Question
I have a rental property that has a steep hillside and i need a cheap and effective maintenece free cover.  Some have told me ivy. It is fall and can i plant it now.  How do I keep weeds away while growing?  I was gonna lay plastic but would rip while trying to plant ivy because so steep. Is ivy fastest cover? Can I transplant ivy from my home?  Do I need good roots or can I use clippings? Thanks in advance.

Answer
Paul,
The best way to do a steep hillside is to remove or kill off all existing vegetation,weeds,grass,etc until it is completely brown.The best way to do this is to get a concentrated total vegetation killer and mix it strong in a good large sprayer.Spray the entire area.Wait one week and if you still see some green vegetation,spray again.Saturate it well. After the second application cover the entire slope with black plastic.Get it in bulk,it is much cheaper as it covers a bigger area.Get the widest and longest roll you can find.I buy mine at a farmers co-op store.Then buy some U shaped metal garden staples.Again buy in bulk.They have these at Lowes or Home Depot in large bags. These will hold down the black plastic securely.Wait several weeks and then pull back the plastic to see if everything is completely dead.Take up the plastic. Lay some topsoil down on the area.You can get this hauled in by a small truckload for very little expense. Rake out the clods and try to level it as best you can.
It is best to use long strands of rooted ivy that has been freshly pulled up.You probably know someone with plenty to spare.Make sure you soak them in a bucket while gathering it. Then lay strands down on top of the soil and use some left over garden staples that you pulled up from the plastic to secure the ivy strands roots so that they contact the soil. Keep a water hose nearby so that you can keep the ivy moist while the roots take hold.As soon as the ivy starts to root,that's it.It should take off and start growing rapidly.Really the best time to do this is spring since that is when plants grow fastest.But you can do it anytime. The preperation is really more time consuming than the actual planting.But after you have a good stand of ivy over the slope it won't take long for you to have a thick cover and a great anti erosion method.After you have a good cover,just occasionally check for weeds until it is thick enough to block them,which it will eventually.It is practically maintenance free after that.Hope this is helpful.It is the least expensive method for a good ground cover.