Planting a bank and getting the plants to both establish and look good can be a challenge. The Plant Company has put together a series of guides to improve your chances of success, and to have amazing vistas.
Choosing plants for a bank requires specialist skill and experience. Getting this wrong can see a lot of money and effort wasted. The Plant Company has produced this series of articles to help you achieve or at least get you well underway. Don’t forget that you can always ask us for more advice!
Only controlled release fertiliser or fertiliser tablets should be used on a bank. Banks tend to have shallow topsoil with water running off quickly. Therefore, fertiliser needs to be long lasting and not disappear after 2-3 rains. Controlled release fertiliser and fertiliser tablets release small amounts of nutrients every time it rains and will last up to 12-months. The result is sustained nutrition in an environmentally friendly manner.
Quick release fertiliser can be used on banks that have plenty of topsoil and a gentle slope. Using quick release fertiliser on a steep bank with limited topsoil and water can result in plant injury or death. This is due to the fertiliser acting like a salt and both drawing water away from the plant as well as creating a “salty” environment around the roots.
The Plant Company recommends using either Poplars or Willows in combination with Carex virgata and Carex secta for erosion control. The deep and spreading root system on these plants will bind soil, even if it is moving. The trees are generally planted 3 m apart, but this really depends on the severity of erosion. The more erosion, the more that need to be planted. Tortured Willows are a great option that will also provide great aesthetics.
Poplars or Willows can be considered a great medium-term option if the desire is to plant other species. The Plant Company will often treat the Poplars or Willows as a 2-3 year option and begin planting between the trees with natives once soil stability has been achieved. To avoid Poplars and Willows taking over and choking out the desired plants once they get bigger, The Plant Company recommends that half the trees are cut back to stumps and then painted with Vigilant Gel to prevent them resprouting when the time comes. It will take two years for the roots to rot away and the desirable plants will fill the root channels left behind. The rest of the trees would be killed in the years to come.
The idea of doing a landscape design for an eroding bank and selecting the plants that suit the environment, the soil, the outcome desired, and to have it in keeping with the architecture can be quite daunting. If you need assistance, we are here to help with our Landscape Design service.
The Plant Company recommends using Grevillea, Callistemon, Coyote Bush, and Westringia. These are Australian native that generally thrive in dry environments. NZ native options include Dianella, Coprosma, Carex virgata, Carex secta, Muehlenbeckia, and Kowhai which also do very well.
The idea of doing a landscape design for a bank and selecting the plants that suit the environment, the outcome desired, and to have it in keeping with the architecture can be quite daunting. If you need assistance, we are here to help with our Landscape Design service. Feel free to Contact Us.
The shrubs most commonly planted on banks are Coprosmas, Grevillea, Westringia, Choisya ternata, and Hebes. Whilst these are the most common, they may not fit the landscaping goals you are trying to achieve. On this basis, feel free to Contact Us to discuss options. The Plant Company is here to help with a Landscape Design service so you can have the plants that suit the environment, the outcome desired, and have it in keeping with the architecture.
When designing a planting for a bank, The Plant Company recommends sticking with just 2-3 plant species. Any more than this and it becomes a mixed planting, which loses the impact or wow factor that a mass planting brings. A mixed planting is also a lot more challenging to get heights and textures in balance, particularly for the novice gardener.
The next considerations are the steepness of the bank, whether it can be watered, how much topsoil is present, and how wind exposed it is. Considering these will change the plant options to choose from and The Plant Company encourages you to read our other articles in this series to find the one most relevant for your situation. Finally, the planting should be complementary to the surrounding area and architecture. For example, a planting of Snow Tussock could be out of keeping for a cottage but well in keeping with a modern build.
The design generally starts with the foundation planting. That is, the plants used to cover the ground and serve as the main backdrop. Ornamental grasses such as Lomandra, Chionochloa, as well as Muehlenbeckia are commonly used for the foundation planting. Other popular choices include Renga Renga Lilies, Cerastium, Coprosma Hawera, and Carpet Roses. A second tier of height and texture through cluster planting is often introduced with plants such as Muehlenbeckia astonii, Coprosma Poor Knights, Calamagrostis Karl Foerster, Kniphofia, or flaxes. A final tier can be introduced using widely spaced specimen trees such as Kowhai, Titoki, Pittosporum, or Pohutukawa.
The idea of doing a landscape design for a bank and selecting the plants that suit the environment, the outcome desired, and to have it in keeping with the architecture can be quite daunting. If you need assistance, we are here to help with our Landscape Design service.
The ground cover most commonly planted on banks are Coprosma Poor Knights, Coprosma Hawera, Muehlenbeckia axillaris, Muehlenbeckia complexa, Hedera, and Westringia Low Horizon. Whilst these are the most common, they may not fit the landscaping goals you are trying to achieve. On this basis, feel free to Contact Us to discuss options. The Plant Company is here to help with a Landscape Design service so you can have the plants that suit the environment, the outcome desired, and have it in keeping with the architecture.
Banks often hold little water as it tends to run off quickly. Therefore, The Plant Company recommends using the “well technique” at planting. That is, dig the hole as you would for planting on flat ground. Make sure the hole is at least 50% deeper and wider than the pot the plant is currently growing in. If the plant is root bound, use secateurs to sever larger roots on either side of the pot. Don’t be too aggressive or try to untangle the roots. We want to retain as much media on the roots as possible.
Place the plant in the hole and firm soil in around it. Groundcover plants are usually planted on the same angle as the bank, while shrubs are generally planted so they are upright. The “well technique” involves creating a small bund of soil on the downward-side the hole. The notion being that water flows down the slope, fills the shallow hole, and any excess escapes through a side passage in the bund. Therefore, every time it rains, the plant is watered.
The Plant Company recommend using coco fibre matting to reduce surface erosion and help control weeds. It is quick and easy to install, and will help ensure better plant survival rates. Such mat is them overlaid with shredded bark to ensure weeds are suppressed. NB: coco fibre matting does not stop weeds coming through by itself.
Getting water to plants on a bank can be tricky, particularly if the bank is tall and steep. In such situations The Plant Company often runs a water line to the top of the bank and then a series of trickle lines are installed across the slope. This is preferred to running lines down the slope as water can be spread more evenly with fewer lines. The Plant Company also installs shredded bark mulch on slopes, not just weed suppression, but also to hold moisture on the slope and reduce erosion. The planting technique described in the article How To Plant On A Bank, is also very useful for helping to retain moisture on a slope.
Placing mulch on a bank helps to keep the soil moist, significantly reduces weeds, and reduces erosion. The Plant Company recommends an organic mulch is used as this breaks down over time to provide nutrients and improves the soil. It is also better for the environment than the plastic-based alternatives. Whatever type of mulch is used, it needs to be free draining so the soil can “breathe” and allow water to penetrate quickly and easily without running off. Heavy rates of lawn clippings are therefore not a good option as they hold too much moisture. The Plant Company has three very good options for mulch. The first is coco fibre matting which is made from the husks of coconuts. The second is Earth Mat which is made from recycled paper. Both of these break down to become part of the soil within two years. The third is black plastic matting which will last 20 years or more. The Plant Company generally uses the first or second options on steeper slopes coupled with coarsely shredded bark mulch to give complete weed control and hold the much down. This is generally applied as a 3-5 cm layer. Finer mulch can blow and wash away so is generally not used or recommended.
The options for NZ native plants for banks is vast. The Plant Company has made the task of finding options very easy. Simply use this link, plant for banks, and then select NZ Natives in the left-hand-side filter.
Some of the more commonly used NZ native plants for banks include: are Coprosma Poor Knights, Coprosma Hawera, Muehlenbeckia axillaris, Astelia, Kowhai, Carex, Phormium, Hebes, and Dwarf Toe Toe. While these are the common options, the idea of doing a landscape design for a bank and selecting the plants that suit the environment, achieving the outcome(s) desired, and to have it in keeping with the architecture can be quite daunting. If you need assistance, we are here to help with our Landscape Design service. Plant knowledge and landscape design is our specialty.
The options for coastal banks generally centre around NZ native plants. The Plant Company has made the task of finding options very easy. Simply use this link, Coastal Plants, and then select NZ Natives in the left-hand-side filter.
Some of the more commonly used NZ native plants for banks include: are Coprosma Poor Knights, Coprosma Hawera, Muehlenbeckia axillaris, Astelia, Kowhai, Carex, Phormium, Hebes, and Dwarf Toe Toe. While these are the common options, the idea of doing a landscape design for a bank and selecting the plants that suit the environment, achieving the outcome(s) desired, and to have it in keeping with the architecture can be quite daunting. If you need assistance, we are here to help with our Landscape Design service. Plant knowledge and landscape design is our specialty.
The Plant Company defines a large bank as being greater than 3 m wide. If it is a steep bank, please see our article, Plants For A Steep Bank, as the choice of plants does become a little more limited and different functionality is often required.
A large bank creates opportunity to showcase an area or to serve as an amazing backdrop for a house or the like. The Plant Company most often comes across large banks when a building site has been cut into a hill or the house sits at the top of a hill that has been levelled off. In these instances, we often use groundcover plants in combination with clusters of taller plants. When planting a large bank, The Plant Company recommends using plants that will spread to cover a large area with other plants interspersed to add both texture and colour to the planting.
A large bank can require a lot area of plants and rather than list out all the plants, use the link, plant for banks, to find dozens of suitable options. On the other hand, a few good choices include Muehlenbeckia, Coprosma Hawera, Dianella, and Carpet Roses. A second tier of height and texture through cluster planting is often introduced with plants such as Muehlenbeckia astonii, Coprosma Poor Knights, Calamagrostis Karl Foerster, or flaxes.
The idea of doing a landscape design for a bank and selecting the plants that suit the environment, the soil, the outcome desired, and to have it in keeping with the architecture can be quite daunting. If you need assistance, we are here to help with our Landscape Design service.
There are numerous plant options for banks that have a lot of shade. Popular choices for ground cover options include Renga Renga Lilies, Ferns, Selliera radicans, Myosotidium, and Hebes. Some taller options include Horopito, Macropiper, and Tree Ferns. You can use our Plant Finder Tool and select “shade” in the filters to identify more options.
The idea of doing a landscape design for a bank and selecting the plants that suit the environment, the outcome desired, and to have it in keeping with the architecture can be quite daunting. If you need assistance, we are here to help with our Landscape Design service.
The Plant Company defines a small bank as being less than 3 m wide with an gentle slope. Typically, such banks will have a good layer of topsoil and can be watered during dry periods without too much difficulty. If this is not the case, refer to our articles, Plants For A Steep Bank, Plants For An Eroding Bank, or Plants For A Large Bank for more relevant content.
Rather than list out all the plants, use the link, Plants For Banks to find dozens of options. The Plant Company has identified those plants as being commonly used and well suited for planting on a bank. That said, refer to the article, Garden Design For A Bank for design concepts and ideas to get you started on the right path.
The idea of doing a landscape design for a bank and selecting the plants that suit the environment, the soil, the outcome desired, and to have it in keeping with the architecture can be quite daunting. If you need assistance, we are here to help with our Landscape Design service.
Steep banks often dry out quickly, tend to be windswept, and generally have a thin layer of topsoil. Therefore, The Plant Company recommends using plants that either naturally grow in such environments or are known to handle the conditions.
NZ native groundcover options include Muehlenbeckia axillaris, Muehlenbeckia complexa, Coprosma Lobster, Coprosma acerosa, Coprosma kirkii, and Coprosma Hawera. Grass options include Carex virgata, Carex testacea, and Dwarf Toe Toe. Non-native grasses such as Lomandra Tanika also do well. Some larger options include Phormium tenax, Toe Toe, Coprosma Poor Knights, Coprosma Cappuccino, Corokia, and Griselinia. Smaller tree options are typically Manuka and Kanuka.
The idea of doing a landscape design for a steep bank and selecting the plants that suit the environment, the outcome desired, and to have it in keeping with the architecture can be quite daunting. If you need assitance, we are here to help with our landscape design service.
Containing earth on an eroding bank can challenging and frustrating, but this is a problem that The Plant Company is experienced with solving. There are some keys steps that need to be considered to achieve successful plant establishment, however.
The bank will be eroding because water is running down the surface. Therefore, the more that the amount of water can be lessened, and the speed at which that water travels reduced, the less erosion will occur. As a start, we would try to redirect any excess water coming down the slope. This can be as simple as a shallow trench at the top or a deeper trench with novaflo pipe to take the water away. The next step is to consider a mulch. The Plant Company find Coco fibre matting a great option that is easy to install, protects the soil, and allows the plants to establish quickly.
On a severely eroding bank, The Plant Company recommends using either Poplars or Willows in combination with Carex virgata and Carex secta. The root system on these plants will bind soil, even if it is moving. The trees are generally planted 3 m apart, but this really depends on the severity of erosion. The more erosion, the more that need to be planted. Tortured Willows are a great option that will also provide great aesthetics.
Poplars or Willows can be considered a great medium-term option if the desire is to plant other species. The Plant Company will often treat the Poplars or Willows as a 2-3 year option and begin planting between the trees with natives once soil stability has been achieved. To avoid Poplars and Willows taking over and choking out the desired plants once they get bigger, The Plant Company recommends that half the trees are cut back to stumps and then painted with Vigilant Gel to prevent them resprouting when the time comes. It will take two years for the roots to rot away and the desirable plants will fill the root channels left behind. The rest of the trees would be killed in the years to come.
The idea of doing a landscape design for a steep bank and selecting the plants that suit the environment, the soil, the outcome desired, and to have it in keeping with the architecture can be quite daunting. If you need assistance, we are here to help with our Landscape Design service.
This article provides advice on plants for stabilising a bank to avoid erosion. If erosion is an issue or likely to become an issue, please refer to our article, Plants For An Eroding Bank for specialist advice.
The Plant Company recommends beginning the process of planting a bank by first laying Coco Fibre Matting with a shredded bark mulch over top. This is a great option that is easy to install, protects the soil, allows the plants to establish quickly, and still allows water to permeate through. A top coat of mulch is essential to reducing weeds.
There are many plant options available for planting up a bank, and rather than list out all the plants, use the link, plant for banks, to find dozens of suitable options. On the other hand, a few good choices include Muehlenbeckia, Coprosma Hawera, Dianella, and Carpet Roses. A second tier of height and texture through cluster planting is often introduced with plants such as Muehlenbeckia astonii, Coprosma Poor Knights, Calamagrostis Karl Foerster, or flaxes.
The idea of doing a landscape design for a bank and selecting the plants that suit the environment, the soil, the outcome desired, and to have it in keeping with the architecture can be quite daunting. If you need assistance, we are here to help with our Landscape Design service.
The top five NZ native plants for slopes are: Dianella nigra, Coprosma Poor Knights, Coprosma Hawera, Muehlenbeckia axillaris, and Muehlenbeckia complexa. Whilst these are the most popular, they may not fit your landscaping goals. On this basis, feel free to Contact Us to discuss options. The Plant Company is here to help with a Landscape Design service so you can have the plants that suit the environment, the outcome desired, and have it in keeping with the architecture.
Effective weed control on a bank generally involves three key tasks. The first is to spray off the weeds using Glyphosate about 2-3 weeks before planting. Install weed mat such as Coco Fibre or Coco Fibre Squares snugly around the plants. Finally, place a layer of coarsely shredded bark mulch to about 3 cm on top of the weed mat. This only needs to be 3-5 cm thick in this instance. If no weed mat has been installed, the mulch needs to be at least 5 cm thick.
If the bank is steep or prone to erosion, The Plant Company does not recommend spraying out weeds as a blanket approach. Rather, use place weed mat or Coco Fibre Squares along with mulch to supress weeds.
If you need assistance, The Plant Company is here to help with our landscape design service!
Clay banks tend to be wet in winter and dry in summer. This makes the planting options very limited but there are options. The Plant Company typically uses Muehlenbeckia axillaris, Carex virgata, Carex secta, Coprosma Poor Knights, or Hedera for such soils.
The idea of doing a landscape design for a clay bank and selecting the plants that suit the environment, the outcome desired, and to have it in keeping with the architecture can be quite daunting. If you need assitance, we are here to help with our Landscape Design service.
Planting an unsightly bank or using plants to stabilise a slope is what we at The Plant Company are great at advising on. We use our specialist plant knowledge and couple that with your goals to come up with amazing results for our customers. We pride ourselves on growing and sourcing the best plants for our customers. Strict quality standards mean that only the best plants will ever be dispatched. We have a wide variety of New Zealand grown plants that absolutely thrive in New Zealand’s climate. Each plant is packed with extreme care, ensuring it arrives to you in the same condition it was in at its nursery. Our impressive google ranking is testament to how well we perform so you can shop with confidence from the best in the industry.
We’re passionate about plants, birds, and the environment, and our team is committed to helping you make your dream garden a reality. Our easy-to-use plant finder tool narrows down your options and can pair you with the perfect plant – simply filter your search according to garden style, usage, flower colour, flowering season, location, fragrance, natives, coastal conditions, and seasonality. If you’re not sure where to start or what exactly it is that you’re looking for, The Plant Company team is more than happy to help. We can talk you through your options and which plants are most suitable for your space according to your preferences and needs. Once you’ve found the perfect plants, we’ll get your order to you as quickly as possible. Small plants are packed into secure cardboard boxes and are delivered by New Zealand’s most trusted courier services. Larger plants are transported using specialized plant carriers, and we offer free shipping on all orders over $150.
Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.
Join our community of happy customers.