The Wasatch Mountain Range is a rich source of water for the country as it harbors one of the most important watershed areas. Just as you are constantly reminded to protect the area from erosion and other problems when you go out hiking, your home landscape should not endure the most of falling or moving rainwater. Water will create mudslides out there, and create problems for homeowners albeit on a minor scale. That is if it operates uncontrollably. Your much-loved landscape could be a remarkable sight today, only to be destroyed by erosion within days or weeks. Nevertheless, water is not the only cause of the erosion.
Causes of Landscape Erosion
People walking through a landscaped area can remove ground cover and compress some parts of it. This makes it easier for water and other erosion agents to wear away at the whole area. A good landscape expert will advise you to design walkways and designate the toughest, hardiest areas of the landscape for playing and foot traffic. Planting certain plants can help control foot traffic.
In relation to water, too much of it and poor drainage are the biggest challenges for homeowners. Falling water from the gutters is capable of damaging landscape surfaces beyond repair. Rainwater overflowing from the gutters may cause extensive damage to the building itself, so if this is a problem for you, you had better solve it soon. Here are some suggestions for how to do that
1. Install Gutters and Downspouts Properly
Gutter and downspout installation is not a job for everyone. Things like gutter pitch and distance of downspouts from the foundation must be taken into account. Ideally, the spouts should connect to the drainage system so that they can take the water as far away from the property as possible. If you have never checked if the gutters are the cause of the landscape erosion, take an umbrella during a downpour and check for wetness on the walls and foundation.
2. Clean the Gutters
Rain gutter cleanout in Salt Lake City should be done around twice a year, but this is not always the case for some homeowners. Cleaning the gutters offers the opportunity to identify ice dams, vermin, and mold. You can either do it yourself or hire a contractor.
3. Improve Soil Grading
In the ideal case, your landscape is designed in such a way that water drains away from the foundation towards the drainage. Unfortunately, some of the landscapers in Salt Lake City sometimes get it wrong. In their designs, rainwater is trapped and pools around the home. Inevitably, you will need to redo the landscape design all over again in such a case.
4. Divert Water Runoff
Water flowing from the neighbor may also damage your landscape, especially if you are on a lower elevation. Since it may not be the neighbors fault, you want to find a way of minimizing the effect. There are several solutions to try. First, you can create a swale to divert the water to a safer area. You can also re-route the rainwater to a storm drain.
Landscape erosion can escalate and create larger issues if not handled immediately. If you are able to identify the issue and solve it on your own, then do so. However, you want to call an expert landscaper or gutter professional in case you have any doubts about your home repair skills.