Having a sloped garden is troublesome enough as it is. Not only will you have issues mowing the lawn, but gardening will also be challenging.
Fortunately, if you have a slope, you can garden as you usually would. You only need to change your approach when it comes to a few things, such as putting mulch down.
If you put mulch down, then it’s likely going to roll away down the slope at some point. You can still get ideal results if you know how to fix the mulch to the soil.
So, keep reading this guide to know all the best ways to keep mulch in place on a slope. Let’s dive in!
How to Keep Mulch in Place on a Slope
Mulch is a crucial part of gardening. It provides essential nutrients to your soil and reduces the need for watering.
If you have a sloped garden, you don’t need to compromise. You can still put down mulch if you follow some of these helpful tips:
1. Ensure That You’re Using Terraces
Terraces are crucial when you’re gardening on a slope. That’s because some slopes will be so steep that it’ll become impossible to plant a garden without making use of terraced sections.
Essentially, terraces create a flat surface, giving your soil a place to stay. So, you can plant things properly without worrying about them rolling down the slope.
If you use it properly, a terrace can also help your mulch stay in place. Make sure you choose the right terrace design for your garden, especially if you’re dealing with a particularly steep slope.
However, terraces can also be a lifesaver in the case of a slight slope. They mitigate the problems that you might encounter with slopes in the future. Accordingly, you’ll keep everything where it needs to be, and your gardening experience will be much simpler!
2. Consider Using a Trench
Dealing with a slope is tricky. Even if you do things right, some mulch can fall or get blown away in the wind. In this case, digging a trench would be the perfect solution to catch your mulch if it happens to fall.
Instead of the fallen mulch trashing the rest of your garden, digging a trench will ensure the mulch gets trapped. Then, you can simply grab it out of the trench and put it back where it needs to go.
This is a simple idea that winds up paying off big-time for those who are willing to put in the work. In particular, if your garden has extreme slopes, a trench can come in handy, saving you endless time, effort, and resources.
After all, you won’t need to constantly clean up fallen mulch or get new mulch to replace it!
3. Opt for a Different Type of Mulch
Some types of mulch won’t do an ideal job when it comes to staying in place. That’s only natural, as some types of mulch are lighter than others, so they can easily get blown away.
For example, using pine mulch on a slope would be a bad idea, as it’ll simply fall off, even if it’s a slight slope.
Alternatively, you should go for heavier mulch, such as wood chips or nuggets.
That said, not all wood chips are heavy enough. Some wood chips are a bit light and will easily get displaced by the slightest breeze.
Shredded bark, in particular, is ideal for sloped areas. Not only is this mulch heavy enough, but the bark pieces also get tangled together, helping them stay in one spot.
Even if you use terraces and dig a trench, it’s always ideal to pick heavier mulch.
4. Avoid Using Plastic Lining Under Your Mulch
Plastic lining is beneficial for your garden, as it keeps weeds and other issues at bay. When it comes to slopes, plastic lining makes it harder for the mulch to stay in place.
Since the plastic is too smooth, using it on flat surfaces is risky enough. So, using plastic lining means you’ll probably lose much more mulch than usual, even if you do everything else on this list.
Yet, how do you keep your soil moist and smother out weeds?
Well, adding another layer of mulch can significantly enhance your soil, as well as provide more traction for the rest of the mulch to grab onto. This way, you can prevent the mulch from moving while still protecting your garden.
5. Make Use of Netting
Making use of netting is a fantastic idea when dealing with an extreme slope. The netting is installed in a way that catches the mulch and keeps it from going down the slope.
You don’t need to get a specific type of landscape netting! In fact, regular netting has been designed specifically to help people with this problem.
All you have to do is pin the landscape netting in place using landscaping pins. Then, you won’t have to worry about cleaning up fallen mulch or replacing the lost amount.
Keep in mind that the netting should have small enough holes. Otherwise, the mulch will pass through the net, rolling down the slope.
The main downside to landscape netting is that it isn’t visually appealing. The net might clash with your gorgeous garden, making it so that you aren’t able to see your plants as well.
For this reason, installing landscapes really won’t be necessary if you’re dealing with slight slopes. However, it works perfectly for steep slopes.
Still, if you’re frequently losing mulch and want a stop to your problem once and for all, landscape netting is the solution. The best part is that it’s cheap and easy to install.
6. Landscape Edging Is an Option
Landscape edging is another exceptional option that will keep your mulch in place. Simply put, landscape edging creates a border that separates your mulch from the rest of the garden.
This isn’t only for slopes. Instead, people use landscape edging normally to keep their gardens separate from other areas of the yard. These edges are also a charming addition to the garden.
Don’t worry, though! You won’t need to install a tall fence. Landscape edging involves using small bricks to split up your yard.
There are different types of landscape edging on the market that you can choose from. You can find simple landscape edging that’s designed to get the job done. That said, some landscape edges are gorgeous, doubling as garden ornaments.
Keep in mind that not all landscape edging is suitable for slopes. So, you should pick the right type. As for keeping mulch in place, if you can secure the landscape edging to the ground properly, it should do an excellent job of holding your mulch.
7. Punching in the Mulch
While this solution requires more work, it’ll effectively keep your mulch in place even if you’re working with a steep slope.
Punching, or edging the mulch, is a process where you affix the mulch to the soil. Usually, this works best with straw or hay mulch, which is light and can easily get blown away by the wind.
Well, using a garden spade, you can punch the mulch into the soil in a fixed square pattern. Your soil should have a tufted appearance, with the cut-in mulch perpendicular to the soil. Then, the straw in between will remain in place.
Essentially, the punched-in mulch will act as small fencing for the rest of your mulch, preventing it from rolling down the slope!
Final Thoughts
If you’re dealing with a slope in your yard, you don’t have to wave your gardening dreams goodbye! Instead, a couple of alterations to your yard will allow you to still have a healthy, gorgeous garden.
For example, terraces, trenches, and landscape edging are great ways to keep your mulch from rolling down the slope. You also need to consider the nature of your mulch to ensure that you’re making the right choices.
Choosing a heavier mulch means it’s less likely to get blown away in the wind or roll down the slope. If this isn’t an option, though, you can opt for landscape netting, or punching in the mulch.
All in all, mulching is still doable if you have a slope. Even if you only implement a couple of the above tips, you’ll immediately transform your garden.
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.