Quick answer: The cheapest way to landscape a steep hillside is to stop mowing it and let plants hold the soil. Replace lawn with low-maintenance groundcovers planted as small plugs, pin a biodegradable erosion blanket over bare soil, mulch with free arborist wood chips, and use rocks or logs you already have to make simple terraces. Save expensive retaining walls for the steepest spots, and get professional advice for walls over about 3–4 ft.
Step 1: Measure How Steep the Slope Is
Lay a straight 8 ft board on the slope, level it with a carpenter’s level, and measure the gap from the board’s low end down to the ground. Divide that rise by 8 and multiply by 100 for the slope percent. Then pick ideas from the matching section below.
Budget Hillside Ideas Ranked by Cost
| Idea | Cost | Best slope | Upkeep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free arborist wood chip mulch | $ (often free) | Up to about 3:1 | Top up yearly |
| Groundcover plugs or divisions | $ | Up to about 2:1 | Weed for the first 1–2 years |
| Native meadow or wildflower seed | $ | Up to about 3:1 | Mow or cut once a year |
| Erosion control blanket (jute or coir) | $–$$ | 2:1 and steeper | None; it rots away as plants fill in |
| Log or rock terraces from site materials | $ | 3:1 to 2:1 | Check after heavy rain |
| Rock garden with drought-tolerant plants | $–$$ | Sunny, well-drained slopes | Low |
| Shrub mass planting | $$ | Up to about 2:1 | Low once established |
| Timber or block retaining wall (low) | $$$ | Steep spots | Low |
| Engineered retaining wall | $$$$ | 1:1 and steeper, tall walls | Low |
Idea 1: Replace Lawn With Groundcovers
Slopes steeper than about 3:1 are hard and unsafe to mow. Groundcovers knit the soil together with roots and never need mowing. Buy small plugs or flats instead of gallon pots, plant them in a staggered (zigzag) pattern so water cannot run straight down, and space them closer than the tag suggests on steep ground so they cover faster.
| Groundcover | Sun | Why it works on slopes |
|---|---|---|
| Creeping juniper | Full sun | Tough, evergreen, roots where branches touch soil |
| Creeping phlox | Sun | Dense mats and spring color |
| Sedum (stonecrop) | Sun | Drought-proof; spreads from cuttings for free |
| Liriope / lilyturf | Sun to shade | Clumps divide easily into more plants |
| Native sedges and ornamental grasses | Varies | Deep, fibrous roots |
| Pachysandra or ajuga | Shade | Spreads under trees where grass fails |
Free plants: divide liriope, ajuga and ornamental grasses from friends’ gardens, and root sedum cuttings straight into the slope. Check your state’s invasive plant list first; avoid English ivy and other aggressive spreaders.
Idea 2: Pin an Erosion Control Blanket
On bare soil steeper than about 2:1, rain can wash seed and mulch away before plants root. A biodegradable jute or coir blanket holds everything in place, then rots as the plants take over.
- Rake the slope smooth and remove rocks and roots.
- Seed or plant first, then roll the blanket from the top down.
- Bury the top edge in a small trench at the crest.
- Overlap strips by several inches and pin them with landscape staples about every 2–3 ft.
- Cut X-shaped slits to plant plugs through the blanket.
Check erosion control blanket prices on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Idea 3: Mulch With Free Wood Chips
Many tree services will drop off chipped wood for free because it saves them a dump fee. On slopes, shredded or chunky chips lock together and stay put better than smooth nuggets, which roll downhill. Spread 2–3 in deep, keep it a few inches away from stems, and use it only up to about 3:1; steeper slopes need a blanket underneath.
Idea 4: Build Simple Terraces From Site Materials
Break a long slope into short, flatter steps. Lay logs or rows of large rocks across the slope (on the contour), dig them partly into the soil, and backfill behind them. Each step slows runoff and gives you a level planting strip. Keep these informal terraces low, about 1–2 ft. For anything taller, use a proper wall; see our retaining wall guide and block calculator.
Idea 5: Make a Rock Garden
Sunny, rocky slopes with thin soil suit a rock garden. Set rocks one-third deep so they look natural and do not roll, then plant drought-tolerant perennials and sedums in the pockets between them. Rocks dug up on your own property cost nothing.
Idea 6: Seed a Native Meadow
On large, gentle slopes, a regional native seed mix is the cheapest way to cover ground. Sow in fall or early spring, press the seed in, cover it with straw or a blanket, and mow or cut it once a year. Expect it to look patchy the first year.
Idea 7: Plant Shrubs in Groups
Low, spreading shrubs such as dwarf junipers, fragrant sumac or spreading cotoneaster anchor deeper soil than groundcovers. Buy small sizes, plant in odd-numbered groups, and build a small soil berm on the downhill side of each plant to catch water.
Planting on a Slope: Technique That Saves Plants
- Dig a level planting pocket, using the dug soil to form a small ridge on the downhill side.
- Water slowly with a soaker hose laid across the slope rather than spraying from the top.
- Plant in fall or early spring so roots grow before summer heat.
- Start at the top and work down so you do not trample new plants.
When to Call a Professional
- The slope is steeper than 1:1 or is actively sliding or cracking.
- You need a retaining wall taller than about 3–4 ft (many towns require a permit or engineer).
- Water collects at the base or runs toward the house foundation.
- Always call 811 before digging to locate buried utility lines.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to landscape a steep hill?
Groundcover plugs planted through a biodegradable erosion blanket, mulched with free arborist wood chips.
What is the best ground cover for a steep slope?
In sun, creeping juniper, creeping phlox and sedum; in shade, pachysandra, ajuga or liriope. Native sedges and grasses work in many regions.
How do you stop erosion on a steep hill cheaply?
Keep the soil covered: plant densely, pin a jute or coir blanket over bare areas, and use logs or rocks across the slope to slow water.
Can I just let a hillside grow wild?
Partly. A native meadow mowed once a year is a low-cost option, but remove invasive weeds and keep woody growth away from structures.
Do I need a retaining wall for my slope?
Not always. Plants and terraces handle many slopes. Walls make sense where you need flat space or the slope is too steep to plant.
The Bottom Line
Measure the slope, stop mowing anything steeper than about 3:1, and cover the ground with plants, a blanket and free mulch before you think about walls. For more design ideas, see our hillside backyard landscaping ideas, and for plants that drape over terrace edges, our plants for retaining walls.
