Why some plants won’t grow under Black Walnut Trees.
Ideas for replacing a walnut tree with plants that are resistant to Juglone toxicity.
If you’ve ever removed a Black Walnut tree from your yard and have found that very few plants will grow in its place or the ones that do grow grow very poorly, the problem is generally due to a chemical that Walnut trees produce called Juglone.
Even if you’ve removed the tree completely and it has been gone for years, you may still find that plants still have a hard time growing. Some folks find than even if they replace the top soil several inches deep, the new plants still show signs of Juglone toxicity. The problem here is that until any remaining roots have completely decomposed, there will still be traces of the chemical in the soil.
The solution to getting plants to grow in the effected bare area in your yard may be to use plants that are resistant to Juglone toxicity. Many annuals will do well as will these in the following list.
Juglone Resistant Plants
The following perennials, shrubs, and bulbs are generally resistant to Juglone toxicity.
Shrubs
Rose Of Sharon Hibiscus
Japanese Maple
Spirea
Bulbe
Crocus
Tulips
Daffodil
Perennials
Astilbe
Columbine
Coral Bells
Daylily
Spiderwort
Yarrow
If you have Black Walnut trees or plan to plant them in your landscaping, keep in mind that roots will generally go to or slightly past the drip zone of the trees. You shouldn’t plan to have any gardens, lawn, or landscaping plants in the area. Root barriers like driveways or sidewalks may help as separators as long as leaves, nuts, and other tree debris aren’t allowed to settle in desirable growing areas.
Landscaping ideas for steep slopes and hillsides must consider erosion control as well as creating a beautiful appealing design
The methods of landscaping steep slopes and hillsides must simply address creative ways to hold the property in place. And while designs may vary depending on location, materials, and other circumstances, the basics are pretty much the same for most. Some basic methods will hold or simply cover the soil and others will be more elaborate and dependent on other principles.
For instance, if deep rooted ground cover plants are used without any retaining walls or support, the method of watering will need to be adjusted much different than that of flat or terraced ground. So the survival of ground cover plants and lawns on hills and steep grades will also require different considerations for proper watering.
Erosion Control On A Steep Grade, Slope, Or Hill
One of the most common methods of erosion control on steep slopes and hillside landscapes is in terracing with either stone or concrete block retaining walls. A common practice in farming and landscaping for thousands of years, terracing levels out the steep ground by cut and fill methods of transferring the soil and holding it in place with hardscapes.
Retaining Wall Ideas
Since retaining walls are some of the most common methods of terracing steep hillsides, we’ll look at this directory of ideas first. As you’ll see, most of these walls are made of pre fab concrete blocks that are generally available at home centers and garden outlets. And as well as that directory, see using retaining walls to terrace sloped hillsides for a list of videos with design ideas using concrete retaining wall blocks.
Rock Garden Walls
While the pre-fab concrete blocks are the preferred choice of most home owners and do it yourselfers, there are those who prefer to create walls out of natural stone and rocks. And while building rock walls is generally a job best left for a professional, it’s not entirely out of reach for the real hands on do it yourself type. This directory shows a lot of good examples as well as how to plans and pictures.
Pictures For Ideas
Pictures Directory of Hillside Landscaping Ideas
This directory of links shows some good landscaping ideas for planting steep slopes as well as different methods and examples design for hillsides.
Pictures Of Landscaping Steep Slopes
While this directory is mostly front yards, there are a lot of unique applications and situations that will help inspire something for your own problem areas.
Watering On A Slope Or Hill
How To Water Lawns And Plants On A Steep Grade Or Hill
As I said earlier, some elements and methods used for landscaping steep slopes will be dependent on other elements to function properly. A hillside covered with deep rooted lawn turf will most usually keep the landscaping in place. However, if the proper watering methods aren’t used to promote deep saturation, the water will run off and the lawn will die.
Drip Systems For Slopes And Hillsides
One of my favorite sites for sprinkler system and irrigation information. Whether you’re using retaining walls to level out the ground or planting your plants directly on the slope, a drip system is usually the best solution for pinpointing water directly on the plants for deep saturation and very little runoff.
Landscaping On A Grade With Steps And Stairs
Stairs And Steps For Landscaping Steep Slopes
While the majority of elements discussed here focus on the erosion control and planting of hills and sharp grades, there are also other elements that may need consideration. In some instances, access may be necessary up and down the side of the lot and so of course there will be a need for stairs or steps. This directory has a lot of great ideas and pictures of stairs and steps that can be used in landscaping and garden.
For the most part, this should give you a good place to start if you’re challenged with landscaping a steep slope or yard on a hill. Of course, these are just the basics and designs for this kind of landscaping often rely on and use decks and patios to terrace and take up space. And if budget, space, enthusiasm, and creativity are there, a sloped or hillside yard is no reason to settle for anything less than a first class landscape design.
Pictures of landscaping ideas for front yard design
Our landscaping ideas and pictures directories are some of the largest on our site. Next to backyards, front yard pictures is one of the most visited directories. And while this has been very helpful to a lot of folks to get ideas for their own front yards, there are also several other directories of design details and methods that are very helpful but often missed.
Besides all the front yard ideas, plans, and landscape design examples in the directory, there are also several directories of specific details such as planting ideas, sidewalks, and driveways that aren’t detailed in these categories. More than simply looking at pictures of front yards as a whole, there are often a lot of questions regarding the details of each design such as walkways, driveway ideas, etc. So we need to make those easy to find as well.
Front Yard Landscaping Ideas Our big list of pictures and designs. This is where most everything is. Hundreds of ideas and pictures of front yards to look at.
Entryway Ideas
The entrance and entryway leading into a home is often made a focal point and one of the most visible elements in the front yard landscape.
Pictures Of Entryways
While this directory is mostly pictures of garden entries and arches, there are quite a few that will work well in many other design styles.
Driveway Design Ideas
Besides providing access, parking is a main issue and consideration for your design.
Walkways, Sidewalks, And Paths
While most of the pictures in this directory are applied to gardens, many of them will work well in most landscapes including front yards.
For the most part, these are the most common details and specific projects that may be needed to create your design. And while you may be able to skim through these pictures and put a beautiful design together, you still might want to take a look at principles of front yard landscape design for structural principles that you may not have even considered.
A Few More Thoughts For Landscaping Front Yards
For large areas with possibly too much lawn, try placing an island planting bed or two in the area. It will cut down on the amount of lawn used, take up some space, and add some unique shape to the lawn.
All Season Interest and Color – Use plants with different bloom times within a framework of evergreen or semi-evergreen shrubs and plants. Do a little research. There are many plants that do well in extreme climates and even bloom in the Winter. This will help create curb appeal and interest in the front yard all year long.
Landscape lighting is often an overlooked afterthought that should be used in most landscaping. Besides the safety factor they create, it also creates a sense of elegance and invitation.
While this list does not cover every individual need or aspect of creating front yard landscaping ideas , it does take a lot of the most common and basic design needs and details into consideration. If not in this list, just spend a little time on the site and you’re sure to find all the right information that you need.
The methods of landscaping steep slopes and hillsides must simply address creative ways to hold the property in place. And while designs may vary depending on location, materials, and other circumstances, the basics are pretty much the same for most. Some basic methods will hold or simply cover the soil and others will be more elaborate and dependent on other principles. 
