Living
in Plumsteadville or anywhere close to Central Bucks County, there's a great
chance that your yard is not as flat as it appears in the listing photos. We've
heard this a lot: "It doesn't look that steep... but nothing really works
out in the back." And in fact, that is quite logical. Many properties here
are located on gentle slopes that don't really show up until you try to use the
space.
Throughout
our hardworking years as a Hardscaper in Plumsteadville, PA, we have come
across numerous homeowners frustrated by their sloping yards - we have had a
number of journeys with them to the end of their hatred and ultimately to their
love of the yards. After all, slopes can be just fine; they just require a
little bit of dawdling and a proper way.
Reasons most Plumsteadville yards aren’t flat as
they appear
Central
Bucks County entirely consists of alternating hills and valleys, and
Plumsteadville is no different. Most neighborhoods that seem established and
well-settled still have minor elevation differences. Furthermore, many houses
here are quite old and outdoor living spaces weren't a priority back then as
they are now.
Consequently,
with our local soil - most times heavy and not very permeable - the yards end
up behaving differently than the owners anticipated. The water goes down the
slope whether we like it or not and the freeze-thaw cycles in winter can
gradually cause the surfaces to shift. What may be a harmless slope during the
summer can turn into a real problem after the wet spring or harsh winter.
The point that homeowners realize the slope is a
trouble
In
most cases, it isn't a dramatic event but small inconveniences that accumulate.
They
say they see their patio furniture 'walking downhill' slowly with every season.
Others
find it difficult to mow because the lawn feels uneven to the feet.
Sometimes
it is drainage problem - water pooling at the bottom of the slope or running
into the house after rain. And at times, it is just the impression that a whole
big chunk of the yard is not utilized.
Working
with one family, we heard that perfectly: "There is so much space but we
never use the backyard." That is very often the point of no return.
Typical initial errors homeowners are making
with grounds on a slope
When
the general public initially attempt at a slope, the natural reaction is mostly
to oppose it.
Without
taking into consideration the water destination, some people have been seen to
add dirt in order to 'flatten' the area. In other cases, people put in a patio
or a walkway, which at first looks beautiful, but then they experience shifting
or water pooling over time.
The
other big mistake is to overlook the runoff totally. This is pretty much the
case in Plumsteadville where heavy storms can quickly dump a lot of water. If
from the very beginning you fail to give water a clear path, later you will
regret it.
Such
goofs are basically on your side. They simply don't realize how much the land
itself can dictate the situation.
Metamorphosis from battling sloped land to
cooperating with it
We
have discovered a major truth that sloped yards only become a problem when you
keep on measuring and trying to bring them on the same level as the rest of the
ground.
This
change of standpoint will to a great extent affect the whole thing. You stop
thinking in terms of a single level and start thinking in terms of zones
instead. Instead of your usual tactic of camouflaging the slope, you let it be
and you use it to delineate the spaces. The challenging property is no longer
perceived as a challenge but rather as a contemplated solution.
After
seeing the idea, the homeowners are often relieved. There is no need to 'fix'
the yard; it's only that the yard needs to be decoded."
Patios and hardscaping don’t solve only one
problem but much more
Sometimes
a thoughtful hardscaping is capable of taking over all the heavy work in a
sloped yard. Locating a patio at the right spot without looking around at the
map, creating a space for a picnic, and being in harmony with water management
is what a reliable patio may be able to accomplish. When foot traffic is
rightly guided, there's no need to worry about worn-out patches of grass. When
used in a measured way, retaining components allow the making of levels without
causing the space to be overwhelmed.
The
remedy is so unnoticeable that you might be amused. The transforming a yard and
making it more user-friendly can be achieved through identifying the difficulty
level and then...ligaturing the level.
At
times it is the yard that needs a little bit of a margin for walking
justification. In such circumstances, the level definition gets rid of the big
problem that an awkward slope is, thereby replacing it with a nice series of
spaces.
Our Perspective Different after That
Plumsteadville Slope Project
We
have had one project located not so far away from downtown Plumsteadville Shawn
really made an impact on us. The house was surrounded by a yard that sloped
away from the front facade just a little bit setting everything at an angle.
Their attempts the couple of times had ended in failure as far as the backyard
was concerned because they had never quite been able to figure out the right
method.
Flattening
the yard was not the way, we chose to drop after creating natural movements
instead. When we broke the space up into levels and assigned a different
function for each, the whole thing suddenly came to be. The water was flowing
where it was supposed to, it felt nice to walk around in the space, and the
family started frequenting the areas they had previously kept off for years.
The
very fact they had a slope was the secret to unlocking much more than a flat
one, which is what we initially only subconsciously thought of and after that
project we were very sure of it.
What we always think about before initiating the
design on a slope
Each
sloped yard has its individual characteristics but we always come up with
certain factors of thought especially here in Central Bucks County.
Water
is the first one. Where does it originate from and where does it go when it
rains heavily? Next is the soil reaction especially when it comes to our
freeze-thaw cycles. The areas should be able to allow movement without becoming
either hazardous or uneven.
Besides
that, we consider how the place will be kept in good condition. A design that
is visually appealing and yet high maintenance will, in the long run, turn out
to be very boring. Lastly, we talk through the homeowners’ intended activities
in the space.
Reasons for Sloped Yards to Become Most Charming
Spaces
The
yards which were initially labeled as having problems that eventually got
transformed into beautiful ones were indeed those that had the slopes in them.
There is an added dimension, an extra view and a feeling of the separation that
only sloping yards are capable of providing.
They
become more dynamic and personal than the flat ones after the re-layout.
They
spark the desire for movement and exploration due to the invitation nature of
the various spaces or simply moments for a change of scene, and not one big
open space unknowingly demanding for the silence.
Toughly-Sloping-Yard-Neighborly-Advice
However,
if you are currently stuck with a sloped yard situation, here is what we would
love to share with you over the fence:
Look
around during different seasons. Take a stroll after a heavy downpour. Watch
your steps and observe where you don’t dare to step. Picture the space as it
was just the way you wanted it to be and not only by the way it looks.
Do
not be in a hurry to make it all one flat surface. The slope may be the feature
and not the flaw. Furthermore, small, mindful changes are usually better than
big, dramatic ones.
Concluding Remarks From Days and Years of Yard
Works in Plumsteadville
The
existence of sloped yards in Central Bucks County is quite natural. They are
definitely not an indication that something is wrong with the house; rather,
they are just a sign that the land was there first.
In
our opinion at JWS Landscaping, the most lovely outdoor spaces come out of
patience, observation and a willingness to work with the existing features. On
such occasions, even the most difficult yards become the ones where people live
happily.
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