Slope fix, No retaining wall

This project started with a call from the homeowner who had a dangerous slope to mow with potential for erosion issues.  Although the last few years were very busy, we were able to fit this mid-summer project in when we happened to be working nearby.

The homeowner wanted something to hold the bank stable, without a retaining wall and pollinator friendly if possible.  But not something too wild looking...

Little Bluestem to the rescue!  This hardy native grass has a nice blue-green color in summer and will spread to hold the bank in place.  It grows to about three feet tall with a fibrous root system.  A selection of native wildflowers, lower diversity for a 'tidy' appearance, will give the bees and butterflies something to enjoy as well.

For this one, we stripped the existing sod, evened out the grade across the slope, added in prairie grasses & wildflowers, mulched and also tried a new trick (similar to these products at Amazon affiliate link) to hold the mulch in place until the plants fill in.  

This new little patch of 'prairie' with Little Bluestem's fall colors of copper to crimson, and wildflower blooms will give this space year long interest to the homeowners and passing traffic on this somewhat busy intersection (which made for an interesting installation).

Before - not too bad on this end, but...

I wouldn't want to mow that either!