Ideas please 😁

eleanorhughes1J7WoHXdw

Hello everyone, 
I am a newbie to gardening but absolutely loving it. But I need some help… I have a rather large bank at the back of my house and I am a little bamboozled on how I should plant it. I would be very grateful is anyone could offer some advice. I live in Northern Ireland. The bank is in the process of being covered with good quality top soil and I have a budget of around £1000. It is an exposed site that will receive full sun. Any advice or ideas would be greatly appreciated. I have attached some pictures. 

Thank you in advance 

Lizzie27

Hello Eleanor, welcome to the Forum.

That is indeed a very large space and not easy to deal with. I think I would be inclined to have it all turfed for ease of future maintenance as I think you would struggle to keep it weed free and looking good. 

eleanorhughes1J7WoHXdw

Hi Lizzie, 

thanks for the reply, you sound like my husband, any excuse to get on the lawnmower 😂😂 

I was thinking of maybe reducing the size by bringing the planting area closer to the wall and grass the top end. 

AnniD

A couple of years ago we visited Aston Pottery in Oxfordshire. They have a sloping garden planted with dahlias etc. for an amazing colourful display. Granted it's designed for colour at a certain time of year, but it may give you some ideas 
https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/comment/2093170#Comment_2093170
Scroll down to the bottom of the page for my photos. 

BenCotto

eleanorhughes1J7WoHXdw

Thanks Ben! 

eleanorhughes1J7WoHXdw

AnniD said:

A couple of years ago we visited Aston Pottery in Oxfordshire. They have a sloping garden planted with dahlias etc. for an amazing colourful display. Granted it's designed for colour at a certain time of year, but it may give you some ideas 
https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/comment/2093170#Comment_2093170
Scroll down to the bottom of the page for my photos. 

Wow! That is a beautiful display. I have screenshotted and saved.  I suppose I would need a good amount of evergreens to keep it looking good all year round? 

Thank you! 

AnniD

I'm sure that it's possible to have a year round show just as it is with a "level" garden. I'm guessing the roots of shrubs would help bind things together, but your main problem would be drainage. 
Have a look at this, see if it's if any help. 
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=834

Nanny Beach

Wow, I'm moving in!!

Balgay.Hill

I notice there are trees and shrubs farther up the hill. I would be tempted to 'borrow' them into your garden, by planting trees and shrubs at the top of your garden to merge into your view. Choosing trees and shrubs that would stay below the height of the skyline up the hill.
I hope that makes sense!

Fairygirl

Anything you choose will need a fair bit of work to get established too. I would also borrow the landscape where possible, but what else 'uses' the land beyond you? If there's livestock of any kind, you'll have to take precautions. Rabbits or deer, for example, will cause havoc with any planting. 
Cotoneaster is very useful for knitting a bank together. My sister has a friend with a similar situation and she uses that, plus things that are easy in terms of maintenance like Buddleias, Potentillas, Pyracantha, Berberis and similar tough shrubs.  Rowans, Lilac and Amelanchier for height. She's in a fairly exposed position on our west coast here, and those all do well.  You can intersperse shrubs with spring bulbs too, which will gradually spread, but it'll take a while to get a lot of coverage so weeding and mulching will be a priority. 
How wet or dry it is will also be a factor, but I'd expect you get a decent amount of rainfall, so that will make it easier in a sunny position.