Small slope, should I use garden rock or Concrete blocks, or let the plants prevent erosion?

[sherelle]

Hi there, 

We just bought a ex-rental, which has a very gentle slope. It had been a rental for almost 10 years. I decided to kill off the weed infested gress and to flip the ground under to give the soil a must needed clean and love. Our soil seems to have clay under, and I've used Gypsum to break it down,  and added good top garden soil.

I'm about to get started on planting. My concern is now that I've got a blank canvas is that when I wet the soil the water runs down like a mini river. Do I need to level out our gentle slope with garden rocks or concrete blocks? As i would prefer to use the power of plants to help prevent losing water and soil erosion.

Thanks

[JacobZ]

Hi @sherelle,

Thank you for your question about managing erosion at your home.

It's hard to say the best method of addressing your erosion issues without seeing the space. If you can upload some photos of the space, that would certainly help our members offer their best advice. Let me know if you need assistance uploading images. I'm happy to help if required.

Personally, I would be looking to use plants and their root structures to prevent erosion, but obviously, plants and their roots take time to grow and really solidify the earth so you may need to use a combination of things depending on the extent of the slope and the speed the water is running.

Erosion happens when water moves quickly across the land unobstructed, so to prevent erosion, you can use carefully placed objects to slow the flow of water. If you can locate the path where the water runs, you can use obstructions such as stones, logs or even garden ornaments to slow down the water.

Have a look at @DirtMonkey's advice in the discussion How to install drain near house? He has recommended a method of determining and marking the path water will flow.

If you can slow the water down so it won't erode the soil, your plants will have time to establish and lock the soil in place.

Allow me to tag @mich1972, @Noelle, @Dave-1 and @Nailbag for their thoughts.

Let me know what you think and if you have any issues uploading images, I'll be happy to assist.

Jacob

[Dave-1]

Good Afternoon @sherelle

Welcome to the community! Ther are so many projects in here that will help you map out ways for you to handle the water issue o your garden.

I was thinking of slowing the water pathways down so there is no straight runs that eat away at your soft topsoil. I installed Berms around my front yard to slow and dissapate the water so it seaps into the ground as much as possible. With your clay base underneath you might want some kind of settling pond area as well. Stormwater update April 2024 shows the landscaping and berms I put into place and how I worked out where I wanted the water to pool.

Try a top down sketch of your yard, draw the boundaries and hard edge of buildings. Then add paths plus circles for trees shrubs that you may have. Since you know the lay of your land you can then draw flow lines in following the way the water runs down your slight slope. Think of ways to slow, change or hold the water for a bit in a storm instance. Any idea you have will need to be adjusted once it rains Yeah I have been running around in the rain taking photos  

With your sketch, you can then place locations for new trees/flower beds or vegetable garden beds. Your ground being clay may need larger tree holes dug or garden beds turned deeper to help give them the best start is about the only issues I can think of.

Dave