Resources for Dealing with Slopes in Your Landscape
Both texts for our course have good basic information on dealing with slopes. Pages 136-7 in the Encyclopedia of Garden Design. On Page 137 there is a good illustration of terracing.
Search for examples to find a style you like, then see how you can work that style into the grade of the slope you have. Pinterest always has something! Here are a couple of resources I found.
Hope for your Slope, CCE Suffolk: Dealing With a Slope
Steep Slopes, No Problem,, CCE Nassau: https://ccenassau.org/resources/steep-slopes-no-problem
Hillside Design, Garden Design Magazine: https://www.gardendesign.com/landscape-design/hillside.html
Slopes & Hillsides, Iowa State Extension: https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/gardening-slopes-and-hillsides
Gardening on Steep Slopes, Mississippi State Extension: https://extension.msstate.edu/lawn-and-garden/landscape-architecture/landscape-design-and-management/landscape-and-garden-design/gardening-steep-slopes
Martha Stewart has good suggestions for ground covers for slopes: https://www.marthastewart.com/fast-growing-ground-covers-for-slopes-11756572
This Old House has an excellent guide: Engineering a Retaining Wall: A Comprehensive Guide and how to deal with Complex Site Conditions at https://www.thisoldhouse.com/yards/engineering-a-retaining-wall
The rule of thumb is that an engineer should be consulted when dealing with any of the following scenarios:
- Steep slopes (greater than 3:1 ratio)
- Poor soil conditions or unstable ground
- Areas with high water tables or drainage issues
- Sites with existing structures nearby that could be affected