Question
landscaping problems
I have 9 steps along the north side of my house to the back deck.The area just north of the steps was too steep to mow so my husband and I put in flower beds made from landscaping timbers about 10 years ago. There are 4 beds that are tiered down with the timbers next to the steps. The timbers are rotting away and the bottom tier has collapsed. I need to do something this spring but now I am a widow on a fixed income, do you have any solution for me? Thank You for any ideas.
AnswerHello,
You may need a retaining wall there but judging from the pic,you may not need one. A solution may be to just remove the timbers and let unmowed grass or grasslike plant,ground cover or some other plants of your choosing grow on the slope. That may be all you need to keep that slope from eroding.
I wouldnt use the timbers as mulch or bury them because they may be treated with chemicals that could be harmful. The best solution is to have them removed. Rotten timbers like this can also result in an insect infestation.
If you construct a similar structure use more durable material,such as railroad ties or masonry or concrete.
If planting does not keep the slope from eroding there are other devices besides a retaining wall you can use that may be cheaper to install than a retaining wall,such as reinforcement mesh or crib structure. Good luck. Let me know if I can be of further help.
Mark Harshman
http://www.mahdrafting.com
Email:
[email protected]
http://www.allexperts.com/ep/724-104627/Landscaping-Design/Mark.htm
Note:
Here is my reply to the following reader feedback:
As A general contractor I get your question often. The walls you and your husband built still have a lot of life in them. Any good handy man or contractor with a saws all and a metal blade can open up the bottom section and replace the rotten landscape timbers then place any disturbed soil back. You'll easily get 10 more years and save thousands. God Bless.
My Reply:
The timbers are light and not suitable for a retaining wall. The timbers are also not suitably treated for retaining wall use. The fact that some of the timbers are rotten means that the rest of them are soon to follow and therefore it is best to replace or remove the structure,not spend money patching rotted wood. And if no wall is even necessary a bundle of cash could be saved. This wall is approaching the end of its life.
