If you are just starting with landscaping, you have probably seen many “berms” in your life, without realizing that these buildings have their name. This is because, despite all the differences, the concept of berms is so simple that it is easily taken for granted. Let’s see what they are, how to build them, and why you should include them in the landscape.
What is Berm?
Berms are mountainous hills with soil that usually form a long ridge. This is an easy way to add dimension to a flat garden. One of the benefits of this feature is that you can specify the shape and size that best suits your space requirement.
The berm provides a raised landing site in a flat position. The original function was to keep excavators in place and avoid disposal costs.
Most garden berms create a unique fragrance and offer high natural flower discounts. The berm also offers a border around the garden for privacy.
Why Build a Berm
The berm can be a solution to many landscape problems. These solutions include:
- Berms can create beauty and interests.
- The creation of berms can help protect drought-resistant plants from poor drainage soils.
- Berm presents this interesting separation for planting garden plants.
- Creating a berm adds continuous flow, which can result in an extraordinary design that improves appearance.
- The berm can match the garden design.
- During seed formation, plant cultivation can grow, making them easily visible.
How to Add a Berm to Your Garden
Now that you know the berm and all its benefits, you will learn to create it in your outdoor space.
Plan the Shape
Plan your berm first. They look more natural when they follow the bend of the garden, perfectly matching the landscape. A good rule is to keep the berm about four to six times larger than the width.
The blueprint intended for the yard
Then indicate the size of the berm. The maximum slope of this surface should be five times greater than high to minimize erosion, runoff, and general maintenance problems. Serious sermons can cause serious problems and most are no taller than 40 cm. It should be remembered that the asymmetrical look creates a natural and positive aesthetic.
Consider Drainage
When designing berms, consider the necessary water inlet and outlet required. The berm can serve as a miniature dam and change the water flow in the garden. Flat-topped berm reduces water drainage and provides more water to the plants. Improves drainage through the landfill and avoids compact soil at the base. The use of heavy equipment can increase soil compaction.
Break up Soil
Lightly break up the soil and dig the surface of the area along the path of the berm.
Build a Base
Use useful materials such as dirt or gravel to build a foundation. A shovel or bobcat is best suited to wear the liner and compact it occasionally. Adjust the chosen layout and offer a smaller foot on all sides than originally planned. Then tear off the smooth substance to fit the desired proportions. If you decide to use gravel, cover it with at least 1 inch of compact clay to prevent the soil from entering.
Slightly Compact
Wrap an empty lawn roll in the ground or press it with your feet. Since the berm stabilizes more when water enters, light compaction is sufficient at this stage.
Plant your Berm
Now the fun part is planting time! Cover with a lawn or choose shrubs, flowers, and small trees. Make sure to add mulch while the plants are taking root to prevent erosion. Now it is time for creativity and adding an extra element to your garden.
What are Some of the Best Plants for Berms?
Berms designed to showcase trees should occupy horizontal slopes of 5 to 7 feet 1 foot from the base, while those designed to view small plants can work well on steep slopes 3 to 4 feet 1 foot high.
The top of the berm should be designed so that it occupies one end, and not a central position. Besides, the top of the dam should be flat so that water does not flow along the side of the slope.
Get creative with design, so berm has a lot of dots, conical wavy edges and even a crescent moon instead of a perfect oval pattern
Just do it
With berms, the possibilities seem endless, because you can get creative juices by thinking outside the box and trying. Do not forget to build the foundation, and everything will be fine.
The Final Word
What I like about this type of horticultural project is that everything seems natural, as if it were naturally placed there. The berm is a great way to give the garden the touch you need.
Making berm is a great way to arouse such visual interest, and the benefits they offer are truly unique, so why not join the overall garden design. I am sure you will be glad that you did because your garden design has been moved to the next level.