How to Landscape a steep slope without Retaining walls

Retaining walls are not always the answer. On this job they weren't in the budget. We saved the porch, and created a backyard for 1/2 the cost by focusing on grading and other design ideas.
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[@FromTheHood2TheWoods]

Dude, that’s every kids dream, God bless y’all for letting that little boy play with that excavator. He’s gonna remember that for the rest of his life!

[@chrisweaver3113]

you're an amazing person I truly wish more people was like u now days everyone just wants the money.. this is the first time I've seen or heard of someone helping fix a problem with the less expensive way.. you are a great person God bless you!!

[@tracydotson1487]

Stanley, I can never thank you enough for this particular episode. We purchased a 50's era, "Carolina-style" log cabin, in Asheville, that had a rotting, 8-foot high railroad tie retaining wall, within 6 feet of the kitchen end of the house. By default, I figured I had to replace it with a new retaining wall and was reviewing your and others' youtubes on how to do this. Then I came upon this episode and had an epiphany. We, instead, hired a local landscaping/excavation company to remove the rotting retaining wall, build up a slope from the road below, and also install a low boulder wall at the bottom (their idea, which my wife likes a lot). Not sure if you discuss this, but they also recommended and installed about 12" deep of mulch on the slope, to help absorb runoff; and it has been tested with some torrential rains that generated some significant landslides, in our area. We couldn't be happier and acquired a large, sunny, planting area (the slope) and a parking area, below, as an extra benefit. Again, thanks ever so much for this episode!

[@utubestalker.dotcom]

Thank you for your additional education contribution 👍

[@Ringlawncare]

Perfect Vid Stan! Adding real value with customer feedback, giving their kid a highlight & the options---Perfect!

[@Dirtmonkey]

Appreciate Brian- what are we doing with your backyard? Any decision yet?

[@carlitaearthscapesandconst4355]

Awesome take on hill grading instead of retaining walls! Mind blown!!🤯 ....❤ it!

[@tkleinosky]

Wow, thank you for this. I have been bouncing thru multiple ideas for leveling my yard. As a contractor I’m like oh I’ll build a wall, no problem, well this video gave me the “oh duh” moment and I realize I can just slope the entire yard and keep it usable by having a sloped step in lieu of having a 4ft drop mid yard. And for 1/3 of the cost!

[@MJ-pt4lk]

Nice result there, good work.

[@jrrvockefeller]

I am a professional landscape installer, and I agree with this video. Options are great. However, the so called yard will be decreasing in size after every rain. They should of installed more erosion control barriers. Maybe they did without mentioning it. But overall great alternative to a big wall job.

[@bengmelea8646]

When you say "erosion control barriers" what does this consist of? Benching, drainage and specific fill material?

[@thelouiebrand]

Awesome I’m doing the same thing just on a larger scale. Love your work man.

[@kevinbelport4926]

Thanks for this. We are Looking at degrading our convoluted yard. And now I see we can think outside the box. Semper Fi

[@andersonbardini5812]

I have a similar situation in my house right now- thanks for sharing

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thanks for watching Anderson

[@tiefive]

Great video, I'm in the same scenario with my backyard and this really helps!

[@mrst7434]

what a awesome way of fixing a muck up,,,,nice job guys, way to go ...for saving the customer alot of money ..we need more people like you in the world

[@Dirtmonkey]

I appreciate that, thanks !!

[@macylandscapingretired]

God Bless you Stan. You provide so much useful information in your videos. Your asset to the KZbin landscaping community.

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thank you!

[@victorgaima7649]

It's fantastic, this will guide me enough to work on my site of same nature

[@SSIS69]

Hey fellow Stanna(Australia), Stanno, Stoney meadow haha, you seem like a great man and role model for me. I'm 20 and just started working at a nursery with a little cafe next to it. Great videos and I hope and try to believe I will get to your level. Keep on doing your thing m80. PURE LOVE AND MANY BLESSINGS

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thanks Brother😄👍

[@MagnumVideos]

What a great solution. We are about to buy a new home that built on a slope. It has a stone retaining wall behind pard of it, but below that, it all slopes down into a small creek. Nothing to mow in back yard at all and very little on the side yards. What kind of contractor would I look for to find someone like you that could do a similar job as you did in this video. Very nice result.

[@phillipwilliams6759]

I really like that 3 option plan! 🖒

[@jamiepatterson558]

This is a phenomenal job!

[@tarikwasthere]

Great video! Way to apply horizontal thinking to this problem and coming up with a fantastic solution!

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thank you!

[@Pardeewoodwork]

I love this company

[@sandyovals]

Wow what an amazing idea! Great work!

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thanks Clayton!

[@ExtrovertedCenobite]

Good Job, Good for your business and Good for the customer with multiple benefits!

[@leonardwalker8700]

Your truely inspirational in pushing the limits and becoming a better business person.

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thanks Leonard!

[@TimothyMoananu]

This is awesome!

[@cliffdariff74]

Usually retain walls are within limited property areas. This client had plenty room in back of home to add a gentle slope. The less the slope, the more land needed to spread the fill.

[@DesertJacks]

Thanks for the advice.

[@TheLinkMedic]

Giving the kid that experience was awesome of you guys!

[@lawncarebydanLLC]

Frjends

[@djflexmaster79]

Awesome job man... That looks great.

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thanks😄‼️

[@shanecunningham3421]

Nice job Stan saving them thousands mucho respect for you sir

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thanks Shane!

[@bettyboop1524]

I am currently working on a failing retaining wall at my Kentucky home. My neighborhood is made of hills, slopes and very little flat land. The pricing is out of sight, I'm going to suggest not doing a retaining wall but landscape steps, thanks to your video. It will be interesting to see what reactions I'm going to get. Thank you

[@estebancv6201]

Nice job sr I like your videos I learn from you thanks

[@leevelasquez9667]

Haha! I just liked this video before even watching it. Your videos are always superb Stan!

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thanks Lee😄

[@Mo-OhioTreeRemoval]

Amazing story!!!

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thanks😄👍

[@bettyescookingchannel]

You are a significant problem, solver, and landscaper.

[@cobococreek1224]

Nice vision and work! Hard to beat lots of packed raw Earth in regards to future maintenance...a few loads of rock or dirt can now easily be brought in to fix any sinky spots...I'm a fan of no block walls...access, grading and just simple stacked rocks if need be.

[@wendy-leemorrissirrom8636]

excellent I wish I had a man that would practice this.

[@Dirtmonkey]

😄👍

[@alexaviles9164]

stanley you really are a pro God bless you.👍

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thanks Alex😄

[@joecortez623]

I absolutely loved the little kid helping out. I'm sure he'll never forget that experience...

[@Dirtmonkey]

I agree👍

[@gonecoastal4]

A new operator is born!

[@mikecowan5786]

that's great you let the customers kid help out. we had a pool put in and the guy gave me the key to his excavator and said to load the truck so in the morning he could start rolling out the dirt. I have been fascinated by these since I was born. I started driving backhoes and compactors at age 3 of course I had my dad helping. my neighbors got 2 little boys who I spoil. I always call their daughter and tell her to bring the kids up to play with machines I rent. the 2 of them worked together and actually operated my zero turn without much help.

[@Dirtmonkey]

Very cool Mike!

[@drivanivan]

Good job bro

[@animenut69]

Think I see a future potential employee with that kid. You and your crew did a good job with the back yard

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thanks😄👍

[@NightThings99]

Looks good for now! In 20 plus years there will be ditches forming where the water has to run down hill unless there is some type of drainage system set up.

[@jackhunt79]

Awesome video.

[@jaychatman434]

Great work! I wish you were here in Charlotte to give me ideas

[@kexial3614]

I want to start a landscape Business i kanda have but i like watching your videos they are really use full

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thanks😄👍

[@bleedingumsmurphy4780]

Great vid!

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thank you!

[@DontTrustAnybody75]

Nice looking soil...

[@bettyboop1524]

I'm currently going through hell because of a timber retaining wall that is failing. I don't know who or when the wall was put in, but now I'm trying to deal with it. I'd love to have a slope replace the ugly wall, but finding it impossible to find anyone in Louisville, KY who will do that type of work. My land is on the high side of the wall and neighbor is on low side of wall next to driveway. The quotes I've received are insane for a repair of a wall that is 7-8' high and the length gets lower as it gets near house. Wish I could find someone like you that could help a person on a fixed income. The video is very interesting. Thank you

[@Dirtmonkey]

Best of luck Betty and thanks for commenting

[@patricksangermain1629]

You gotta good thing going brother keep goin

[@nosferatu_13]

incredible! wish i had you guys here in South Africa. Great job!

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thank you Nosferatu!

[@lxzar1211]

HI Stanley thanks for uploading.. great video.. here's and idea ...you should do business seminars (on the side) and encourage people about "possibility thinking " .You have enough experience from your construction/landscaping business to draw analogies from ..In this day and age that's what people need to hear.Take care

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thank you for the comments and I will keep that suggestion in mind !

[@derekcomingo2197]

love that idea. def thinking outside the box. looks great. good work. def new subscriber and will be watching most of your videos

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thanks Derek!

[@edstimator1]

IDK....the guy gets paid to move dirt...he moved dirt....how far out of the box is that? If he built retaining walls for a living he probably would have pitched a retaining wall.

[@derekcomingo2197]

@@edstimator1 well he does. He had 3 options for customer. Are u drunk lol. All good

[@saurabhmeets]

I have the similar situation where the back of my house has a big hill. I would like to remove the rotting retaining wall and grade the hill to end little further.

[@lmd6204]

We just had a new garage installed next to our home. The garage is slightly higher than the house, therefore the new walkways between the house and garage are considerably higher than the original walkways. The sidewalks are on a slight sloping hill, with the highest part ~3 feet from the original ground. Our dilemma is that the soil under the sidewalk will washout if we don't install an expensive retaining wall. Can we install soil sloping down from the elevated sidewalks??

[@donohoe71]

You're at it again Stanley!!! Child labour. Great video, what a vision and final job

[@caseyfenton90]

It's videos/projects like this that make me believe I may have a future in this business. I'm starting by buying a dump truck (or possibly leasing). Going to try to crack into excavation and landscape design from that. Bad idea?

[@brandonmooney2048]

you are good a good man 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thanks Brandon😄👍

[@elneneeserio]

sooo cool man

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thanks!

[@darrenbender4304]

I love this video and agree with the way the options were analysed and considered. My only concern is that there doesn't appear to have been appropriate compaction to the fill. Excavators and Skid-steer loaders do not exert enough comparative force for this soil to be properly compacted. lastly, I would personally have liked to have seen sub surface drainage installed against the connection point between the institute earth batter and the added fill material.

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thanks for the input 👍

[@RickyShockleyMusic]

Man this is exactly the problem we have with our yard here in TN. Steep slope down from the back but we don't want to REMOVE dirt to lower the entire yard because there is a sidewalk and road down at the end of the back yard property line. We are wanting to add fill to level the yard UP. Is this what you'd recommend? Just slope down at the end?

[@grovegmk4115]

Man i turn 18 next year, and it's been a life long dream to own a landscape Business and excavation business. Can't wait to start XD

[@Dirtmonkey]

Start now. No need to wait😄👍

[@grovegmk4115]

Yeah i wish, Sadly being the first in my family to want to start a business i don't really have the background that a lot of people get. So plans are to finish school. As soon as i'm done get all my heavy equitment tickets and work for a bussiness for 3-4 years. just getting the lay of the job and saving. And when i feel ready start to fund my own

[@shaymoose17]

Customers definitely appreciate you doing the thinking outside of the box to save them money. They issue a lot of trust in your vision by doing so. Great vid Stanley! Did you guys by chance just bury those timber walls for a little added stability?

[@Dirtmonkey]

Yes exactly. We buried them because they were added stability 😄👍

[@carlotta4th]

The timber will rot and decay over time eventually becoming compost--and that will fill a LOT less space than the timber itself so you're actually going to see some collapse in those areas over a long enough span of time.

[@GT-fb8nv]

The world could benefit from more people like you. God bless.

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thanks! :)

[@GT-fb8nv]

Stanley "Dirt Monkey" Genadek I am officially subscriber # 24,397. I need to see what all you have been up to. 2 vids and you hooked me. :)))

[@TahirChaudhryartist]

I don't like or interact with youtube videos, but your videos are different. Now i just come to youtube just to see your videos. :D

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thanks but you know I may run out of videos haha.

[@nancybane1054]

idea to get more useable / flat backyard by bringing in engineered fill. No retaining walls

[@Dirtmonkey]

I just toured this job 3 years later and the slope is covered in wildflowers. It turned out amazing.

[@GrassDaddy]

they are going to rave about you for years, goes from oh he did a good job to wow he's a genious, smart!

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thanks Brother!

[@TheJuggie1986]

that would be "genius"....sorry I couldn't resist! Ha!

[@Dirtmonkey]

+Peter Dreibelbies 😄👍

[@GrassDaddy]

lol I bad with the spelling, and grammer

[@Dirtmonkey]

+Grass Daddy ha! Same here brother😄👍

[@jonathanbartsch9728]

I really appreciate your attitude and way of doing business. I love it when I can save people thousands also1 God Bless you too! :)

[@786otto]

A great idea especially when you can get paid to get rid off the soil and paid again to use it. At the same time, everyone is satisfied with it.

[@deanpd3402]

How good was that? Loved seeing that boy doing that. Teach em young!

[@mazzalawncare]

Long time viewer. Love the videos and knowledge you share. The amount of work you put into the videos really show though. Do you every factor in the long term cost of maintenance? Also, it looks really difficult and dangerous to mow that hill!

[@Dirtmonkey]

I do- I go over the plus and minus of every option. In this case the hill will be planted with wildflowers and never mowed.

[@ivani8511]

How did you support the added soil. That is what I was hoping to see. Did you just compacted it?

[@mrapma]

Wouldn't the soil wash away ? How do you handle erosion on this project?

[@entertainmentvlogs5120]

Very good work sir I act responsibly. You will not face any problem from my side. I will work hard

[@jasonmaloney6148]

Stanley, great videos.My wife and I have recently moved from Los Angeles to Tennessee and are closing on 1 1/2 acre with ranch style home existing but our back yard looks straight up into the trees and step slope. Question: would the process be similar with cutting out in a hillside and moving that dirt to the front which could use some leveling?

[@bugpower18t]

what did you end up doing...bought a home in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and he have slope back and front. I'd love to move some dirt from the back to the Front.

[@saurabhmeets]

I have the similar situation where the back of my house has a big hill. I would like to remove the rotting retaining wall and grade the hill to end little further.

[@devinmcgrath7945]

Another great video. Did you just do the slope by looks or did you engineer it to be the right slope??

[@Dirtmonkey]

We designed it to be around 2-1

[@Kelly-zv7uk]

Wow. Great job. Where are you guys located?

[@grouchygirl6577]

Looks like my back yard

[@godbluffvdgg]

:)...Lucky guys to have enough area to run an excavator...Too many times we can only do manpower because you can't get ANY machine around the pools or walls...You guys probably make lots more money too...:)...Stay safe and thank the gods for your luck!

[@juanrendontorres174]

just a question. did the timbers and most of the cut down trees covered with fill? i have a similar project, im a concrete guy but i like this idea... feed back plz.

[@dysfunctional7714]

After time your trees will decompose causing dips all through your yard

[@sold1million]

noce job

[@Dirtmonkey]

Thanks!

[@alienagent8819]

Yep

[@GlennGoryl]

I know you must install a "key" (or similar terminology) at the bottom of the slope first to prevent the slope from moving downhill. Other than the one at the bottom, they are supposed to be installed every so many feet as you rise. Do you know what the distance between "keys" is? Great video!

[@LightGesture]

Can you elaborate? I've never heard of this terminology

[@TravisInCanada1]

Buddy is like oh you are talking and recording on camera? Let me start this Excavator up 20feet behind you. 😂

[@ksoutdoorlighting]

Great idea! Was looking at doing this to my backyard. Question... How do you mow the slope?

[@terrythomas790]

Theres a small barn at the bottom with a goat.

[@LDSKIPPER1911]

Kevin S you don’t mow the slope. I put down erosion grids, river rocks and mulch, and added shrubs and plants.

[@upstairs202]

I was wondering about two things. The mowing for one and the comment mom made about sledding off the slope. The trees may impede that activity.

[@LouisDilonardo]

but you didn't show how you did it. was it anything other than packing dirt down?

[@edstimator1]

no, it's not

[@EastyUK]

Maybe something like geocell kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZqmfoFjqsR0ipI

[@dgomes265]

Great end result but Many ravines are managed by the local conservation authorities and do not permit the grading of the slopes and removal of trees.

[@12vLife]

I wonder how many yards of fill soil? I have a 1/4 acre vacant lot in central Florida with a 3' dip in the middle and the back is 6' higher than the front. It's soft sandy soil. I'd like to create a high plato in the center and back with a 5'w x 3'd sloped ditch around perimeter and have a very low island in the front (30%) in the front for landscaping heavy vegetation. Can a job like that be done with just skit steer bobcat and what can I expect to pay? I'd love to learn how to operate a bobcat, but seems like a tough job.

[@nkhs4860]

I am from different state, would like to get your consultation (will pay) on a project, how do I contact you.

[@adr1ana1000]

I wish you are in mexico. I need this done in my house . And has a slope.

[@oldredcoonhound2182]

did you just wheel/track pack the fill, or use vibratory compactor?

[@billwilson5341]

Good question. No answer :-(

[@cjm27831]

That probably means it wasn't packed correctly

[@elifernandez3769]

Jason Mccormick we use our bobcat T650 skid loader. It's a track machine and weighs about 9,000lbs, that's plenty to pack. It's more of how you pack rather than with what. You have to go thin layers at a time. You pack it by running it over with your tracks while having a full bucket of dirt to add weight. Do that and you can get dirt rock hard. Besides there's no way he could have maneuvered a roller packer in their backyard.

[@stevenwingate3567]

Eliud Fernandez i would of done it the same iv seen smaller iron get better numbers than bigger stuff then lifts and track it in

[@100toeface]

is there a way to do this on a much smaller scale for a property which cannot be accessed by bobcats because there is a narrow path to the property? only needs to be a 7 meter square circular area that is flat on a steep hill

[@lovealwaysjasmine]

Can I do this with my driveway? I have a huge ditch/slope just outside my garage. If I backup too much I’ll end up in the ditch 😳

[@edstimator1]

No sir....it is against the law to fill in a hole near a driveway. Just be careful when you back up!

[@a-veteranlandscapesitework2413]

Wish I could give this video a million likes. I am now seeing this after watching the retaining wall video. I may go with this to try to save my client some money.

[@Dirtmonkey]

Let me know how it turns out😄👍

[@orangeisnon]

I need to do something similar with my backyard. We have a steep wooded hill with no retaining walls and want to extend and level off another 10-20 feet to create a backyard and space for a small shed. What would the kind of company that does this be called? Landscaper? Contractor? Trying to figure out who to contact. Thanks for the great video.

[@JA-jm8bk]

Do a video on a house at the bottom of a steep hillside.

[@bigredsimulations7558]

Stanley, I have a customer that has a very steep back yard, she has indicated that she would like to have something done where they can enjoy the area. She has mentioned maybe having a retaining wall installed, or possibly one large flower bed. I have always been a part of the maintenance aspect of this business, never the construction side, so needless to say I am a little out of my element. It is something I would like to provide but have very limited knowledge in, where should I start?

[@Dirtmonkey]

Serious question-How do you eat an elephant? Answer is -one bite at a time. So use that analogy to breakdown your jobs into manageable bite sized pieces. Don't get overwhelmed by looking at the big picture. Make that big picture into a whole bunch of small easy pictures.

[@lionsconstruction6165]

Great video video man thank you very much God bless

[@chuchonation]

Can you link to the project video

[@ameliaramos7424]

Hi my name is Amelia and I have the some problem on the back of my house how can I get it fix

[@berkeleydojah]

stanley, i have a retaining wall that is full of dirt and there is a house around 15 feet above where the wall begins, the wall is about a 15 ft slope going upwards. with 2 moderately sized trees around 35 years old. i want to completely remove this big patch of dirt. which this big dirt wall is about 50 ft in width as well. and was thinking to add some storage in that area. if i were to move dirt out of the wall would it affect my neighbor above it?

[@Dirtmonkey]

It could very possibly affect your neighbor. Ito depends on drainage patterns and the type of soil. It sounds risky.

[@stacywhite2641]

what was the slope degree of the hill after it was all finished?