Des Moines Slope Stabilization Services

Hey, Des Moines! If your yard has steep slopes with stubborn clay soils and you’ve experienced those pesky winter rains, you know how quickly erosion can turn your outdoor space into a slippery situation. When water starts flowing, it can wreak havoc, but fear not! At Neat & Tidy Landscaping, we’re here to help with our specialized services in drainage solutions, strategic planting, and sturdy structures that keep your hillside intact and ready for you to enjoy.

What’s the Problem?

Here are some common headaches you might be facing:

• Seasonal slumps or rills forming after heavy rains.
• Bare slopes that are home to weeds rather than lush greenery.
• Downspouts that send torrents of water right onto your precious bank.
• Old timber edging or rocks that are losing the battle against gravity.
• Quick fixes like fabric and bark that wash away in no time.

What We Build (function first, aesthetics second)

Our focus is on creating solutions that work! Here’s how we tackle your slope stabilization:

• Drainage Controls — We implement features like intercept swales, French drains, dispersion trenches, splash pads, and safe outlets to redirect water flow effectively.
• Erosion-Control Surfaces — Utilizing jute/coconut (coir) netting, straw wattles, and coir logs to slow down and disperse water runoff.
• Vegetated Stabilization — We plant robust, native shrubs and groundcovers in a strategic grid pattern, plus live stakes in wetter areas to promote root stability.
• Rockeries & Small Retaining Walls — We can rebuild gravity rockeries and construct low walls (under 4 feet) with proper drainage systems and fabric separation.
• Terracing & Access Paths — Creating landings, hillside steps, and safe service paths ensures you can maintain your bank without a hitch.

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. Don’t worry; we’ll guide you through that process!

Our Method (ensuring stability)

Here’s our step-by-step approach to keeping your slope stable:

1. Assess Water & Soil — We analyze grades, soil types, existing seeps, and water sources from nearby properties.
2. Control Water Inputs — We redirect roof water using solid piping and legal outlets while managing sheet flow at the top.
3. Stabilize the Surface — We lay down coir/jute netting and wattles placed on contour, immediately planting through the netting.
4. Planting for Stability — Our planting strategy includes dense, layered natives like salal, evergreen huckleberry, kinnikinnick, oceanspray, and deer ferns grouped together.
5. Right-Sized Structures — We construct rockeries, add short tiers, or create low walls with appropriate bases and drainage solutions.
6. Finish for Maintenance — We ensure access steps, edges, and mulch (2–3 inches) are securely anchored below the netting for long-lasting results.

Quick Specs We Aim For

• Netting: 7–8 oz coir/jute pinned every 18–24 inches with overlaps 6–12 inches.
• Wattles/Coir Logs: Positioned 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: Aim for ~1% (⅛ inch per foot) minimum on conveyance lines; must daylight or disperse per code.

Reality Checks (keeping it real)

Let’s be straight with you:

• Water wins. If you don’t redirect it, your slope will find its own way—usually somewhere undesirable.
• Fabric on bare clay topped with bark is not stabilization; it’s merely a band-aid.
• Removing large trees can destabilize soils; consider pruning or underplanting instead.
• Big walls need proper design; we don’t just stack materials and hope it holds.

Our Annual Maintenance Plan

To keep your slope looking its best, we offer:

• Storm Season Checks — We inspect wattles, pins, and inlets after the first major rains.
• Vegetation Establishment — Hand-watering deep roots in the first year and monitoring hotter/south-facing areas.
• Weed & Invasive Control — We patrol for invasive species like blackberries and ivy to promote a healthy native canopy.
• Edge & Access Upkeep — We maintain safe paths and steps for easy access to your hillside.

We prioritize low-maintenance landscaping to reduce your stress between visits and keep your outdoor space thriving!

Service Cadences

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

(Fresh builds often start monthly for 60–90 days, tapering off after that.)

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 thinned and raking it back from plant stems.
• Pruning and filling in plants to achieve desired density.
• Providing photo updates and a simple slope log for tracking trends.

Why Annual Maintenance Matters

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

How It Works

1. Free Estimate — We can do a quick walkthrough or review your photos for straightforward pricing.
2. Plan & Permits — We develop a drainage plan, select materials, and create a plant palette while marking any ECA/engineering needs.
3. Build Day(s) — We kick off with drainage, lay down stabilization layers, and wrap up with planting and access paths.
4. Follow-Up — You’ll receive a watering and establishment guide along with a tailored maintenance schedule.

Why Des Moines Chooses Neat & Tidy

• We’re a local team that understands Des Moines’s specific soil conditions, weather patterns, and neighborhood characteristics.
• Licensed & insured; we always call 811 and stick to permitting rules when needed.
• Transparent pricing — labor, materials, hauling, and disposal are all included in our quotes.
• We take pride in clean, respectful work—no mess left behind!
• Our green-first approach emphasizes native plants, smart drainage, and environmentally friendly practices.

Ready to make that hill behave?

Call or text Neat & Tidy today for a slope plan that redirects water, nurtures roots, and keeps your landscape stable. Let us handle the hard work so you can relax and enjoy your beautiful Des Moines yard worry-free!