3 Year old home - Backyard eroding (install, health, best)

[thestem]

I have a 3 year old home with a kind of slope-y back yard.
We put the swing set on the end of the top before it starts to drop off. It's about a 36" drop off from there at what used to be a 35degree angle - it appears it's all eroded and where the back base of the swingset was probably 6-8 inches deep, it's now above the ground by 4-6 inches.

2 questions:

would the be something the builder did wrong? would they have to fix it?

how does it get fixed? truck in dirt?

thanks

[movin-on08]

I would suggest a block retaining wall to hold in the dirt. Then backfill with new dirt to re-fill what has eroded.
I dont think the builder did anything wrong. I think that the erosion needs to be controlled before your swingset goes the way that the dirt is. It is hard to control the erosion if you cant grow grass. It seems like it is too late to try to seed or sod to save the remaining dirt.

[Native_Son]

I don't think it would be your builder's fault unless it's his job to maintain your turf grass.

If it were me I'd yank the swingset and regrade my yard so it was nice and level again. Then I'd plant grass/install sod and put my swingset back in. And then I'd make sure that the grass stayed nice and healthy... especially on the sloped areas.

[bajanqueen]

Originally Posted by Native_Son

I don't think it would be your builder's fault unless it's his job to maintain your turf grass.

If it were me I'd yank the swingset and regrade my yard so it was nice and level again. Then I'd plant grass/install sod and put my swingset back in. And then I'd make sure that the grass stayed nice and healthy... especially on the sloped areas.

I was wondering when you were going to chime in. You usually have good advice

[Native_Son]

Originally Posted by bajanqueen

I was wondering when you were going to chime in. You usually have good advice

wow! Thanks for the compliment! You just made my Monday.

[chicagomichauds]

Originally Posted by Native_Son

I don't think it would be your builder's fault unless it's his job to maintain your turf grass.

If it were me I'd yank the swingset and regrade my yard so it was nice and level again. Then I'd plant grass/install sod and put my swingset back in. And then I'd make sure that the grass stayed nice and healthy... especially on the sloped areas.

Agree. It will not be cheap to bring in the dirt but probably the best way to do it. We too have a ridiculously sloped yard, and the landscaper mentioned it took the previous owners truckloads and truckloads of dirt just to get some semblance of a "flat" yard.

[thestem]

Originally Posted by Native_Son

I don't think it would be your builder's fault unless it's his job to maintain your turf grass.

If it were me I'd yank the swingset and regrade my yard so it was nice and level again. Then I'd plant grass/install sod and put my swingset back in. And then I'd make sure that the grass stayed nice and healthy... especially on the sloped areas.

That's half the problem, The yard was never level - it had a slope from right to left as the builder said, "for drainage reasons" - I tried to get them to level it before it was an issue. Due to the slope, we had to find a special place to install a swingset, not anticipating the erosion...the "hill" that's eroding does have grass on it, it's almost as if it's maybe just collapsing or packing down...

from right to left, going 8 ft, I think the slope was 36" or more originally.

[Native_Son]

whether it's settling or eroding may have a bearing on the solution. if you could post some pictures it would help me understand your condition.