What is a good ground cover for me?

Question

We have a hillside that is 4' high and almost straight up, so steep that we can barely get the mower up it. It's in the sun, and we're in Zone 5. What ground covers would be good to plant that would just take over the whole hillside?

Answer 1

Ivy is good as previously suggested.I would also suggest vinca ( the vine) It covers well, and you get the blue spring flowers that look like the upright annual plant by the same name.It is also available in a variegated variety for year around interest. Liriope, also called monkey grass, is another option that will do well, and give you seasonal flowers.Mondo grass,sometimes called dwarf monkey grass is another option.You get the seasonal flowers, and also berry like seed after-wards in a unusual,very beautiful shade of blue.The low spreading junipers such as Shore,Blue rug, and Andorra  work well.Andorra gets a purple coloration to the needles in the winter. I have used all these with very good success on steep hills.They add beauty where you can't mow, and once well established prevent erosion.I plant the vines and grasses every 12" and the Junipers a minimum of 4' for faster coverage, and ideally 6'. Plant your first row, then plant the following rows centered between the plants of the first row.This pattern breaks the flow of water,helping with erosion control until the plants mature.

Answer 2

Ivy, iceplant, etc.

Answer 3

Crown vetch is a plant that some highway departments plant in places that are unmowable.  It can be invasive.