A slope reinforcement is a must in many a garden. Whenever the garden has a slope or an embankment that does not or only with one Eliminate a great deal of effort, sooner or later the question of protection against Slipping off. There are a few ways to do this. The classic, however, is undoubtedly the massive stone retaining wall.
retaining wall
The ideal way to secure a slope, a hill or an embankment safely and reliably is to erect a retaining wall and foundation. It offers the best prerequisites for being able to withstand very high pressure. Anchoring in the ground on a foundation is particularly important. Because of this construction, the wall can be pushed over by the earth masses far less easily. A retaining wall is usually built from conventional natural stones. On the other hand, it is more practical to use so-called plant stones, which, as the name suggests, can be planted and thus bring even more green into the garden.
In general: The greater the mass of the ground and the steeper the slope, the more massive the wall must be.
Retaining wall made of plant stones
Plant stones are building elements that are poured from concrete. They have a cavity in which earth can be easily filled. Plant stones are commercially available in ring form or as rectangular boxes. Depending on the manufacturer, they have toothed elements on the sides with which they can be connected to one another.
Tip: When buying plant stones, make sure that they can be interlocked laterally. This provides additional stability and usually saves annoying masonry work.
Plant stones are also available in different colors and designs. Their great advantage, however, is that they can be individually adapted to the basic course of the slope or the
instructions
The construction of a retaining wall from plant stones is admittedly complex, but can in principle also be carried out by laypeople. But above all for the work on the foundation and for setting the wall base in concrete Nevertheless, a professional should be consulted about possible errors in this very sensitive area avoid. Good planning is required for the project to be a reliable success. This planning also includes taking into account the so-called slope water. This is meltwater or rainwater that flows down the slope. It must absolutely be intercepted and drained off by means of a drainage behind the wall. Without drainage there is a risk that water pressure or frost in winter will damage the retaining wall sooner or later. Before starting the actual construction work, a drainage system must first be put in place.
Lay the foundation
A retaining wall is only really stable if it rests on a solid foundation. In order to lay a foundation, a trench must first be dug along the slope. A distance of around 50 centimeters from the slope is recommended. The following must be taken into account:
- Trench depth 60 to 80 centimeters
- Fill the trench from below with a frost-proof gravel-crushed stone mixture
- Filling height: 30 to 50 centimeters
- Pour concrete up to a thickness of 30 centimeters
The concrete foundation should be about five centimeters wider on both sides than the plant stones that will be placed on it later
will. In addition, space must be left behind the foundation for drainage. This is best done by laying drainage pipes. The pipes should come to rest on a layer of gravel in order to be protected from frost.Put plant stones
Once the concrete of the foundation has hardened, the planting stones can be started. The first row of stones is placed on a layer of mortar so that they are firmly attached to the foundation. The free space between the stones and the slope is filled with gravel. It must be thoroughly compacted, otherwise the protective function could suffer. The stones themselves can also be covered with gravel or filled with a mixture of gravel and sand. Alternatively, you can use potting soil here. If the mortar on which the first row of stones sits has dried out, the other rows can be set. It is important to always place them offset towards the slope. The stones in all other rows are also filled. The number of rows depends of course on the planned height of the wall - and this in turn on the size of the slope.
Note: The plant stones must be exactly horizontal. It is therefore advisable to check its position from time to time with a spirit level and readjust it if necessary.
Planting
One of the advantages of plant stones for slope reinforcement is that they can be planted. Plants that are relatively frugal are particularly suitable for this. It is also advisable to cover the soil in the stone with a layer of gravel or mulch to protect it. The planting makes it possible to set visual accents in the garden. The retaining wall is not only very functional, but also an eye-catcher.
Alternatives
Those who shy away from the high expense associated with building a retaining wall and, above all, laying a foundation, can fall back on various alternatives. With these, a slope can basically be fastened. However, they all do not offer the safe protection that can be achieved with a solid retaining wall. However, they are always good for stabilizing hills, embankments and other height differences in the garden.
Gabions
In connection with the slope reinforcement, gabions work in a similar way to a wall. In a sense, they represent a kind of barrier that is supposed to stop the ground that has slipped. In order for this to really work, they must have a high level of stability. Heavy stones inside the gabion's lattice cage therefore ensure that they can only be moved with a considerable amount of force.
A stabilizing foundation, on the other hand, is completely absent and is usually not necessary. The great advantage of gabions is that they
can be removed relatively easily if necessary.Wooden palisade
A wooden palisade made of round beams driven into the ground ultimately fulfills a wall function. It gains stability because a certain part of each individual beam is in the ground. Wooden palisades for fastening slopes certainly have a special visual appeal. However, they are not permanently weatherproof and have to be replaced from time to time sooner or later.
Dry stone wall
A dry stone wall is a wall in which the stones are not fixed with mortar, but are simply stacked on top of one another and wedged into one another. Usually natural stones are used for this.
L-stones
L-stones get their name because they are shaped like the letter "L". They can also be used to build a retaining wall to fortify the slope. The shorter side of the cast stone comes to rest on the ground, the longer one lies at the foot of the slope. There is no separate anchoring of the stones.
Terracing
Basically, a slope or an embankment can also be stabilized by installing artificial terraces. However, this usually also means that higher-lying surfaces have to be additionally supported. In addition, the terracing is extremely complex.
planting
One of the most common triggers for landslides is erosion. A slope or an embankment should therefore always be planted to protect the soil below. Above all, the roots of the plants play an important role. The following applies: Plants with deep roots are better suited than plants with less deep roots. The deep anchoring of the root system in the earth stabilizes the surface and thus prevents it from slipping to a certain extent.
Embankment mats
Embankment mats, mostly made of coconut, are actually only suitable for securing a freshly filled embankment more quickly. They are laid on the ground over a large area in front of the planting before the embankment is planted. Their special structure then ensures that plants find a better hold. The mat can also help hold the surface together, at least for a period of time.
safety
The danger that a landslide can pose should by no means be underestimated. Depending on the location, this can result in enormous damage to property and a lot of trouble. A slope reinforcement is therefore not a luxury, but a smart precautionary measure. Under certain circumstances, it can even be made a condition by the municipality or the state building insurance. Speaking of the municipality: Anyone planning to build a retaining wall should inquire in advance with their municipality or city administration whether they need a building permit and, if in doubt, obtain this.