope someone can help me.

Just done a soil test and the result has come back Alkaline very much so.

Can anyone suggest plants that can be planted on a steep slope to cover and hold the bank, as we have had to take down a couple of rotten trees, but left the roots in.

Need to have a bit of colour if at all possible.

Please do not suggest Ivy as the garden was over run with that when we moved in!!!!

 

Some listed here that may be of interest -

http://www.thegardenhelper.com/alkalineplants.html

 

Cheers both

How easy is it to get the plants from the Site that you posted Dave as I note that it is an American zone table site.

I have heard of some of them but not all.

 

hi j1200k. I wouldn't worry about getting plants from that particular site - it looks American. I would suggest you Google words like "alkali soil plants" and you will get lists of suitable plants. Here's is another site. http://www.shrublandparknurseries.co.uk/plant_list_pages/plants_for_alkaline_soils.html

There are lots of plants mentioned, which you will find at any good garden centre. I think any plants once established will hold a bank in place. If you want colour, I would go for perennials. They will die back in the winter but their roots will hold the bank in place.

If you want ornamental perennials, which will be two or three feet tall, plants I really like are Achillea (they want it well drained - but a bank will be): Aquilegia (early flowerers): Campanula (persifolia is perhaps the longest flowering, trachellium is lovely but needs staking, lactiflora is lovely and quite big; Dicentra (early flowering); Geranium - I would recommend 'Patricia' (pink), 'Rozanne' (blue) or 'Jolly Bee' (almost the same as 'Rozanne'), these are all sterile hybrids and consequently flower for a very long time; Helenium is brilliant but will need staking; Hemerocallis; Rudbeckia; and Verbena bonariensis is a must have in any garden.

There are lots of others. You have the makings of a very fine border if you want that sort of thing, with the added advantage that it is well drained. Why not print out the list from one of these sites and go along to the garden centre with it. These are all common plants and you have masses of choice, but it will depend on what sort of style you want.