Question
Hi,

My house is a year old and here recently the back edge of the yard is sinking basically falling into a ditch.  Can I solve this by installing a retaining wall or is there another solution?  Let me also add when I bought the house I could easily mow the lawn.  Now when I mow the mower is being tilted in about a 40 degree angle so it's becoming very hard to mow.

Answer
Jack:

From your description, the ditch was there with the yard grade above it when you bought the house.  It sounds as though your yard is achieving an angle of repose suited to the bottom of the ditch and the soil type.

You may install a retaining wall, but the foundation will have to be sufficiently deep and sound to maintain the structure of the wall and not end up in the ditch itself.

The original grade was not well planned or executed if it has so quickly eroded and moved.

If the fall is not too great, a small wall may contain the problem.  If it is over three feet, I would be careful about the structural solution.  It would need to be well designed.

A forty degree angle is dangerous for mowing, especially if the lawn is wet.  Be careful.

Best wishes.