Some yard problems are ones you create. Others come with the house. This project was the second kind.
The owner of this property inherited a sloped bed next to the pool deck that had been losing soil for years. Every heavy rain pulled a little more dirt downhill, exposing roots and leaving the ground cracked and bare. The owner didn’t cause it, but they were the one stuck with it. We got to fix it, and we’re proud of how it turned out.
What we found
At first glance, the slope looked like it had a stone border.
Up close, it wasn’t doing much:
- The rocks sat on top of the soil in a single, loose line with gaps between them.
- Water ran straight through those gaps and carried soil with it.
- The slope was one long, uninterrupted run, which lets runoff pick up speed.
- There was no outlet for water, so it pooled and then broke through the weakest spot.
- A few flat slabs were scattered around that were meant as steps but weren’t set into anything.
In other words, the rocks were decorative. The slope needed them to be structural.
The plan: work with what’s already there
The owner wanted this fixed without adding a pile of new material, and the property already had everything we needed. The stone was on site, and so was the mulch. So the job came down to rearranging, not replacing.
Here’s what we did:
- Regraded the slope into two terraced levels. Breaking one long slope into two shorter benches slows water down so it can soak in instead of racing downhill.
- Rebuilt the stone as low retaining walls. We buried the bottom stones about a third of their height on a flat footer course, staggered the joints like brickwork, and tied everything together so the walls hold by design, not just by gravity.
- Anchored the curves. The largest, flattest stones went at the bends, where walls tend to fail first.
- Backfilled and compacted behind every course. Empty gaps behind a wall let water undermine it from the inside, so we packed them solid as we built.
- Added a spillway. A rock-lined outlet at the low end gives water a safe place to go, off to the open lawn, instead of forcing its way through the wall.
- Reset the loose slabs as stepping stones. They now form a path up to the pool gate and a second path toward the pool utility shed, so the slope works as a walkway too.
- Finished with mulch. The mulch already on site went back over the benches to protect the soil from rain and keep it from drying out.
A Panoramic View of the Whole Project, After
Why we reused the materials
Reusing what was on the property wasn’t just about saving money, though it did.
A few other reasons mattered to us:
- It looks like it belongs. The stone is the same stone that was already part of the landscape, so the finished walls blend in instead of standing out.
- It’s more sustainable. Nothing had to be trucked in, and nothing got hauled away.
- It respects the owner’s budget. Material is often a big part of a hardscape bill, and this job didn’t need any.
We also keep our work chemical-free, and this project was no exception. Erosion control is about structure and water management, not products.
The result
The slope now holds its soil. Water moves in a controlled way from one level to the next and out through the spillway. The walls are solid, the paths are walkable, and the whole area looks intentional instead of neglected.
Signs your yard has an erosion problem
If you’re not sure whether your slope needs help, look for:
- Exposed roots or tree flares that weren’t visible before
- Small channels or gullies running downhill after rain
- Cracked, bare soil that mulch or grass can’t seem to hold
- Soil or mulch washing onto walkways, patios, or the lawn below
- Stone borders that have shifted, tilted, or sunk
Catching these early is much cheaper than waiting until a wall fails.
Have a slope that needs attention?
Not every erosion problem needs new material and a big budget. Sometimes the answer is already sitting in your yard, waiting to be put to work the right way.
If you’re in the Kansas City metro and want an honest look at a washout, a failing wall, or a slope you’ve inherited, reach out for a free estimate.
Your yard, our pride. 🐓