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In areas where the soil is sandy, the terrain is hilly, and rain is aplenty, then erosion is likely to be an issue in your backyard. Slowly, your soil may wear away. Over time, this can cause trees to uproot, and it can also destabilize your home's foundation. Obviously, you don't want these things to happen, so it is important to take steps to control erosion in your backyard. Here are a few top options to consider.
Retaining Walls
If your yard is somewhat hilly and water tends to stream in certain spots, consider having a landscaping company come build a retaining wall. The wall can serve to "catch" any dirt that gets washed down a hill. They are anchored into the ground with posts, tension supports, and solid rocks so that the walls themselves will not budge as a result of erosion. Your landscaping contractor may work with an engineer or soil expert to determine exactly where the retaining walls should go. Location is very important.
Trees
In cases where the erosion is mild and mainly surface-level, landscaping contractors often recommend planting trees. In particular, they will recommend trees with more superficial, sprawling root systems, like locust trees, red maples, alders, and sweetgum trees. The roots of these trees will grab onto soil and prevent that soil from wearing away. You should, however, avoid planting trees with deeper roots and few surface roots, since the soil tends to wear away from over the top of these deeper roots.
Gravel
Another option is to have gravel poured in areas that are experiencing the most significant erosion. This may sound like an unappealing option at first, but there are lots of ways to functionally use your gravel areas. One area could be a grilling spot. In another area, you could have gravel laid in a path formation. Water can flow over gravel without moving much of it, so this will slow or stop soil erosion. The more erosion is expected in an area, the deeper the layer of gravel you'll need — and the larger your pieces of gravel should be.
Erosion can destroy a backyard, but only if you let it. If you believe your yard may be prone to erosion, then talk to an erosion control company near you about making some or all of these changes. It's better to lay some gravel or plant a few trees now, rather than deal with the effects of erosion later on. Contact an erosion control service for more information.