I want to fix the little "dirtpatches" in front of my house and of my neighbor's? I have pics..please help!

Question

I maintain the front of both houses, but I'm not good at it...basically I remove all the weeds, trim the bushes, and remove any trash. The problem that we're having with the houses is that the "dirtpatches" are on an incline and over many years the dirt continues to fall onto the sidewalk whenever it rains...especially if it rains hard and then I have to go clean that up too. I was planning on laying sod to make both sides look a lot better, but I need a DIY project that is relativly simple so I can build a small wall or barrier or whatever it's called to keep the dirt where it belongs. What is there is not working well at all. I don't mind working hard...I would just like it to look relatively nice and inexpensive would be just as good. When you see the pic of my house(it's the one with the ridiculously big bush...check out the house on the right...I don't want it to come out looking as horrible as their makeshift patio. Thanks so much.

I'm about to add the pic links...one moment.

this is my side:

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/621/7297sd5.jpg

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/3554/72972rq9.jpg

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/9159/72973rn1.jpg

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/8994/72974hx0.jpg

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/7653/72975lf1.jpg


this is their side:

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/3676/72976fj2.jpg

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/4889/72977nw8.jpg

http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/2391/72979lg3.jpg


Of course, I will ask my neighbors if they mind me doing the work...if I actually can DIY in the end.

Answer 1

Your side has those rocks which have gaps and just don't do the job. I suggest the type of retaining wall interlocking bricks as pictured in the link below. They are a couple dollars a piece, you should be able to do the job for about $50 or less. You will need to remove the dirt closest to the sidewalk to create room for the bricks. If you use a spade, you can cut horizontally and create a "dirt wall" before you place the bricks, making the job that much easier.

I see that their side has what looks like a cement retaining wall, but it's not high enough. You need their wall to be a good six inches above the dirt. To make the two sides compliment eachother, I suggest that you add one layer of the same bricks atop their cement wall (or whatever that is). This added layer will also raise the wall enough for you to have room for mulch when you are finished planting, and therefore the mulch won't end up on the sidewalk either.
Then there is the question of plants, because that loose dirt is the cause of the erosion, and those empty patches of dirt will only encourage weeds to grow there, because something will always find a way to grow where there is dirt and light.

After building your wall you need to plant perennials that will hold the soil in place. I suggest that you plan the two sides to compliment eachother since they are so close together. Groundcover would work, but it's boring. I would plant perennial flowers, which will spread over time. Don't plant grass. It's boring, and you have a wonderful opportunity to create two complimentary beautiful mini-gardens. Plus, if you plant grass there, how are you going to cut it?
I don't know your zone or how much sun the area gets, but I assume it must be partly sunny because I see blooms on the gardenia? bush. If there's sun, you can plant some wonderful clumps of perennial flowers near eachother so that you have continuous bloom through the growing seasons. With the retaining wall and mulching the area well, there should be little run-off after rains. The link below, "classy groundcovers" has some perennial flowers that retain soil well, not just spreading green groundcovers, which as I said before, are boring. That link is wonderful as you plug in all the conditions of your area, including your zone and erosion issues, and the site will then offer you plant suggestions that work in your spot, which you can then purchase what you like at your local nursery. But really, any perennial will hold in the soil. You don't have to limit yourself to groundcover types.
Tear out that overgrown bush! There's nothing beautiful about it, and it's too large for the area. Just tie it up to a truck, and drive away. The bush will come right out of the ground. If you try to trim it back you are probably going to end up with ugly brown branches that have no growth on them, and sometimes they never fill back in that area.
Look at flowering perennials at the local nursery that compliment eachother, covering the entire blooming season, and are varied in color. Something pink, something red, something blue, and some yellows, you get the idea.
The only things I would keep are the gardenia bush and what looks like some type of leaves from bulbs that is done blooming in the pictures. Next to that clump, plant some flowers that will bloom after those have finished, and if they are bulbs, you need to plant something that will cover the view of the browning leaves which you shouldn't cut back until they are brown because that is how the bulbs are fed for the next season. You could however move those to be positioned better in the garden, or divide them into several clumps, putting a clump in the neighbor's area too. You might also plant another gardenia on your side to compliment the one on their side.
Two mini-flowering gardens could be stunning there. People will love to gaze at those flowers walking past your house, and flowers make people happy!
Don't forget to mulch, and mulch deep! 3" at least to keep the weeds down and retain the rain instead of it ending up on the sidewalk. There will be some erosion run off in the beginning until the plants are established and the soil is compacted. After you plant, push the soil around the plants down firmly with your shoes.
It should be a fun project :)

Answer 2

Definitely don't use grass. Ground covers and "allen blocks" are the way to go. Allen blocks are the ones sold at Lowes and Home Depot.
Have you ever considered that the large shrub may be a safety hazard? Someone could hide behind it? Wait until early spring, and cut it back at least 1/3.
You could fill the area with an evergreen ground cover like pachysandra, vinca minor, mint, ophiopogon (mondo), or creeping jenny. Check your sun exposure times before you go to the nursery.
What is that other plant? It looks like iris' or lilies. Either way it is overgrown and needs to be split. Consider making a mixed bed of perennials and ground covers. Use wavy lined swoops of one thing than another. Maybe create a wave that leans toward your steps. Dig up the iris' and break them apart making sure each piece has roots. Do this whole project after it cools down a little. I bet you will get at least 40 iris' from that one clump. Use them near the back of the bed.

Take your pictures to a garden center and ask a pro for evergreens ground covers and small shrubs for your area.
That looks like a gardenia in your neighbors yard. Is it very fragrant in bloom? There is a very hardy gardenia that only gets 12" tall. Try a few of those is the sun exposure is right.

Answer 3

I would plant ground cover in that area. Once established the dirt collecting on the sidewalk problem should go away. I would start by smoothing out the existing slope. You can replace the rocks that are there with brick or a different rock if you want. Basically you want the dirt to end a little bit lower than the top of the rocks or bricks. Then plant the ground cover. You can buy a "flat" for less than $15, and that will be about 64 plants. Just fill in the area. Good luck.

Answer 4

Rather than the rocks you have there use regular retaining wall blocks. This should take care of your problem. Then behind these blocks you can put the rock there now back for looks. But the retaining wall blocks should keep the dirt in place.

Answer 5

Trim those bushes way back and put in some type of ground cover.

Answer 6

They have retaining wall stones at Home Depot. Talk to them. They will be happy to show you how to install them. It is pretty easy. If you look at the pamplets, it explains how it is done. good luck.

Answer 7

hahahahaha this is better then the other one from the iris hahahahhaa nice one there u go a star 4 u now give me best answer :P