Slope retention is critical for many homes. Retaining a slope may mean protecting the very structure of your home or preventing mud from overwhelming your landscape. While the term "slope retention" naturally evokes images of sandbags and huge cement walls, there are some strikingly lovely ways to encourage hillsides to stay put. The Garden Route Company Terracing small walls is a great strategy for shoring up slopes. It uses the drama of a steep slope, adding dimension and layering to an otherwise uninviting hillside. Staircases not only create stability and accessibility, they make the area more visually inviting. The Carter Rohrer Co. While the walls featured above are fairly formal and contemporary, here the look is more rustic. I like this wall, which appears to be dry stacked. This look can often be achieved with recycled or reclaimed materials. LandscapeLens This property's depth keeps its steep retaining wall from overwhelming the view. The natural rock provides an interesting contrast to the modern architectural lines.

Climate matters. In California and other dry-climate areas, a lake like this would not be sustainable unless it was a collection pond holding and filtering water for irrigation. Cassy Aoyagi, FormLA Landscaping Of course, some slopes simply need very strong, very steep support. Variation in depth and the addition of items that create visual interest soften what might otherwise feel like a tall, imposing or hard vertical surface. Blasen Landscape Architecture Foliage is also an incredibly beautiful and effective method for retaining slopes.

It's important to understand the root structures and water needs of the plants used. If a plant requires lots of water to thrive in your climate, the application of the water might undermine your goal of slope retention. THOMAS KYLE: Landscape Designer For gentle slopes like this, I adore native grass meadows. Randy Thueme Design Inc. - Landscape Architecture In steeper areas, more substantial focus can encourage those walking the space to take a particular path. The more substantial root structures of vertical foliage may also be useful in retaining the slope. Cassy Aoyagi, FormLA Landscaping Smart, sustainable plant spacing is key. While large plants may look instantly lovely, they don't provide the slope-stabilizing benefits of foliage whose root system grows naturally in a space.

It may be necessary to use coco fiber to prevent surface erosion while plant life establishes. In a year, the area above this ledger stone retaining wall will look like a vertical wall of foliage, and the railroad-tie-supported hiking trail will be substantially softened by ample foliage. Gast Architects If done strategically, your effectively retained slope may just be your favorite view!

If you love your retaining wall, please show it off — I'd love to see it! Add photos to the Comments section below.

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