Terracing can definitely be effective, but honestly, I've seen landscaping fabric work pretty well on slopes if it's installed correctly. The key is anchoring it securely and layering mulch or gravel thick enough to prevent runoff. I've had clients who've successfully used juniper or creeping phlox over fabric—once established, their roots help stabilize everything. Of course, every slope has its quirks, so sometimes trial and error is unavoidable...but gravity doesn't always have to win.
"I've had clients who've successfully used juniper or creeping phlox over fabric—once established, their roots help stabilize everything."
Interesting you mention creeping phlox—I was actually thinking about trying that out myself. My slope isn't huge, but it's steep enough to be annoying every time it rains. Landscaping fabric sounds doable, but honestly, I'm a bit skeptical about mulch staying put during heavy storms. Gravel seems sturdier, but maybe not as cozy-looking? I guess it depends on the vibe you're going for. Did you find that the plants took long to establish themselves enough to hold things down? I'd hate to put in all that effort and still watch half my yard slide into the neighbor's driveway...
I went with creeping phlox on a similar slope—took about two seasons to really anchor things down. Mulch washed out constantly, gravel stayed put but felt kinda stark. Phlox strikes a nice balance, plus bees love it...neighbors haven't complained yet about runaway yards!
"Mulch washed out constantly, gravel stayed put but felt kinda stark."
Totally relate to this! My slope was a nightmare at first...mulch ended up everywhere except where it was supposed to be. Eventually, I tried creeping thyme—similar idea to your phlox—and after a couple seasons it filled in nicely. Smells amazing when you walk by and the bees are all over it. Plus, it's budget-friendly since it spreads easily from just a few plants. Glad you found something that works too.
Had a similar issue with mulch washing away on a client's hillside project. We ended up using juniper groundcover—took a bit longer to establish, but it's held up nicely. Thyme sounds interesting though, might suggest it next time.
