posted; 06/14/06
On the left are examples of planting directly on top of the berm and the effect this has on the planting. The scheme on the right has plantings spaced out going up the side of the berm and up on to the top of the “ridge”.
Hey, for me, my money is on the right side. I just like that look more. It feels more naturalistic in the setting we have created. It’s looser, more free flowing while still giving definition to the space.
In those case where the planting is all along the ridge line the feeling is that of a shopping mall, or hiding a parking lot (or dumpster), or a sub-division. You know . . . “hey! lets build a big berm, steep sides, and throw some pines on the top to hide all these – whatevers”.
I would like to see more of this, and while we’re at it . . . please-use more than one type of plant. Let’s see some variety, some spice, some pizazz! And, oh by the way, let’s keep a monoculture from killing all of the plantings at one time.
This doesn’t even get into spacing, flow, rhythm, etc. Just hoping to get others to look at the use of the entire berm instead of just the ridge line. 
The Whispering Crane Institute 