Thank you so much for the suggestions. You really seem to have an understanding of the problem. I haven't been able to get any advice close to yours from my local nurseries!
Your observation of the azalea is accurate & its days are numbered.
I am really impressed with this site and your design advice.
Plants for Steep Slopes by: Susan
Hi Helen,
Plant in groups and stagger the plants as you would find them in nature.
In addition, you might consider the following:
Looking at your house from the street, place three Barberry up towards
your porch at the left, so they go across the porch, partly. Starting at
the left, stagger them.
As you walk up the walk from the street, right
past the corner planting, do the same thing...three Barberry staggered.
I can't quite see the exact space, size-wise, so you might need more
than three.
Along the slope, plant a mass of Procumbens Juniper. They
get to be a maximum 18" tall and Juniper look nice on a slope. The color
and texture will look great with the Barberry.
Now all that is left is
the area along the walk between the two groups of Barberry. You can
place Fountain Grass here. Make sure you get the tall variety. It will
get to be about two feet or more wide and about 15" to 18" tall. The
shorter ones look skimpy in my opinion.
You might also consider Nepeta
'Walkers Low' in place (or with) the grasses. It has a gray green
foliage color and blooms with pale purple flowers throughout the season.
It will get to be about 30" wide and about 12" tall at the most and it
is very hardy. This also is a perennial.
You can leave the perennial
foliage throughout the winter and cut it back in the spring so that the
bed does not look bare. I feel you will have enough evergreens and this
would be fine.
I hope this was helpful. Oh, one more thing. I think I see an Azalea
along your foundation. Perhaps you could transplant it elsewhere, and
add another Barberry in its place so all looks unified.
