How to Keep Soil From a Slope

Very few homes sit on perfectly level ground, making slopes an obstacle many home gardeners encounter. Planting on very steep slopes usually is not a good idea, and is even dangerous if your plants need any care that requires you to work on the slope. For less severe slopes, the main annoyance often is soil washing down the slope. As the top layers of soil erode, so too do many of the soil's life-sustaining minerals. Home gardeners can take several approaches to preventing this soil erosion. Established plants help curb such erosion, so the slope problem should lessen over time.

Shovel
Raised garden bed
Garden retaining wall materials

Instructions

- 1
  Dig sunken garden beds on the slope. Remove at least 6 inches of top soil and leave the surrounding vegetation in place. Dig down 12 inches and fill the sunken bed back in with 6 inches of soil mix if you must amend the existing soil for optimal growing conditions. This approach creates natural barriers to keep the garden soil from going down the slope.
- 2
  Employ a raised bed instead of planting directly into the ground. Raised beds keep the soil contained inside the structure. Build the bed so the highest wall sits farthest down the slope, preventing soil from escaping. Keep the soil level inside the bed to at least 6 inches lower than the frame to fully contain it.
- 3
  Install a garden retaining wall along the slope. Make the wall out of any material you choose, such as wood, stone or even burlap stapled to wooden posts. Sink the wall at least 6 inches into the ground for sturdiness and build it at least 16 inches above ground to contain soil coming down the slope.
- 4
  Plant older vegetation and trees with more established root systems. Established plants help keep soil in place and older plants, rather than tiny seedlings, will help you reach this goal sooner.
- 5
  Use plants known for quickly spreading and providing good ground cover to root the soil in place. Many types of vines, for instance, grow quickly and provide solid ground cover. Check with nurseries in your area for the best varieties for local geography and weather patterns.

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