I wish I could draw a picture. At a house I own in WV, there is a steep drop from the road to the side of the house. Maybe 7 feet at most in linear feet. Probably a 15 foot drop vertically.
Ten years ago my Dad built a retaining wall with landscaping ties, long 2 X 4 s in the ground and lag bolts holding the two together. The gutter on that side has been leaking and today I fixed the leak. But:
The erosion of the hill has pressed against this wall. The 2 X 4 tops are exposed and the lag bolts are backing out. The wall has a definite lean towards the house.
Is there any solution other than rebuilding the wall? A ratchet against the lag bolts only splits the landscaping ties. I guess I can live with the leaning…any tips on preventing further erosion or am I fighting a losing battle and need to rebuild?
You probably need to rebuild. Hydro-static pressure is a pretty relentless force. Nothing against your father, but 2x4s are not good for lateral support, as they are too flexible. Without seeing the area and not knowing how large it is, the best bet is to hire a company that does this for a living to build a retaining wall. They will drive in anchors untill they hit point of refusal, then fill the holes with concrete or other agent to make sure nothing moves. I had to have this done for a public housing unit that was part of the properties we managed for the state. Granted, it was a much more severe problem than what you’re having, as a mudslide had carried away trees and topsoil, damming the river below and causing damage to private property. But you can either do it right, or you can do it again in a few years.
Sure, plants will help stabilize the area, but that takes time to happen. Better to stabilize it first, then plant after, which will improve things over time.