Early Planning For Landscaping On A Slope
Landscaping on a slope will require a bit more planning and work than ordinary landscaping, in order to make sure the design works properly. Yards that have a grade of 4 percent or more can be quite daunting especially if you do not address some important maintenance issues before you begin your landscaping project.
A Few Problems When Landscaping On a Slope
Erosion is the largest problem to address when landscaping on a slope. Rain is your worst enemy as it can expose plant roots causing plant death as well as washing away topsoil. You can level up the grade of your slope in order to prevent erosion. Retaining walls that are both functional and decorative can be used to prevent erosion. Stones, railway ties, four by fours, and terracing are all feasible options; though remember to install drainage beneath the wall. You should consider staggering the wall to create terraces and display plants and remember not to make the walls themselves too high.
You will most likely need some sort of watering plan for a slope as the rainwater will not soak into the soil but run off. You need to make sure some water soaks in to the ground in order to irrigate any plants, shrubs and trees in the area.
Where you place plants is also important, as plants at the bottom of the slope will be supplied with too much water. Peat and sphagnum moss can be added to the soil to absorb water especially if you are not using terraces. These additives act like a sponge and hold rainwater. You should also add a dry creek bed or create another drainage source.
Adding fertilizer and mulch can also be a problem on a slope as the same problems associated with water also apply. Your fertilizer and mulch will end up at the bottom and those nutrients will not do their job, with all of the nutrients at the bottom of your slope. Lawn mowing can also be a problem as an overturned mower can be very dangerous; you may need to use a push mower instead of a riding mower.
A way to solve this fertilizer and mulch problem is to completely remove the grass and add ornamental grass or low-maintenance groundcover options. These types of cover will make your yard look lush and also solve many of the maintenance issues associated with landscaping on a slope. This will solve many a headache further down the road when implementing your landscaping design.
Cindy Heller is a professional writer. To learn more about landscaping on a slope, please visit backyard landscaping ideas.
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