Home & Design

In a Severna Park project on the Magothy River, Scapes, Inc., installed a timber retaining wall, embellished with a profusion of panicum, viburnum, hibiscus, aster and perennials to provide year-round interest. Photography: Jeff Crandell.

Ask the Pros Landscape Design

Advice on designing the perfect home by the bay

Ask the Pros Landscape Design How do you protect a waterfront property from erosion and flooding?
There are three main methods we use to protect and control erosion and flooding: riprap, bulkheads and retaining walls, and vegetation. Vegetation is the most common. Vegetation absorbs rainwater that can cause surface erosion. Roots—especially the deep roots of trees and shrubs—bind the soil, strengthening and stabilizing sloped areas. Native plants also help the overall coastal ecosystem.

Bulkheads and retaining walls are also effective, preventing runoff by forcing the water to soak into the soil. Retaining walls can be made of wood, segmented wall stone or natural stone. If you have multiple walls, terracing can be created that will allow you to install lawn and/or plantings.

Riprap, which embeds stones into a slope or spreads them loosely on the surface, slows or diverts flowing water at the water’s edge. This is a high-cost alternative and creates an unnatural appearance, making it less popular than the other options. —Jeff Crandell, Scapes, Inc., Lothian, Maryland

You may also like:

Ask the Pros: Interior Design
Advice on designing the perfect home by the bay
Backyard Bonanza
Innovative Landscape Solutions
Weekend Retreat
Elegant, understated interiors celebrate the waterfront locale of a custom home on San Domingo Creek
HOME&DESIGN, published bi-monthly by Homestyles Media Inc., is the premier magazine of architecture and fine interiors for the Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia region.

The company also publishes an annual H&D Sourcebook of ideas and resources for homeowners and professionals alike. H&D Chesapeake Views is published bi-annually and showcases fine home design and luxury living in and around the Chesapeake Bay.

The H&D Portfolio of 100 Top Designers spotlights the superior work of selected architects, interior designers and landscape architects in major regions of the US.

Stay Connected with HOME & DESIGN Newsletter

Copyright © 2024 Home & Design. All rights reserved. | Back to top
magnifier