Installing a sprinkler system in your yard makes it much easier to keep your lawn green and healthy, and it also allows the grass on your lawn to survive during long droughts. One drawback of installing sprinklers, however, is that doing so can cause problems with soil erosion on your property.
When soil is saturated from being watered with sprinklers in the morning, rain later in the day is more likely to puddle on the surface of the soil instead of soaking into it. The water on the surface will carry away small bits of topsoil, causing soil erosion. It will pile up at the bottom of the slopes, causing a muddy mess, and it will also slowly make the slopes on your property steeper as more of the soil is carried away by rain.
One way that you can fight soil erosion is by installing retaining walls at the bottom of slopes. A retaining wall traps the soil before it can be washed away, preventing erosion. To learn when you may need to put retaining walls on your property to prevent erosion when you install a new sprinkler system, read on.
Your Yard's Soil Has a High Clay Content
Clay soil is very fine, which makes it prone to erosion. The tiny soil particles are light, so they're easily carried away by standing water on the surface. If you know that the soil on your property has a large amount of clay in it, you should consider installing retaining walls to prevent it from being washed away.
You Have a Steep Slope on Your Property
Steep slopes are more vulnerable to losing soil during heavy rainfall because water flows down them more quickly. The fast-moving water is capable of carrying away more topsoil with it. If you have a steep slope on your property, you may need to build a retaining wall at the bottom to prevent the soil on the slope from being washed downhill.
Your Property Slopes Towards Your Home's Foundation or Driveway
If your home is situated in a valley, you'll most likely need to install a retaining wall to protect it when you have your sprinkler system installed. Runoff from rain can cause damage to your home's foundation and your driveway if it flows next to it. Installing a retaining wall around your home or your driveway will stop it from being damaged by rainwater runoff, as it will collect any soil and water that flows downhill when it rains.
Contact a professional for more information about retaining walls.
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