How do I keep dirt from running downhill in my backyard? I need to plant some grass but live on a hill.?

Question

Every time I put a load of dirt down to fill holes or plant grass, it runs when it rains. How can I prevent this in the future?

Answer 1

If you really want grass on the hill, rough up or rake the dirt, plant your grass seed, cover it lightly with peat moss and then spread straw or it all. I've seen them do this on steep slopes beside the interstate. Rain might make the straw shift a little but enough will catch and collect that the grass will get started and then spread. The reason I say if you really want grass, is it might be difficult to keep mowed on a hill. Consider planting an English Ivy. You just have to put patches of it every few feet and within a year it'll probably fill in and nothing can wash that away. It does a pretty good job of keeping other weeds out. If you do get some weeds, you can spray it with Roundup. The weeds will die but it won't kill the Ivy. And you don't have to do any mowing or trimming. Good Luck!

Answer 2

I found planting ground cover on my hillside stopped the erosion of the dirt. You have to plant it rather close together particularly in the areas where you see the rivulets that have formed from the water's path. It works better than grass because the roots anchor the dirt better. I also used wood chippers as a mulch around the ground cover because they act like a little sponge and soak up water. I used Apple Jack, but any ice plant will do the same thing that is why they use it around freeway over passes and burms.

Answer 3

We have had some serious erosion problems in our yard. We had to get professionals in and do part in large boulders. The other 3 hilled areas we had to have dirt brought in twice because of it washing out when it rains. For some steep areas I have rocks, manageable ones that I put in here and there. On each hilled area I planted them with tulips, daffadils, different types of grasses. Lilies, vinca ground cover, some purple cone flowers, black eyed susans, bleeding hearts. I also put some shrubs here and there. This way I have color in all the seasons, don't have to work on the steep slopes, as these perennials and shrubs don't require much care. It is important to plant many as the soil will wash away until they take root and multiply. If you don't want to go with a garden idea. There is alot of plants that are good for erosion problems. Dogwood is sopposed to be good as well. I hope you make out good with this problem. I know it can be quite costly. You can also put a stairway or path going through it. I put in 2 sets of stairs, made of concrete, and 1 path out of gravel with a patio stone approx every 4 feet to break up the steepness.

Answer 4

Plant the grass seed....preferrably one that has a good root system to keep errosion at bay. Then put down a coconut fiber mat (or sometimes called a blanket)... it comes in big rolls and you stake that down with wooden or metal stakes. The grass grows through the coconut fiber and that's that. The coconut fiber keeps the ground from running away from you until the grass grows and gets roots to hold the soil. Planting a variety of plants helps also....each has a different type of root system and they all work together to hold the bank. Do your research .. take your time...this isn't a quicky thing to fix.

Answer 5

Build terraces...so that the soil remains on the horzintal rather than a downslope.... you will need to build some small walls to hold back the dirt...suppose the area to be considered is about 12 feet and then it slopes too much .... before you get to that , make a wall about 1 foot and then work on the next part ..... sort of like rice paddies .... they plant them on hills but they build retaining walls which hold in the water for the rice to grow...be sure to place some steps between the levels .. and some flowers or small bushes for decoration...

Answer 6

Use a 50/50 mixture of annual and perennial ryegrasses. Once that is established, add some tall fescues. You may include the tall fescues in the initial blend, but make sure it is no more than 15-20%.

After the grasses are established, you may top dress with topsoil if you like.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

Sod will do the trick.

Or the burlap and seed method. Use a fast growing grass like annual Rye to get things started along with your long term grass selection.

It would help to know your location, approximate slope, and size of the area.

Answer 9

Caveman has the right idea. Sod that baby. Lay the sod and the dirt won't shift anymore. Your grass will be in place and as long as you don't get some freak rain storm to wash it all away before the roots dig in your hillside will stop being eroded.

Answer 10

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