A sloped yard can be daunting to landscape. Depending on how dramatic the slope is on your property you have options. One of the first things to consider is whether to flatten the slope or work with it. Since slopes create some challenges, let’s touch on those first. Slopes can be difficult to work on and even access. This makes hillside work take longer, which can translate into a more costly project. Irrigation and drainage are two major factors that cannot be overlooked. Water flows downhill, keeping it in the root zone long enough for plants to absorb can prove problematic. Erosion is inevitable on a slope so putting a system in place to manage it is vital to the master plan for your yard. Finally, maintaining a sloped yard can prove to be harder to manage, especially if mowing is required. Fortunately, Cutting Edge is experienced, and we offer tested strategies to minimize the challenges that hillside yards face.

While your initial response may be to flatten the slope in your yard to gain more usable space, the work required to get to that point is often underestimated. Terracing is an effective way to create flat space for outdoor cooking and entertaining or a place for a play structure. By grading the property, retaining walls can be installed to hold the dirt in place. Decks are another option that can give flexibility by building out over a downhill slope. The downhill edge is supported by tall posts anchored below. Both choices are typically more expensive than working with the slope. The reason being, heavy equipment is required to grade and if machinery can’t access the area, all the dirt moving must be done by hand. The materials for retaining walls and decks can add up based on the desired size of the project. However, these are long term investments that add value to your property. At Cutting Edge, we will help you set priorities for your project, so you have a clear cost-benefit analysis going into it as well as peace of mind. We can advise you on how to work with the existing landscape to help minimize grading. Varied materials for retaining walls are available at a variety of price points. We also know what permits are necessary, saving you time and money. In addition, we offer civil engineering plans and structural plans for large hardscape projects and water challenging areas to ensure that the investment will be there for more than a lifetime.

If carving out a flat space is not necessary, but you still want to minimize erosion and have a beautiful yard there are many options. We can help select plants and shrubs that will hold dirt in place. Rocks and boulders can be brought in to create a natural playscape. If your slope gets good sun exposure, terraced planters might be an option so you can grow vegetables or a cut flower garden. We can even incorporate water features! Utilizing native plants helps keep maintenance costs down. Drip systems are often effective on slopes to encourage plant growth laterally. Mulch will not stay in place on slopes, so groundcover comes in handy in this scenario. Rather than terracing a large area, it is possible to add a small, terraced path out of natural stone that allows accessibility without the larger investment of retaining walls. We offer financing on big projects, so don’t be discouraged if you have a sloped yard. At Cutting Edge, we can help you achieve a beautiful, functional yard to enjoy for years to come.