Question
We bought a small old house on Puget Sound with a cliff and are looking for trees or bushes/plants that have deep roots to help hold the bank from sliding into the bay. It has many streams about 12' under the soil with layers of clay. What would you suggest planting?

Answer
Hi Crissy

I would imagine that Puget sound is the one just off of Washington, if that's the case I guess that it receives quite cold winters in that area. Therefore, I would suggest using a classic yet tough Mediterranean plant named Spartium junceum

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Broom

It grows almost anywhere, holds the soil together wonderfully and even enriches the soil with Nitrogen as it is a leguminous plant (like clover)

Plant it together with Atriplex humilis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atriplex

This another great Mediterranean plant that resists salt spray from the sea, provides wonderful Med-grey foliage and again holds the soil together well.

Good luck and I hope that was useful Crissy

Regards

Jonathan Radford, www.ecologicagardens.com