Advice and suggestions for fixing soil and revegetating side of new driveway

[km4oyd]

Hello.

Construction of my driveway was finished in early October. Beforehand the entire area was forest and now I want to revegetate the slope on the side of the driveway to help prevent erosion and so it looks better and not just a bunch of dirt and rocks. I am looking for suggestions and ideas that I can do to accomplish these goals. Especially ones that I can by myself or with my dad's help if need be.

Before I posted this, I though that I really wanted to get some black walnuts started because I love the bark. I ended up collecting some nuts from a tree maybe about 2000ft away and cold stratifying them, but I don't think the soil is ready for them and so would need to fix that. But I'm also having my doubts about being able to grow black walnut here.

I'm not interested in managing any part of my forest for making money in the future. My goals for my forest is making it look nice and interesting, making it a nice place for wildlife of all kind, and being able to grow certain foods like tree nuts and berries.

Some information about the slope and driveway:

• My elevation is about 2500ft
• The slope faces a South-West direction
• My location is in western North Carolina; Haywood County; bordering the Pisgah National Forest
• The length of the slope along the side of the road is about 300ft

Here are some pictures:



The above picture is the bottom of the driveway, standing over a culvert for a mountain spring.  















If you can see the wooden post(s) at the top of the slope on the right side of the picture, that is the beginning of the driveway.

Information about soil before construction started:
Not sure how much this information helps when making these kind of decisions. I couldn't find a way to attach TXT documents under the "Attach documents and other options" but I thought I would share information about the soil according to the USDA's Websoil Survey. Apologies for the grotesque formatting.

Soco-Stecoah complex, 50-95 percent slopes

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SoF—Soco-Stecoah complex, 50 to 95 percent slopes
       Map Unit Setting
               National map unit symbol: 2vx44
               Elevation: 1,400 to 5,560 feet
               Mean annual precipitation: 43 to 79 inches
               Mean annual air temperature: 46 to 57 degrees F
               Frost-free period: 131 to 148 days
               Farmland classification: Not prime farmland
       
       Map Unit Composition
               Soco and similar soils: 45 percent
               Stecoah and similar soils: 35 percent
               Minor components: 20 percent
               Estimates are based on observations, descriptions, and transects of the mapunit.

       Description of Soco
               Setting
               Landform: Mountain slopes
               Landform position (two-dimensional): Backslope
               Landform position (three-dimensional): Mountainflank, side slope
               Down-slope shape: Convex
               Across-slope shape: Convex
               Parent material: Coarse-loamy residuum weathered from phyllite and/or meta sandstone that is affected by soil creep in the upper solum
       Typical profile
               Oi - 0 to 2 inches: slightly decomposed plant material
               A - 2 to 6 inches: channery fine sandy loam
               Bw - 6 to 26 inches: fine sandy loam
               BC - 26 to 34 inches: channery fine sandy loam
               C - 34 to 37 inches: channery loam
               Cr - 37 to 80 inches: bedrock
       Properties and qualities
               Slope: 50 to 95 percent
               Depth to restrictive feature: 20 to 40 inches to paralithic bedrock
               Drainage class: Well drained
               Runoff class: Medium
               Capacity of the most limiting layer to transmit water (Ksat): Moderately high (0.20 to 0.57 in/hr)
               Depth to water table: More than 80 inches
               Frequency of flooding: None
               Frequency of ponding: None
               Available water supply, 0 to 60 inches: Low (about 4.1 inches)
       Interpretive groups
               Land capability classification (irrigated): None specified
               Land capability classification (nonirrigated): 7e
               Hydrologic Soil Group: B
               Ecological site: F130BY003WV - Mesic Residuum Cool Aspect
               Hydric soil rating: No
       
       Description of Stecoah
       Setting
               Landform: Mountain slopes
               Landform position (two-dimensional): Backslope
               Landform position (three-dimensional): Mountainflank, side slope
               Down-slope shape: Convex
               Across-slope shape: Linear
               Parent material: Coarse-loamy residuum weathered from phyllite and/or meta sandstone that is affected by soil creep in the upper solum
       Typical profile
               Oi - 0 to 1 inches: slightly decomposed plant material
               A - 1 to 6 inches: channery fine sandy loam
               Bw1 - 6 to 22 inches: fine sandy loam
               Bw2 - 22 to 36 inches: channery fine sandy loam
               BC - 36 to 45 inches: channery fine sandy loam
               Cr - 45 to 80 inches: bedrock
       Properties and qualities
               Slope: 50 to 95 percent
               Depth to restrictive feature: 40 to 60 inches to paralithic bedrock
               Drainage class: Well drained
               Runoff class: Medium
               Capacity of the most limiting layer to transmit water (Ksat): Moderately high (0.20 to 0.57 in/hr)
               Depth to water table: More than 80 inches
               Frequency of flooding: None
               Frequency of ponding: None
               Available water supply, 0 to 60 inches: Low (about 4.6 inches)
       
       Interpretive groups
               Land capability classification (irrigated): None specified
               Land capability classification (nonirrigated): 7e
               Hydrologic Soil Group: A
               Ecological site: F130BY003WV - Mesic Residuum Cool Aspect
               Hydric soil rating: No

       Minor Components
               Junaluska
                       Percent of map unit: 7 percent
                       Landform: Mountain slopes
                       Landform position (two-dimensional): Backslope
                       Landform position (three-dimensional): Mountainflank, side slope
                       Down-slope shape: Convex
                       Across-slope shape: Convex
                       Hydric soil rating: No
               Cheoah, stony
                       Percent of map unit: 5 percent
                       Landform: Mountain slopes
                       Landform position (two-dimensional): Backslope
                       Landform position (three-dimensional): Mountainflank, side slope
                       Down-slope shape: Linear
                       Across-slope shape: Convex
                       Hydric soil rating: No
               Santeetlah, stony
                       Percent of map unit: 4 percent
                       Landform: Drainageways on coves
                       Landform position (two-dimensional): Footslope, toeslope
                       Landform position (three-dimensional): Mountainflank, head slope, side slope
                       Down-slope shape: Linear
                       Across-slope shape: Concave
                       Hydric soil rating: No
               Spivey, very bouldery
                       Percent of map unit: 4 percent
                       Landform: Mountain slopes, coves, drainageways
                       Landform position (two-dimensional): Footslope, backslope
                       Landform position (three-dimensional): Mountainflank, head slope, side slope
                       Down-slope shape: Linear, concave
                       Across-slope shape: Concave
                       Hydric soil rating: No

Brasstown-Junaluska complex, basin, 30 to 50 percent slopes

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Haywood County Area, North Carolina
   BsE—Brasstown-Junaluska complex, basin, 30 to 50 percent slopes
       Map Unit Setting
           National map unit symbol: 2vx30
           Elevation: 1,540 to 5,190 feet
           Mean annual precipitation: 42 to 57 inches
           Mean annual air temperature: 46 to 57 degrees F
           Frost-free period: 136 to 147 days
           Farmland classification: Not prime farmland
       Map Unit Composition
           Brasstown, basin, and similar soils: 40 percent
           Junaluska, basin, and similar soils: 36 percent
           Minor components: 24 percent
           Estimates are based on observations, descriptions, and transects of the mapunit.
           
   Description of Brasstown, Basin
       Setting
           Landform: Mountain slopes, ridges
           Landform position (two-dimensional): Backslope, shoulder, summit
           Landform position (three-dimensional): Mountainflank, mountaintop, side slope, crest
           Down-slope shape: Convex, linear
           Across-slope shape: Convex
           Parent material: Fine-loamy residuum weathered from phyllite and/or meta sandstone that is affected by soil creep in the upper solum
       Typical profile
           Oi - 0 to 1 inches: slightly decomposed plant material
           A - 1 to 5 inches: channery loam
           E - 5 to 8 inches: loam
           Bt1 - 8 to 14 inches: loam
           Bt2 - 14 to 32 inches: loam
           CB - 32 to 46 inches: silt loam
           Cr - 46 to 80 inches: bedrock
       Properties and qualities
           Slope: 30 to 50 percent
           Depth to restrictive feature: 17 to 76 inches to paralithic bedrock
           Drainage class: Well drained
           Runoff class: High
           Capacity of the most limiting layer to transmit water (Ksat): Very low to high (0.00 to 1.98 in/hr)
           Depth to water table: More than 80 inches
           Frequency of flooding: None
           Frequency of ponding: None
           Available water supply, 0 to 60 inches: Moderate (about 7.0 inches)
       Interpretive groups
           Land capability classification (irrigated): None specified
           Land capability classification (nonirrigated): 6e
           Hydrologic Soil Group: B
           Ecological site: F130BY004WV - Mesic Residuum Warm Aspect
           Hydric soil rating: No

   Description of Junaluska, Basin
       Setting
           Landform: Mountain slopes, ridges
           Landform position (two-dimensional): Backslope, summit, shoulder
           Landform position (three-dimensional): Mountainflank, mountaintop, side slope, crest
           Down-slope shape: Convex, linear
           Across-slope shape: Convex
           Parent material: Fine-loamy residuum weathered from phyllite and/or meta sandstone that is affected by soil creep in the upper solum
       Typical profile
           Oi - 0 to 1 inches: slightly decomposed plant material
           A - 1 to 2 inches: channery loam
           Bt - 2 to 26 inches: loam
           BC - 26 to 29 inches: silt loam
           Cr - 29 to 80 inches: bedrock
       Properties and qualities
           Slope: 30 to 50 percent
           Depth to restrictive feature: 20 to 40 inches to paralithic bedrock
           Drainage class: Well drained
           Runoff class: Medium
           Capacity of the most limiting layer to transmit water (Ksat): Very low to high (0.00 to 1.98 in/hr)
           Depth to water table: More than 80 inches
           Frequency of flooding: None
           Frequency of ponding: None
           Available water supply, 0 to 60 inches: Low (about 4.5 inches)
       Interpretive groups
           Land capability classification (irrigated): None specified
           Land capability classification (nonirrigated): 6s
           Hydrologic Soil Group: C
           Ecological site: F130BY004WV - Mesic Residuum Warm Aspect
           Hydric soil rating: No

   Minor Components
       Soco, basin
           Percent of map unit: 9 percent
           Landform: Ridges on mountain slopes
           Landform position (two-dimensional): Backslope, shoulder
           Landform position (three-dimensional): Mountainflank, mountaintop, side slope, crest
           Down-slope shape: Convex
           Across-slope shape: Convex, linear
           Hydric soil rating: No
       Stecoah, basin
           Percent of map unit: 8 percent
           Landform: Mountain slopes, ridges
           Landform position (two-dimensional): Backslope, shoulder
           Landform position (three-dimensional): Mountainflank, mountaintop, side slope, crest
           Down-slope shape: Convex, linear
           Across-slope shape: Linear, convex
           Hydric soil rating: No
       Spivey, basin
           Percent of map unit: 4 percent
           Landform: Mountain slopes, coves, drainageways
           Landform position (two-dimensional): Footslope, backslope
           Landform position (three-dimensional): Mountainflank, head slope, side slope
           Down-slope shape: Linear, concave
           Across-slope shape: Concave
           Hydric soil rating: No
       Whiteoak, basin
           Percent of map unit: 3 percent
           Landform: Coves
           Landform position (two-dimensional): Footslope
           Landform position (three-dimensional): Mountainbase, base slope
           Down-slope shape: Linear
           Across-slope shape: Linear
           Hydric soil rating: No

[Ron Scott]

Plant native grasses for soil stabilization and wildlife. Follow the recommendations of your local Soil Survey. 

Since you are right next to the Pisgah National Forest you might want to contact their soils and wildlife specialists for their management advice and recommendations. They will know your local landscapes and ecosystems and provide you with some local professional advice.

A visit to the local Cradle of Forestry might be worthwhile if you haven't visited it already.

[Southside]

Weeping Love Grass would be a good candidate for your bare ground.  It's a warm season, bunch grass, perennial and it's used in a lot of road side, poor soil, erosion control projects.  It is a good forage for cattle and deer so the wildlife benefit would fit with your plans as well.  It will turn brown after a killing frost but being a bunch grass the grass remains there and you won't see bare ground.   

[barbender]

I would only plant grasses on the slopes of the driveway, not trees. The shade from trees keeps the driveway surface from drying out after rainn although with the slope you have that wouldn't be a huge issue. You also have more opportunities for the sun to that snow and ice off of the road if the trees aren't shading it, if it gets cold enough for snow and ice there😊

[Ianab]

I'd go with the grass suggestions, or some other low hardy ground cover sort of plants. You don't want "trees" that close to the road as they are going to grow outwards  towards the light, and soon encroach on the roadway. 

What's the scrubby undergrowth below the existing trees? Chances are that's the first thing that's going to naturally colonise the bare ground.

[Freedy201]

got the same problem:(