If you have a slope or incline on your property, you can turn it into a lovely garden oasis. Where weeds were once abundant, a lovely flower garden could grow. Or you might put in an organic vegetable garden. Despite the rugged terrain, the slope can become a lovely planted area, turning a liability into an asset.
Contour With Terraces
Terracing a slope can make a beautiful area in your landscape. It also broadens the options for what can be grown since it provides a level area for planting. It also makes it a lot easier to walk and work in the garden area when the area is level. Making terraces is unquestionably a lot of work, however, and can be expensive depending on the materials used.
In the past, railroad ties were considered a good source of material for making retaining walls for terraces. Railroad ties have rather fallen out of favor these days, and especially aren’t recommended for organic gardens. The big problem is the creosote used to preserve the wood. Since creosote is a toxic substance, contact with it can irritate the skin. Inhaling creosote fumes can irritate the respiratory trace.
Bottom line, it's nasty stuff. Besides direct contact, it can leach into the water and soil. When creosote leaches into the soil, it becomes available for the plants to absorb. If you’re growing vegetable plants, you’re going to eat whatever chemicals are in the plants. Because of all that, creosote treated lumber for your terracing isn’t a good idea.
Use Safe Wall Materials And Placement
For small projects where you’re just leveling out a little slope, the new landscaping boards such as those found at Gardens Alive! that are made out of recycled plastics are an option. When the slope is steeper, use concrete blocks, bricks, stone or modular retaining wall blocks. The various masonry options require varying levels of expertise, so be sure you know how to build walls with the materials you opt to use.
Since the idea of terracing is to provide level beds, the steepness of the slope will dictate the height of the walls. Of course, the higher the walls, the sturdier they need to be, and well anchored. Anchoring the terraces at each end into the slopes is especially important. They also need proper drainage.
The weight of the soil will push a lot on the walls, and that will be even worse after a rain. Walls that aren't well built could bow outwards or perhaps even collapse.
Building terraces is a big task. If it seems like to much to do yourself, there are landscaping contractors that can do the work for you. There would be more expense, of course, since you’ll not only have to pay for the materials, but their labor as well.
Prepare The Soil For Plants.
Because slopes often have erosion problems, it's always a good idea to enrich the soil before planting. Soil amendments such as compost, rich loam, well-rotted cow manure, peat or others can be worked into the soil so plants can grow better. Think about what plants you want to grow, however, and if you choose those that thrive in poor soil, don't enrich the soil much.
After the soil is ready, choose your plants, whether flowers or vegetables (DirectGardening.com - Offers quality plants at great prices). At the edge of the walls you can plant vines to trail over the sides, using either vegetables that vine, or flowering or foliage type vines, depending on what type of plants you’ve decided to raise in the terraced beds.
Terraces Are Long Term Investments.
Whle making terraces can be a lot of work and sometimes expensive, they're a great way to eradicate an eyesore, improve your land, and provide another place for an organic garden full of flowers or vegetables.
Your landscape can always use more plants.
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