How Retaining Walls Can Make a Steep Lawn More Usable

A sloped yard can limit your landscaping options and prove difficult to work with, but there are several ways to flatten or otherwise improve a steep lawn. The most popular solutions include creating a series of terraces, building retaining walls, and planting slope-inclined groundcovers or grasses.

Here's a look at each option to help you decide which might work best for your home:

Terracing

If your yard has a moderate rise over a long distance (say, perhaps, a rise of 2.5 feet over a stretch of 100 feet), you can use terraces to create a series of level garden beds. To build terraces with character, check with local salvage organizations for reclaimed materials. Railroad ties, boulders, wall kits and many other materials work for creating terraces (although you should avoid using railroad ties near edible plants).

Retaining Walls

Steep slopes and long expanses may require retaining walls to flatten them out. The main difference between a retaining wall and a terrace is height; professionals can create a retaining wall design for you if your wall will stand more than 10 feet tall. However, do-it-yourselfers can generally handle up to four feet in height.

Installing a retaining wall can involve hiring a contractor, or you can put together your own interlocking wall kit. If you choose the do-it-yourself route, follow these construction precautions to ensure the final wall is level and impervious to frost heave and other moisture threats:

1. Spend extra time on the first course. The first step is to dig a supporting trench. The higher the wall, the deeper the trench must be. For example, a four-foot wall will require a two-foot-deep trench.

After you lay in the first course, ensure your wall will not buckle or wave by making sure it's level from nearly all angles: front to back, top to bottom, and side to side. Once the first course is in, you can stack up the rest of the wall like LEGOs.

2. Allow for Drainage. You'll need to create a path for water to run away from your wall without seeping through the stones. You can place gravel or other drainage aggregate behind your wall to permit proper draining. Walls over three feet high should also include perforated drainpipes or toe drains along the first aboveground course of bricks. Add landscaping fabric between the wall and the fill-in soil to prevent muddy water from seeping through the face of your retaining wall.

Ground Covers and Grasses

Gentler slopes can be stabilized with plants that have evolved to thrive on inclines. For shallower inclines, clumping plants such as ornamental grasses are a good choice, as they have fibrous roots that help hold soil in place.

Steeper slopes will require different plants, such as ivies and honeysuckle. If possible, leave some turf around the new plantings to help hold them in place until they are established.

With a little extra planning, your retaining wall, terrace or groundcover will be in place in no time, and you'll finally be able to use your yard as you wish.

~Colleen Welch, 2010

Article Source: http://www.diyarticlelibrary.com

Looking for more information about how to build a retaining wall? Visit the Rick's Fencing website to view several landscaping options and retaining wall designs for Oregon homes and businesses.

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