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Crumbling, undulating, wavy bank - out of ideas

peetzpeetz Posts: 5
edited May 2019 in Problem solving
We moved into our home 5 1/2 years ago and have looked at this unsightly bank almost everyday thinking what to do with it. We’ve tried planting along the top but things soon died off due to it being so rocky and draining well. The bank does not have a flat top and is quite sheer in places too, therefore not having a “top” to plant into. Over the few years we have lived here we have noticed that the bank seems to be crumbling away and is at a point where we really need to do something with it. We don’t have a huge budget to deal with this.

All ideas welcome. Thanks.

Posts

  • peetzpeetz Posts: 5
    pansyface said:
    Hire a skip and dig some of it out to make it less steep or maybe terraced?
    Thanks. I’d be worried the bit that was left would crumble away. Next door’s garden is approx. 2 foot higher so it sort of retains it a bit I guess. As you can probably tell I’m a complete novice, but I’m happy to get stuck in.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Do you know why it's there? What's behind the fence?
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    edited May 2019
    What is it, actually? A pile of builder's rubble? Are there stones in there or bits of block? Or is it an earth bank with lumps?
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • peetzpeetz Posts: 5
    B3 said:
    Do you know why it's there? What's behind the fence?
    Next doors garden is just lawn, about 2 foot higher than ours.
  • peetzpeetz Posts: 5
    raisingirl said:
    What is it, actually? A pile of builder's rubble? Are there stones in there or bits of block? Or is it an earth bank with lumps?
    I don’t think there is builders rubble in there but it’s very rocky and crumbly.
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    I'd certainly try and terrace it, a wall like this but half the height would be the cheapest/quickest way, but not as long lived as a sleeper wall.

    Image result for cheap timber retaining wall

    To get plants established you'll need to add plenty of compost, and select plants tolerant of poor dry soils.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    WillDB said:

    To get plants established you'll need to add plenty of compost, and select plants tolerant of poor dry soils.
    And there are lots of those. Is it sunny? 
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • peetzpeetz Posts: 5
    edited May 2019
    raisingirl said:
    WillDB said:

    To get plants established you'll need to add plenty of compost, and select plants tolerant of poor dry soils.
    And there are lots of those. Is it sunny? 
    @WillDBThat looks ideal. Would sleepers need to be supported with uprights too?

    @raisingirl yes, very sunny 😎 but very windy 💨 We’re on top of a hill.
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