2 3/4 acres steep north slope what to plant?

[whit]

I'm looking at 3 acres, 1/4 acre flat deep and rich bottom land and the rest north slope. It has good grass and no trees. The slope is too steep for plowing. Cattle walking on it causes erosion. I'm told that a cow fell and tumbled to the bottom three years ago. If I buy it I would plant the slope back to trees.

This land is on the Arkansas / Missouri line and has a really low price.

My guestion is what would be best to plant on that north slope? Fruit and nut trees, blueberry bushes and what else?

[big rockpile]

Too Bad it don't have Trees I could think of all kinds of things.

big rockpile

[TurnerHill]

Here (New Hampshire), it would be red pine.

[||Downhome||]

Grapes and berries , or you could terrace it ?

[CherieOH]

Trees at the top might shade everything below it, unless you plant dwarf fruit trees. I'd try to terrace it and plant berry bushes.

[ronbre]

exactamundo !! I was going to say fruit trees, grapes and berries..but you beat me to it.

put your peach, plum and cherry near the top..and if there is any rubble put it around them..put the apples down a bit and then the cherries a bit farther down..if you put in grapes..put them in the sunniest spot ..maybe on a fenceline? put the berries maybe on the other side or near the bottom, they'll take a little extra shade.

slopes are so wonderful for fruit..but does sound like a little trouble picking the fruit if it is that steep..so work a little later on some terracing on the downslope side of the trees to give you a flatter area to stand..

get the trees in first..and then when you can..lay some ties or some landscape timbers about 5 to 10 feet down slope..with stakes to hold them in..and backfill them a bit at a time with rubble, compost, etc..and use those beds for other fruits or vegetables..that will be done when you are ready to walk there to harvest the fruits..maybe you could even put in perennials, including perennial fruits and vegetables like rhubarb, herbs, horseradish, aspragus, jerusalem artichokes, etc.

[angelsprite]

I vote for blueberries!

[marvella]

Originally Posted by whit

I'm looking at 3 acres, 1/4 acre flat deep and rich bottom land and the rest north slope. It has good grass and no trees. The slope is too steep for plowing. Cattle walking on it causes erosion. I'm told that a cow fell and tumbled to the bottom three years ago. If I buy it I would plant the slope back to trees.

This land is on the Arkansas / Missouri line and has a really low price.

My guestion is what would be best to plant on that north slope? Fruit and nut trees, blueberry bushes and what else?

in my part of the country fruit trees do well on a north facing slope. some in NC raise xmas trees.

[byexample]

I also think looking into terracing is a good idea. Gives you more usable space, cuts down on erosion, and will help your land retain more moisture for whatever you decide to grow there.

If you terrace you could grow just about anything there. A north facing slope works real nice for summer growing... especially plants that want lots of sun light.

Be well!

[whit]

I have bought this 3 acres. Paperwork should be finished in a couple days. Wonderful neighbors( Jerry, Barbara and two small boys ) on the north. I have actually known them for awhile (July 2007). No other houses for more than a half mile.

[Rocky Fields]

Hey.

Grape roots can go down 40 feet, so I think terraced grapes would be ideal if the slope faces full sun.

Send me a case of Chateau Whit when you're done;-)

RF

[Aohtee]

Does the northern part of your property slope down and away from the 1/4 acre or does the northern part slope down into the 1/4 acre?

Try using heather or scotch broom for soil conservation. They have extensive root systems good for this. Plants are expensive, seed is available on line.

Someone on these boards had a thread about Sepp Holzer. He used rock to terrace his alpine slopes. The rocks held the soil, held the heat and created a mini-climate the plants liked.

If it's a true north slope, I would observe the weather and sun patterns before planting anything expensive like fruits and berries.

[highlands]

Do a soil test. Apples, blueberries, raspberries are all possibilities. Mint grows great in such a situation. Diversity.

[whit]

Quote;

Does the northern part of your property slope down and away from the 1/4 acre or does the northern part slope down into the 1/4 acre?

Try using heather or scotch broom for soil conservation. They have extensive root systems good for this. Plants are expensive, seed is available on line.

Someone on these boards had a thread about Sepp Holzer. He used rock to terrace his alpine slopes. The rocks held the soil, held the heat and created a mini-climate the plants liked.

If it's a true north slope, I would observe the weather and sun patterns before planting anything expensive like fruits and berries.[/QUOTE]



Actualy I have a two hump hill. I have a spring on the western hump. The space between the humps is dry except when it rains. The neighbor's 8 yr. old says it looke like a big butt. My 1/4 acre flat ground is at the bottom.

[CherieOH]

The neighbor's 8 yr. old says it looke like a big butt.

Well you should have a lot of fun naming the place then.

Congrats on your new homestead. Enjoy it.

[ronbre]

for more info on sepp holtzer see www.permies.com or google sepp holtzer

[RonM]

Plant crkown vetch

[RonM]

Plant crown vetch

[whit]

Three men and equipment are out there right now planting the pole for electricity.

[Harry Chickpea]

If you can grow your own electricity that would be great!