An embankment - also known as a slope - is characterized by its steepness. The steeper such a slope, the sooner it has to be secured. There are various options available to you for this: An embankment can be secured by walls, but also protected against erosion by clever planting.

An embankment in the garden does not have to cause headaches, but can even be a visual enrichment

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  1. Fix embankment
  2. plant embankment
  3. frequently asked Questions

    4. Fasten embankment - You have these options

    The fortification of a slope with walls is always necessary when there are height differences between different properties or there are steep slopes on a property. The concrete industry offers a wide variety of components for this purpose, whereby the embankment reinforcement can of course also be carried out with traditional natural stones or components made of wood.

    wall types and materials

    In this section you will find out which materials are available to you for fixing such a slope using a wall. Keep in mind that walls always need a concrete foundation so that the construction is stable and can withstand the pressure of the slope.

    wood

    Wood is a beautiful but rather weather-sensitive material for embankment reinforcement

    Wooden retaining walls consist mainly of sleepers or logs, which are mostly made from European wood species. They are beautiful to look at, but have a limited shelf life. The critical point is in the alternating humid zone between the earth and the air, where the wood tends to be destroyed. Subsequent wood-protective coatings are of no use, at best you can delay the rotting process with a deeply impregnated pre-treated wood.

    Suitable materials for wooden retaining walls

    Well suited for embankments are pressure-treated sleepers or palisades. Thanks to the special boiler pressure process, depth protection of up to one centimeter is achieved. As a rule, these are saline solutions that are odorless and give the wood a greenish-brown appearance. This chemical protection, especially against fungal attack, is essential when wood comes into contact with soil.

    Wood is prone to rot

    Since sleepers and logs have to be placed vertically in a concrete foundation in order to withstand earth pressure, the transition point between wood and ground is particularly susceptible to rot. This is where the weak point of wood, no matter how well impregnated, is because the accumulated water penetrates the wood at these points. Even a layer of roofing felt or foil on the side filled with earth is of no use. In view of this problem, wooden walls should not be planned as permanent terrain supports - unless you want a new garden after 15 years and are therefore happy if something breaks.

    dry stone walls

    The best way to build a stone wall made up of small parts as a dry wall without binding agents in the joints is to use natural stones that are regularly worked and embedded deep into the slope. The wall should “lean against the slope” and also be at least a third as wide as it is high in the lower area.

    Here's what to look out for with a supporting drywall:

    The stones are also introduced into the backing wall. In this way, the dry stone wall made of natural stone remains stable over a long period of time and grows luxuriantly over time. The stacking of concrete embankment stones also results in a type of dry wall. It is important to stagger the stones back slightly so that planting holes are created that absorb rainwater. In addition, the stability of the wall increases if it leans slightly at an angle against the slope.

    concrete walls

    Concrete blocks are available in many shapes and colors, some even look very similar to natural stones. Such concrete consists of colored material or admixtures of colored natural stone chippings. In many systems, there are suitable shaped stones such as corners, angles, foot and head parts and end stones for these stones, comparable to a construction kit. The structure is then relatively simple, but requires precise planning of the required molded parts.

    Drawing makes planning easier

    When purchasing the material for such a wall, you always have a drawing made beforehand, which should then show the amount of material. The stones for such walls are delivered as ready-split individual stones and only have to be placed on top of each other, whereby the bottom layer should of course rest on a frost-proof concrete foundation.

    Hollow block retaining walls

    Hollow blocks made of aerated concrete, such as those used to build houses, can also be used to build retaining walls. The disadvantage of them is that they are not very attractive and the wall created in this way then has to be plastered. The advantage of such stones, however, is that such a wall is built very quickly due to the size of the stone.

    Concrete L-bricks

    Molded concrete blocks are heavy, L-shaped elements that are typically used as retaining walls or to stabilize slopes. They come in different heights, with the larger specimens often being so heavy that they can only be set in place with the help of a crane. On the other hand, because of their large bearing surface, they do not require a deep concrete foundation and can be placed directly on a ballast bed with leveling concrete.

    digression

    What are embankment stones?

    Embankment stones not only stabilize the slope, they can also be easily planted

    Concrete embankment stones are manufactured specifically for slope stabilization. These are open and very coarse-pored, horseshoe-shaped, round or square concrete blocks that are placed on top of each other in layers. They are available in concrete gray or sandstone red in different sizes. If several of these stones are placed on top of each other, the cavities only have to be filled with stone material or concrete. Walls made of embankment stones appear very massive.

    Observe building and neighborhood laws

    As so often in life, the rights of others must also be taken into account when building a wall. This is to prevent the neighbor from suffering disadvantages. It is helpful to deal with the legal restrictions at the planning stage instead of having to interrupt or even stop work later during construction.

    Different regulations

    Sometimes a permit is required for embankment reinforcement

    In most federal states, the regulations of the neighboring law apply, which were developed from the German Civil Code (BGB). The regulations are very different and sometimes even differ from municipality to municipality, which is why you should ask the local building authority for advice when planning such construction work or take a look at the municipal building regulations.

    In Baden-Württemberg, for example, this regulation applies to retaining walls: If, for example, your own property is dug up, i.e. lowered compared to the neighbour, either an embankment or a wall must support the neighboring property. The wall can then stand directly at the border if it does not exceed a height of 150 centimeters. If the site is filled in, i.e. raised compared to the neighbor, the same applies: embankments or walls up to 150 centimeters high end directly at the property line.

    decorate walls

    Whether a wall should be decorated or not depends on the building material used, the type of construction and the taste of the garden owner. There is no need for additional decoration in the case of natural or artificial stone walls with a varied design due to surface structure and joints, because their surface is already attractive enough. It is different with raw material such as hollow blocks, molded concrete parts or aerated concrete slabs. Such walls are usually

    • plastered,
    • colored painted,
    • or by walling in more precious stone material (natural stone, clinker, ceramic)

    embellished. One of the classic methods is probably the well-known aggregate concrete. In the case of an existing but unsightly wall that cannot be beautified by plastering or painting, planting a fast-growing climbing plant usually helps. A distinction is made between self-adhesive plant species and those that require climbing aids. This is attached to the wall surface as a trellis. Pay attention to the growth conditions necessary for the plants, such as soil or light conditions.

    Planting the embankment - The other type of slope stabilization

    However, embankments can be secured not only with walls, but also with the help of plants. This applies above all to slopes that are not too steep, which are mainly to be protected against soil erosion. For this purpose, choose deep-rooted perennials, shrubs and ground covers that practically hold the soil on the slope. Ground cover plants in particular provide a good service here, as they basically act like a safety net.

    This article shows how you can plant an embankment in an imaginative way and use it several times:

    Video:youtube

    Suitable plants

    Which plants are specifically suitable for planting on an embankment depends on various factors. Above all, the light and ground conditions, but also the degree of inclination and the celestial orientation decide on the selection. Incidentally, so-called plant mats, which are simply applied, have proven their worth on particularly steep slopes. Place the plants in the pre-punched holes in the ground, whereby the young plants are fixed to the slope by the mats and thus have a better hold until they grow successfully. We present some particularly well-suited species here.

    perennials

    Perennials are perennial plants whose above-ground plant parts usually freeze back in the winter months and sprout vigorously again in spring. Many combinations are possible here, depending on the composition of the soil and the amount of light available on the slope. In principle, however, the plants should be very robust, because the living conditions on an embankment are not easy: As a rule, the areas higher up are characterized by drought, since rainwater always runs down and then collects at the foot of the slope - on these So it is rather humid in places.

    What you need to pay attention to when planting an embankment

    Choose the planting accordingly: higher up, plant drought-loving and light-hungry plants, while lower down, plants with a higher need for moisture feel better. Mulch the soil after planting as this has an additional protective effect and counteracts erosion.

    shrubs

    Low shrubs and bushes are ideal for natural slope stabilization

    Deep-rooted shrubs can even be used to stabilize steep slopes, especially if you combine them with ground cover. These trees and shrubs are particularly recommended for this purpose:

    • Broom (Cytisus scoparius): pretty bright yellow flowers
    • Boxwood (Buxus): very tolerant of pruning, but threatened in some regions by the boxwood moth
    • Firethorn (Pyracantha): beautiful fruit decoration in bright colors
    • Fingerbush (Potentilla fruticosa)
    • Dog roses (Rosa canina): native shrub rose, grows two to three meters high
    • Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas): branches well, therefore forms dense areas, hard pruning causes willing sprouting, likes lime
    • Creeping juniper (Juniperus communis 'Repanda')
    • Privet (Ligustrum): hardy, tolerates strong shade, evergreen, can be cut back to the base
    • Summer lilac (Buddleja)
    • Holly (Ilex): can grow up to six meters high
    • Ornamental Quince (Chaenomeles)
    • Cotoneaster

    ground cover

    Ground cover plants are particularly suitable for planting on slopes, as they hold the slope together like a net and also spread out all by themselves over time. Types such as

    • Lady's Mantle (Alchemilla mollis)
    • the different cranesbill species (geranium)
    • Golden nettle (Lamium galeobdolon)
    • Waldsteinie (also "Golden Strawberry", Waldsteinia ternata)
    • Elf Flower (Epimedium)
    • Carpet St. John's Wort (Hypericum calycinum)
    • Ysander (Pachysandra)
    • Ivy (Hedera helix)

    The latter three species are evergreen and retain their green foliage even during the gray winter months.

    digression

    Laying turf on a slope - this is how it works

    Rolled turf is also good for stabilizing a slope, at least as soon as it has grown. On slopes, you should always lay the sod across the slope and from bottom to top. In this way, the webs press together under their own weight and do not form any joints. Driven-in wooden dowels secure the lawn parts until after they have grown. Each subsequent care measure on the slope must be carried out carefully in order not to cause unrooted sod to slip.

    frequently asked Questions

    What is the best way to mow an embankment?

    Grass on slopes must not be cut too short

    Embankments should always be mowed across the slope. In addition, a maximum of one third of the leaf mass may be removed. The plants find it difficult to compensate for a further loss of mass, they become weakened and susceptible to diseases. The deeper the cut, the better the quality of the soil and the supply of water and nutrients must be. Always mow one wheel width overhang to get a smooth, streak-free cut.

    How can I build the retaining wall as stable as possible?

    Experts like to plan a cantilevered foundation to counteract the overturning moment. This has the disadvantage that nothing can be planted in front of the wall. However, by doing without this projection and widening the foundation into the slope, this limitation can be avoided. Instead, you build the wall practically "into the slope", which gives the construction the necessary stability.

    Can I also build the retaining wall out of Corten steel?

    Structures made of Corten steel are durable, do not "rust" like normal steel and therefore do not need a rust-proof coating. Structurally, these terrain supports are surprisingly simple: You have to insert the (prefabricated) metal parts into a concrete foundation and anchor them together with screws. However, the steel plates must be supported until the foundation concrete is solid.

    tips

    If the slope is very steep, it is best to create several terraces, each supported by low walls. You can plant these terraces as you wish or set them up as very different garden spaces. Terraced gardens have been around for thousands of years and are still widespread today, especially in mountainous regions.

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Garden design