Anyone who has had a slope in their Needham and Wellesley, MA areas yard knows that it can be a challenge in more ways than one. Do you leave it alone and risk erosion? Could landscaping updates or a retaining wall make a difference? Whether you choose a retaining wall or specialty landscaping can depend on several factors.
Related: ENHANCE YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE WITH A COMPLEMENTARY WALKWAY AND RETAINING WALL IN THE NEEDHAM, MA AREA
Landscape Answers to a Slope
Depending on the slope steepness, you can have a landscape company plant ornamental grasses on the slope to slow erosion and introduce movement into the outdoor space. These grasses offer a variety of sizes and colors to make your slope look beautiful in the summer and fall months.
Another idea for a slope can be to use groundcovers that grow quickly to fill in the slope with green leaves and tiny flowers. Ivy and vinca are some groundcovers that are sturdy and return year after year to make your slope attractive and less erosion-prone.
Depending on the rest of the landscape, you might love the look of oversized rocks interspersed with trailing vines and flowers. If the slope is in the shade for much of the day, you can add ferns and other shade-loving plants for a vibrant outdoor space.
Evergreen trees and low-growing shrubs can provide color and texture year-round to a sloped area. With their cones and textural bark, evergreens are a pleasing addition.
Retaining Wall Answers to a Slope
When you need a permanent solution to a slope in the yard due to strong erosion and the debris it leaves behind, a stone retaining wall can be the right choice. Your stone wall can be rustic with uneven edges that make the wall look interesting or smoother to deliver a more polished appearance.
A landscape company can help you select the type of stone or masonry block that works well with your home and landscape style for a seamless addition of a retaining wall.
One of the primary advantages of a retaining wall is the built-in drainage that can divert the stormwater elsewhere. While you won’t see the water moving away from the property, it can pour out into the street where the storm drain can collect the water and carry it away from your landscape.
A Single Wall or Tiered Wall
A retaining wall can be a single stone wall that holds back the earth in the slope, giving you more space to establish the landscape you want. When the slope is quite steep, many landscape professionals recommend a tiered retaining wall with stone steps for access to the top of the slope.
A tiered retaining wall can be a refreshing addition to your landscape with its defined levels that increase the beauty and delineate unique planting spaces. A landscape professional might direct you to consider ornamental trees that don’t grow huge at the top level, accented by ornamental grasses in the center. The lowest level could feature rows of perennial and annual flowers so you can enjoy colorful floral beauty at eye level in the growing season.