Has Winter Weather Eroded Your Sloped Property?

Heavy rains, wind, snow and freezing weather can all spell trouble for slopes and hills on your property. Too much moisture can cause topical erosion, which can ruin landscaping efforts and even cause a mudslide. The best way to stabilize these sloped areas is with a solid retaining wall, protecting your property from further damage.

Types of Retaining Walls

The best material options for retaining walls for erosion control will be stone, brick or formed paving stones. Due to the heavy load of a hillside, you will need the weight and stability these types of materials can offer. Although wood can be used for smaller retaining walls, it does not have the strength or longevity of stone or cement.

There are two main ways to proceed when building a retaining wall for erosion control: terrace or vertical:

• Terrace. Terrace retaining walls create a stair or step pattern on the slope, using two or more retaining walls. This allows for flat areas to be created on each terrace, which can be used for planting, making excellent use of the slope.
• Vertical. If you want to retain the slope or hill, a vertical retaining wall can be placed at the bottom of the slope as a stabilizer. Stone, brick or formed pavers are best, using mortar to secure the wall for the heavy weight load.

Erecting retaining walls on a hillside is a project best handled by a professional landscaping company with experience in hardscape projects. If you’ve had hill or slope erosion this winter, call your local landscaper to discuss adding a retaining wall or terrace to your hills to prevent more erosion in the years to come.

Posted on behalf of:
Lane Landscaping
Alpharetta, GA
(770) 609-4510