Question
Along the concrete around our pool enclosure the soil is washing away from rain (we live in Florida) and the downward slope of the yard. It's especially bad at the 2 back corners (roots from trees are now visible). What would be the best way to build up that area again and maintain it? We think regular sod would eventually wash away even if we put up some sort of "dam" structure to support
it.
Thank you.

Answer
The only way to "build up the area" that is on a hill is to tier the hill with walls.  However your budget doesn't justify that project then here are some other methods to solve the problem:


*With any of the below options, you will still "build up the area" with soil, but the objects put in place will help stabalize and anchor the soil.

**Use a combination of these three options below for maximum potential.

Ornamental Grasses- Line some thick ornamental grasses at the top of the hill, right off the concrete.  These grasses absorb a lot of water as their naturally found in swampy areas.  The thick grass will also slow down the flow of water coming off the pool decking.  

Boulders- Install boulders (about the size of an old grill top--and larger), planing 1/3 of it in the ground.  Build up the soil around and in between the rocks.  The stones on the hill will break up the path of water, slow it down, and hold back the soil and mulch.  

Low Shrub Ground Cover- Plant hardy evergreens such as juniper, rhododendrons and mountain laurels against the boulders and between them to anchor the soil and absorb water.  

If you do these three things, you'll have a nice looking rock garden and you'll create a natural solution to the erosion problem.  First install the boulders, then bring in a couple yards of topsoil to re-bury the existing tree roots (don't put more than 2 1/2 inches of soil on top of tree roots at a time--wait 6 months to build it up more that that).  Then install the new plants.  Pack down the new soil good but not too hard around the new plants.  Then mulch!  Be patient to let the roots on the new plants spread out into the surrounding ground and become established, but you will see immediate improvement.

Good luck with the project!

Brandon Swisher
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