10 Beautiful and Hardy Plants for Your Berms

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If you have a hilly yard, one way to add depth, texture, and interest is by creating berms. Berms are simply raised mounds of soil, ideal for establishing a variety of plants that require good drainage. However, choosing the right plants can be tricky, especially if you want them to thrive in different weather and environmental conditions. Worry not, for we have compiled a list of the best plants for berms, ranging from flowers to shrubs and groundcovers.

What are Berms?

Berms are commonly described as a man-made slope or raised area of land. They are built up by piling soil into a mound or hill-like shape, often designed for aesthetic reasons such as creating a more varied landscape, reducing soil erosion, tackling drainage issues, or adding an extra element of interest to a garden. Berms can vary in size, complexity and purpose, but their versatility makes them an excellent backdrop for various plant species.

Why Use Plants for Berms?

Adding plants to your berm not only enhances the visual appeal but also provides multiple benefits. They stabilize the soil on the berm preventing it from eroding thereby making the landscape more sustainable. Additionally, plants improve the soil structure by removing pollutants, improving infiltration rates and preventing nutrient run-off. They also attract pollinators which contribute to a healthy ecosystem.

Types of Plants to Choose from

The following plants are perfect for berms, suited to different aspects, soil types as they are easy to grow and maintain while providing year-round attraction, and color interest.

Beautiful and Hardy Perennial Flowers

1. Coneflowers

Coneflowers are excellent choices for sunny berms, with their disc-shaped blooms and spiky centers attracting bees and butterflies. They are drought tolerant, low maintenance, and come in a range of colors from white, purple to deep pink depending on the variety. Echinacea, the Latin name of coneflowers, has a long history in traditional medicine, often used to treat infections, inflammation, and boost immunity.

2. Black-eyed Susan

Black-eyed Susans are resilient, vibrant flowers that bloom in late summer, well into fall. They adapt well to different soil types and light conditions, forming clumps of golden-yellow petals around a dark center. Their upright stems make them suitable for use in rock gardens, borders, and naturalized meadows.

3. Daylilies

Daylilies are some of the most versatile and attractive perennials, ideally suited for sloped terrain, as their tubular-shaped, trumpet-like blooms add variety to the berm's form while stabilizing the soil. With over 60,000 registered cultivars to choose from, you'll find daylilies in a rainbow of shades—yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, and bi-colors.

Low Maintenance Shrubs

4. Juniper

Junipers are some of the toughest and most adaptable shrubs, capable of surviving harsh conditions such as heat, wind, and drought. Erosion-prone slopes benefit from these evergreen shrubs as they have fibrous roots that grip the soil, minimizing runoff, and providing dense ground cover. They also offer a dense privacy screen creating an enclosure that anchors the higher parts of the berm.

5. Boxwood

Boxwoods are prized for their evergreen foliage and versatility in hedges, topiaries, and garden borders. These small, compact shrubs are perfect for sunny areas, though they prefer well-drained soil. Some boxwoods varieties have a high salt tolerance, making them useful in coastal regions; others like winter-hardy Japanese boxwood 'Winter Gem' keep their green color even in colder months.

Groundcovers for Erosion Control

6. Creeping Phlox

Creeping Phlox is an excellent choice for erosion-prone areas and steep banks throughout the garden. This mat-forming herbaceous plant has masses of delicate, star-shaped blooms that carpet the berm with a vibrant display of pink, blue, white, or lavender shades. As creeping phlox spreads slowly across the ground, it forms a dense mat of leaves and roots stabilizing the soil.

7. Sedum

Sedums are a low-maintenance groundcover that does well on sunny berms where the soil tends to dry rapidly. They form spreading mats of attractive foliage and delicate blooms in summer when the berm needs all the color it can get. They come in many shapes and sizes with flower-heads ranging from daisy-like to star-shaped, while foliage color may be green, gold, silver, or reddish.

8. Ajuga

Ajuga, also known as bugleweed, is a flowering groundcover noted for its sturdy stems and thick leaves that hug the ground, blanketing it in shades of bronze, purple or green. During May and June, the ground covers turn into eye-catching inflorescences studded with blue or purple blossoms, which morph into attractive seed capsules in late summer. Ajuga thrives in sun or partial shade.

Berms are a versatile landscape design feature that offers numerous benefits such as water conservation, erosion control, and added dimension to a flat yard. Choosing hardy and beautiful plants will make the experience more rewarding. As there is no one-size-fits-all approach to planting berms, try mixing and matching the above plant lists to suit your landscape well.

FAQ

How do I create a berm in my yard?

To create a berm:

1. Identify the spot where you wish to create the berm.
2. Remove any grass, weeds, and debris.
3. Decide how much dirt (soil) you need to create the berm.
4. Add layers of soil, compressing each layer firmly down to form the mound.

What soil should I use in my berm?

Loam soil, a mix of sand, silt, and clay is suitable for building a berm. It is aerated, porous, and drains water easily, making it ideal for plants. You can mix organic matter like compost, peat moss or grass clippings into the soil for added fertilization.

How often should I water my plants on a berm?

Most established plants on berms demand infrequent watering, usually once or twice a week. This, of course, depends on the climate, soil type, and location of the berm. Mulching will help retain moisture in the soil and minimize evaporation.

Can I add new plants to an existing berm?

Yes, you can add new plants to an existing berm if it still has room to accommodate them. Ensure that the new plants are compatible with the soil and light conditions of the berm. Dig out the hole, position the plant, then backfill with soil, pack tightly around the roots and water thoroughly.

How do I prevent erosion on my berm?

Erosion on the berm can be prevented by incorporating plants with extensive root systems that bind the soil together, reduce runoff, and prevent soil erosion. Mulching the newly planted berm immediately will protect the soil from weed growth, stabilize the temperature of the soil, enhance the appearance of the berm, and limit soil erosion.

What are some other landscaping ideas for my hilde garden?

Different landscaping ideas that could work for your hilde garden include installing terraced beds, using retaining walls, or just letting the natural contours determine bed shape. You might also consider creating winding paths that run across the eddies of the hill and using plants to frame and highlight each new area.

Do I need to prune my shrubs on the berm?

Pruning is necessary when maintaining shrubs to keep them within shape, size, and encourage flowering. The best time to prune is before new growth appears. Try to remove diseased or damaged stems first, then cut back last year's stem to leave two or three bud nodes. Pruning encourages healthy regrowth and improves air circulation.

Can I change the plants on my berm seasonally?

Yes, you can change the plants on your berm seasonally, depending on what you would like to showcase - spring bulbs, summer annuals, fall foliage, or winter berries. Changing the plants adds a new level of interest to the berm and keeps the dynamics fresh.

What types of mulch should I use on my berm?

Organic mulches, composed of wood chips, bark, compost or leaf mold break down, enriches the soil and supplies nutrients for plants. Inorganic mulches such as gravel, stones, or sand tend to stay put while retaining moisture levels, protecting plants from exposure to harsh environmental elements.

Are there any pests or diseases that affect plants on berms?

Standard garden problems such as root rot, fungal infection, and insect attack can occur anywhere, and berms are no exception. Regular observation of plants and prompt action in case of pest problems, disease, or insect infestations can nip a problem in the bud before it gets severe. Proper selection of the right plants resistant to common garden pests can minimize these issues’ occurrences.