Burien Slope Stabilization Services

Hey Burien! If you’ve got a steep yard with clay soils and our infamous winter rains, you know how quickly things can go sideways. When water has a plan, it can turn your slope into a slippery mess, and that’s where we swoop in! Here at Neat & Tidy Landscaping, we focus on drainage solutions, intelligent planting, and well-structured designs to keep your hillside intact, efficiently drained, and ready for you to enjoy your outdoor space.

We proudly serve neighborhoods across Admiral, Alaska Junction, Alki, Fauntleroy, Arbor Heights, Delridge, Gatewood, High Point, Morgan Junction, and Roxhill. No matter where you are in the city, we’ve got your slope stabilization needs covered!

What’s the Problem?

You might be dealing with some common headaches:

• Seasonal slumps or rills that appear after heavy storms.
• Bare slopes that are overrun by weeds and lose mulch faster than you can replace it.
• Downspouts that dump water directly onto your slope, creating mini rivers.
• Old timber edging or failing rocks that seem to be on a downhill journey.
• Temporary fixes like fabric and bark that wash away in a blink.

What We Build (function first, aesthetics second)

We’re all about creating solutions that work effectively, and here’s how we tackle your slope stabilization:

• Drainage Controls — We implement intercept swales, French drains, dispersion trenches, splash pads, and safe outlets to redirect water flow.
• Erosion-Control Surfaces — Utilizing jute/coconut (coir) netting, straw wattles, and coir logs placed strategically to slow and disperse water.
• Vegetated Stabilization — We plant deep-rooted, PNW-native shrubs and groundcovers in a grid pattern, plus live stakes in wetter areas to promote stability.
• Rockeries & Small Retaining Walls — We rebuild gravity rockeries and construct low walls (under 4 feet) with proper drainage, fabric separation, and weep/pipe systems.
• Terracing & Access Paths — Creating landings, hillside steps, and safe service paths so you can easily maintain your bank.

Just a heads-up: if you need a tall retaining wall or live in an ECA (Environmentally Critical Area), you’ll likely need a geotechnical engineer and permits. We’ll help you navigate that early in the process!

Our Method (why it actually holds)

Here’s how we ensure your slope stays put:

1. Assess Water & Soil — We analyze shot grades, soil types, and existing seeps, plus water contributions from neighbors.
2. Control Water Inputs — We divert roof water into solid piping and a legal outlet while stopping sheet flow at the top.
3. Stabilize the Surface — We use coir/jute and wattles placed on contour and plant immediately through the netting.
4. Planting for Stability — We employ dense, layered natives like salal, evergreen huckleberry, kinnikinnick, oceanspray, and deer ferns, grouped together rather than scattered.
5. Right-Sized Structures — We build rockeries, add short tiers, or create low walls with proper bases, drainage, and geogrid as necessary.
6. Finish for Maintenance — We ensure access steps, mower/handline edges, and mulch (2–3 inches) are securely anchored under the netting—not just floating above it.

Quick Specs We Aim For

• Netting: 7–8 oz coir/jute pinned every 18–24 inches; overlaps 6–12 inches.
• Wattles/Coir Logs: Placed on contour 10–20 feet apart vertically (depending on slope) and staked at 3–4 feet intervals.
• Plant Density: 1–1.5 plants per square foot for groundcover; 3–5 feet stagger for shrubs; live stakes 18–24 inches apart in wet areas.
• Mulch: 2–3 inches of fine bark or wood chips under the netting on steep sections; avoid loose rock mulch on fast slopes.
• Drain Fall: Target ~1% (⅛ inch per foot) minimum on conveyance lines; must daylight or disperse according to code.

Reality Checks (no sugar-coating)

Let’s keep it real:

• Water wins. If you don’t redirect it, the slope will take care of it—somewhere you won’t like.
• Fabric on bare clay with bark thrown on top is not stabilization; it’s just a slip layer.
• Removing large trees can destabilize soils; pruning or underplanting is often a better option.
• Big walls require proper design; we won’t simply stack materials and hope for the best.

Our Annual Maintenance Plan

To keep your slope in tip-top shape, we offer:

• Storm Season Checks — Inspecting wattles, pins, and inlets after the first big fall rains.
• Vegetation Establishment — Hand-watering deep roots in the first year and spot-irrigating hotter/south-facing areas.
• Weed & Invasive Control — We patrol for blackberries and ivy to ensure a healthy native canopy.
• Edge & Access Upkeep — Keeping paths and steps safe so you can easily reach those tricky spots.

We’re all about low-maintenance landscaping. Our goal is to reduce your headaches between visits and make your life easier!

Service Cadences

• Quarterly — Perfect for fall storm prep, winter/spring checks, and summer tidying.
• Bi-Monthly — Recommended for active slopes, new installations, or heavy water inputs.

(Fresh builds often start monthly for 60–90 days, then we taper off.)

What Annual Maintenance Includes

• Cleaning out inlets/outlets and flushing cleanouts where installed.
• Re-pinning netting/wattles and replacing any that have floated away after storms.
• Topping up mulch where it’s thin and raking it back from stems.
• Cutting back and filling in plants to achieve density targets.
• Providing photo updates and a simple slope log so you can track trends.

Why Annual Maintenance Matters

• Prevents rills before they develop into gullies.
• Keeps roots winning — dense cover outcompetes weeds and prevents erosion.
• Protects paths & patios below the slope from damage.
• Saves you money — small resets can avoid costly major rebuilds down the line.

How It Works

1. Free Estimate — We can do a quick walkthrough or check out your photos for straightforward, upfront pricing.
2. Plan & Permits — We develop a drainage plan, select materials, and create a plant palette while flagging any ECA/engineering needs.
3. Build Day(s) — We start with drainage, then lay down stabilization layers, and finish with planting and access paths.
4. Follow-Up — We provide a watering and establishment guide along with a tailored maintenance schedule.

Why Burien Chooses Neat & Tidy

• We’re a local crew that understands Burien’s clay pockets, marine-layer rains, wind corridors, and tight alleys.
• Licensed & insured; we always call 811 and adhere to permitting rules when needed.
• Transparent pricing — labor, materials, hauling, and disposal are all included.
• We pride ourselves on clean, respectful work (no bark avalanches left behind!).
• Our green-first approach emphasizes native plants, smart drainage, and keeping landfill waste low.

Ready to make that hill behave?

Call or text Neat & Tidy today for a slope plan that redirects water, nurtures roots, and keeps everything stable. Let us take care of it so you can enjoy your beautiful Burien landscape worry-free!