If your property has an incline or slope, it can be turned into a lovely garden oasis. Instead of a weedy eyesore, the slope could be a lovely flower garden. A vegetable garden would be a great option also. The slope can become a lovely planted area despite the rugged terrain, turning a liability into an asset.
Turn The Slope Into Terraces
Terracing a slope not only broadens your options for planting since you have level areas to work with, but it can also make for some breathtaking results. A level area is just so much easier to walk on and work there. While terraces have great benefits, making them in undeniably a lot of work. It can also be a little on the expensive side, depending on what materials are used for the walls.
In the past, railroad ties were considered a good source of material for making retaining walls for terraces. They’ve fallen out of favor these days, and especially aren’t recommended for organic gardens. Tthe creosote used to preserve the wood makes problems. Considering creosote is a toxic substance,contact with it can irritate the skin. If you breath in the fumes from creosote, they can irritate the respiratory tract.
Creosote is just flat out a toxic substance. Besides the problem of direct contact, there's also the fact it can leach into the water and soil. When it’s in the soil, it’s available for the plants to absorb, and if you’re growing vegetable plants, you’re going to eat whatever chemicals are in the plants. Creosote treated lumber for your terracing ijust sn’t a good idea.
Finding And Placing Safe Wall Materials
The new landscaping boards such as those found at Gardens Alive! that are made out of recycled plastics are an option when leveling out a small slope. For steeper slopes, use bricks, concrete blocks, modular retaining wall blocks or stone. These masonry options require varying levels of expertise, so be sure you know how to build walls with the materials you opt to use.
The steepness of the slope will dictate the height of the walls since the idea to provide level beds. The higher the walls are, the sturdier they obviously need to be, and well anchored. Large terraces also should have proper drainage, and be anchored well into the sides of the slope at each end.
The walls will have to bear a lot of weight from the soil pushing against them, and that will increase even more after a rain. If the walls aren’t built properly, they will bow outwards or even collapse.
This is a big task, so if building your own terraces seems like too much to do own your own, there are landscaping contractors that can do the work for you. It goes without saying that hiring a contractor is more expensive than doing it yourself, since you'll have to not only pay for materials, but the labor costs as well.
Put Plants In Those Terraces.
Due to erosion, slopes often have poor soil so it’s a good idea to enrich the soil before planting. Soil amendments such a well-rotted cow manure, rich loam, compost or other soil amendments to the dirt to make it a better growing medium. Keep in mind, however, that some plants like a poor soil, and if you’re growing that type, you won’t need to enrich the soil.
When the soil is ready, choose your plants, whether flowers or vegetables (DirectGardening.com - Offers quality plants at great prices). You could plant vines along the top edge of the walls, using either vegetables that vine, or flowering or foliage type vines, depending on what type of plants you’ve decided to raise in the terraced beds.
Long Lasting Terraces.
Creating terraces on a slope is a lot of work, and in some cases a lot of expense, but it’s a great way to eradicate an eyesore, improve your land, and provide another place for an organic garden full of flowers or vegetables.
There's never too much space for planting.
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