1. Landscaping at Lake of the Ozarks can be difficult due to long sloping hills, rocky soil that makes excavation challenging, erosion problems, and reclaiming unusable space. Strategic approaches are needed from landscape companies. 2. Hillside landscaping requires preserving views while making slopes easier to navigate with terracing, retaining walls, and stone stairs. Accessibility and maintenance needs must also be considered. 3. Excavating in rocky ground can be difficult and impact costs. Professional landscape companies with experience working in rocky soil are important. Hidden costs may also arise from unforeseen obstacles. 4. Rapid runoff and erosion are problems that landscape designs aim to address through solutions

1. Landscaping Near Me: Why Lake of the
Ozarks Landscaping is Difficult
Erosion & Drainage Control​, ​Hardscapes​, ​Landscaping​, ​Outdoor Living Spaces​ / By ​Mike Knapp
Most homeowners desire an attractive, well-designed yard and outdoor living space. However, ​Lake
of the Ozarks landscaping​ usually comes with some challenges that will need to be overcome. Our
long sloping hills, excavating in rocky soil, the need to reclaim unusable space, and serious ​erosion
problems​ are common in the Ozarks.
These represent a few of the landscaping problems that play a major role in the design choices, the
layout, and even the choice of shrubs and plants for your property.
So, it’s good for new homeowners moving here to understand that though they have likely searched
“landscaping near me,”​ things are often different in the Ozarks. Landscaping companies may have to
use more strategic approaches.
Landscape design issues such as those we’ll discuss often require creative solutions to achieve the
goals you have for the look of your home or business property.

2. Other questions we often encounter can range from how to block out noise from lake boating traffic
or how to create ​windbreaks​. Are you looking to create a kid-friendly yard or are you at a place in life
where you just want a private oasis for you and a few adult friends? Once you have determined just
what you want then it’s just a matter of how to make it happen.
When people relocate here from Kansas City, St. Louis, or other major cities they are often
confronted with landscaping “Lake of the Ozarks style.” Here are just a few of the reasons why ​Lake
of the Ozarks landscaping​ can be challenging, and how ​local contractors​ overcome these
challenges to give you a beautiful property you can be proud of.
1. Lake homes on hillsides require a
strategic approach.
Hillside landscaping​ tends to present the most challenging problems for most Lake of the Ozarks
landscape companies, especially those who design and install hardscape features.
Depending on whether we’re dealing with a natural undisturbed hillside or a slope that has been cut
away and refilled, there are a few landscape design essentials you’ll want to bear in mind.
And, not all landscape contractors or designers will be as well-versed as others in dealing with these
situations. So you will want to be aware of your options so that you can make informed decisions.
This can save you from opting for extraordinarily expensive choices that will have a profound effect
on the stability and the desirability of your property.

3. Protect your view while addressing the challenges.
Why do homeowners choose homes on hills? It’s usually for the ​great view​! A great deal of the
value of the home depends on this. Therefore, any landscaping choices need to maximize the
beauty of the view, or at least preserve it.
When considering landscape or ​hardscape projects​, think through how they will affect the view. Is
your existing scene from the interior of your house panoramic or do you have a narrow view
corridor? Determine how things will look from your favorite windows when implemented and do your
best to preserve or improve on it.
Try to make slopes easier to navigate.
Many of our lake homes have had narrow winding staircases in the past. Consider employing
terraced landscaping and retaining walls to provide more level spaces wherever possible in your
slope or hillside.
You can install nice stone stairs between levels, followed by larger level landing areas. By doing so,
you can break up the climb as well as planting nice flower beds, ​building a fire pit​, or a barbecue
grilling area with a table and some outdoor seating.
Some homeowners opt for a winding paver or natural stone pathway, similar to how a switchback
works on a mountainside. This can afford some very nice softscape opportunities with flower beds,
shrubs, ​butterfly garden​ spaces, or ornamental trees decorating the area.

4. Keep accessibility and maintenance needs in mind.
Hills and steep slopes can make lawn mowing difficult and even dangerous. Many people hate to
give up lovely grassy lawns, which we ​totally​ understand. That being said, many of our lake
residents are retirees, and safety can become an issue when trying to care for a steep lawn area.
Some hills are simply easier and safer to maintain when covered with decorative gravel and
low-maintenance xeriscaping with hearty indigenous plants.
We’ll address runoff and ​erosion issues​ a little later on, but suffice it to say that solutions for these
will often include the strategic use of retaining walls, terracing, gravel, and landscape rock.
Also, you may want to consider planning for accessibility paths for trucks, gators, and trailers to be
able to reach important access areas for property or equipment management.
2. Landscaping rocky ground:
Excavating can be difficult in the Ozarks.
There are many ways that landscape rocks can be incorporated into front yard or backyard
landscape designs. Your choice of rock, from boulders to ledge stone to landscape gravels will
determine how and where they can be implemented and whether they will be problematic.
Though rocky ground will not keep you from building your design, it can significantly affect how much
landscaping costs for your property. We can’t emphasize strongly enough that you should hire only
professional landscape companies with the experience, skill, and proper equipment to effectively
work in the rocky soil of the Ozarks.

5.
How to Manage Excavation
Building any hardscape features such as ​patios​, ​walkways​, foundations or flooring for ​outdoor
kitchens​ and living spaces will require excavation. You need to be aware that some soil conditions
can make the use of certain kinds of necessary landscaping equipment impossible.
For instance, if you need an electrical or plumbing trench dug, large rocks or a rock shelf could
damage the contractor’s equipment, or at best, render it ineffective. If a trencher can’t be used then
the contractor will have to resort to hand digging or bringing in larger equipment. This can greatly
impact the cost of your estimate.
Even simple jobs like planting shrubs and ornamental trees or building a fence can prove to be quite
difficult in our rocky ground. Experienced and reputable Lake of the Ozarks landscape companies
will know how to inform customers during the bid process. Plus, the best landscapers will have the
resources and equipment to handle whatever excavation needs may arise.
How to Create a Lawn
If you want good, ​healthy turf grass​ you’re going to need a surface and sub-surface that is free of
stone and excess rocks. This way your grass can root well and you can mow it without hitting rocks
that work their way up to the surface.
Any good professional landscape contractor will know how to grade and clean the area before
planting grass seed or laying sod.

6. How to Handle Rock Removal
After an Ozark landscaping or hardscape project, you ​will​ have a pile of rock to remove. Many
homeowners are caught by surprise when they’ve undertaken the landscaping of their property
themselves, and there’s a harvest of rocks to manage.
Moving large rocks and extra stones requires both a place to take them and a means of lifting and
transporting them. If it’s a large project it will require a dump truck and dumping fees.
Some of the rocks may be repurposed and used for future projects. If this is the case, be sure to
make a plan for stockpiling them or adding them to your existing project. They can also be used for
lining small slopes against erosion, providing underground drainage for other landscaping or
hardscape needs, rip-rap ditch drainage, or even for other masonry projects.
How to Plan for Grading
In order to make sure your land drains correctly and supports your hardscapes, grading rocky
ground may be required.
Rocky areas like the Ozarks with such large hidden stones have been known to damage Bobcat
blades and even graders. This means that some of your grading may not be easily accomplished.
The cost of repairs, parts, and labor may fall to you, as well as delaying the timeline of your
landscape work.
A landscaping contractor can encounter a wide range of rock sizes when grading your property.
They must be able to provide heavy enough equipment to handle the heaviest and largest stones
they expect to encounter. If they’re forced to rent a larger dozer or subcontract the grading out, your
costs will undoubtedly go up.
So, it cannot be overstated that there is wisdom in researching and ​hiring a landscape company​ with
proven experience at managing this kind of work. It may even be worthwhile to enlist the services of
an engineering contractor for your improvements if you already know that excavating or grading
rocky ground is going to be an issue.
A simple online search of terms like “landscaping near me” or “landscape companies near me” is a
good place to begin. Then be sure to find and read Google reviews on the companies that are
popular in those searches. A phone call to interview them would be in order, as well.
How to account for Hidden Costs
Though they try to bid a project as accurately as possible, it’s fairly common that your contractor will
encounter unforeseen obstacles that will impact the final price of the bid. Imagine the problem of
discovering that there are underground boulders or even a large underground rock shelf disrupting
the excavation.
It will cost the company more than expected if they must expend extra service hours or if they
encounter unexpected charges for hauling, subcontracting, or equipment rental or usage.
At the end of the job, you could be surprised as these costs add up. Here are some helpful ways to
help you plan for this:

7. 1. Be aware that problems and obstacles are often part of the process and it doesn’t
mean that your contractor is inept or trying to cheat you.
2. Make sure that it is ​clearly​ understood by both parties that you must be asked to
approve any and all additional services before they are implemented. The additional
costs need to be described, and it’s best if these agreements are done in writing.
3. Realize that all honest contractors dislike this part of the process and they want to be
able to work within your budget to deliver the best solutions and results possible.
3. Rapid water runoff and erosion are
problematic.
In the Ozarks, there is ​always​ a high potential for erosion. Consequently, how you ​treat your hills
and slopes​ is very important. As rain falls on bare soil or areas of scant vegetation, the dirt can be
displaced.
As the runoff continues downhill, more soil gets dislodged and picked up in the flow. This process is
continued throughout a rainstorm and gets multiplied by the number of rains over time. It becomes
easy to understand how you can lose so much ground to unabated erosion.
Sometimes the moisture seeps down into the ground and finds no adequate ​means of drainage​. In a
worst-case scenario, this underground moisture can eventually destabilize portions of the ground,
causing larger areas to break loose and slide down the hill. This is often seen along highways where
hills have been cut away with large areas of open ground exposed. Where there is no rip rap to help

8. hold the soil in place you will see large areas of land give way to slow erosion as well as sudden
slides.
There are different strategies that can be applied to each slope as needed or desired.
Decorative Gravel
Many are turning to decorative landscape gravel as a viable and sustainable substitute for a lawn.
The use of gravel provides solutions for many problems in landscaping. It’s ​low maintenance​, helps
hold dirt in place, acts much like a mulch where desired, and provides a clean and attractive look
with a variety of shapes and colors. At the lake it is often used on steep hills that run all the way
down to the water, preserving precious soil against erosion. Plantings, walkways, terraced patios,
flower beds, and stone landscape steps all help make these properties extremely attractive and safe.
Before deciding whether using gravel in your landscape to help with erosion is the best choice for
you, consult with your Ozarks landscape professional.
Retaining Walls
With steep changes in elevation, retaining walls are often used to hold soil in place. By ​building
retaining walls​ up the hillside you can create a terraced yard where there was once a steep slope,
reclaiming nice areas of level usable ground.
As an aesthetic value, your retaining walls can be designed as planting beds to provide accents and
beauty in addition to their functional purpose.
Water can’t pass through most retaining walls so engineering effective drainage is extremely
important. If efficient drainage behind the wall isn’t present, hydrostatic pressure will build until it
damages the structure. Are there cracks or bulges appearing in your retaining wall? It can be a
warning sign that there isn’t proper drainage.
Check with your landscaping contractor to make sure they understand the need for proper drainage
measures behind the wall. One would expect this to be common knowledge and practice. But,
unfortunately, these methods are either unlearned, overlooked, or perhaps even skimped on by
unscrupulous contractors.
Terraced Landscaping
As mentioned above, homeowners can ask their ​hardscape contractors​ about how to terrace a
hillside to reclaim more usable space. It always adds value to your property to create more square
footage for outdoor living spaces, landscaping, or gardening.

9.
Plants
Plants are one of nature’s own best defenders of soil. Tree and plant foliage act as umbrellas over
the ground to deflect rain from landing directly on the soil. Raindrops are diverted to filter more
gently down to the soil with less energy.
Below the ground, the roots of our beloved plants help hold soil in place. For the most effective
erosion-stoppers, choose plant species with fine roots that tend to spread out of a large area. These
can be very helpful to stabilize the soil in your sloped areas.
Where possible, one should choose a diverse variety of plants. Indigenous plants are best, but you
can mix other decorative plants into your planting design. This way, if one of your species is
endangered by disease, animals, or insects you will have others that survive to hold your soil in
place.
● Choose groundcover plants to help protect against surface erosion.
● Avoid both surface and subsurface erosion with creeping shrubs whose root systems
are far-reaching.
● Employ ​hydroseeding​ (hydraulic mulch seeding) for quick coverage to help hold the
soil in place until your other plants grow.
● Pre-seeded flower mats have grown in popularity and are quick and easy.
● Sod is a great choice for developing a lawn quickly.
Your Lake of the Ozarks landscape contractor will be well-acquainted with our local soils and which
plants will create a healthy safeguard and decor for your slope.
Dry Creek Beds
Dry creek beds are also referred to as dry stream beds. These natural stone features aren’t just
attractive, but they also provide effective management for drainage problems and help reduce
erosion from rainwater runoff.
Dry creek beds typically follow natural or man-made gullies and are lined with colorful or decorative
stone. Various sizes of cobbles, Mexican beach pebbles, and other rounded or smooth stones and

10. river rock are best for this project. To add further beauty, consider edging the bed with large stones,
small boulders, pavers, or bricks. Some homeowners opt for edging the bed with plants for a more
natural aesthetic.
If the runoff flows rapidly through your dry stream bed you may want to consider using mortar to hold
the rock in place.
Rip Rap
Riprap is a natural stone solution to slow water velocity and reduce or prevent erosion. It is
composed of various kinds and sizes of rock and is commonly used on hillsides and steep slopes,
along shorelines, and even for lining ditches or other drainage ways.
The size of rocks used for riprap can range from 4” to more than 2’. The pitch of the slope and speed
of the runoff will determine the size of the rock required to protect against erosion.
The main disadvantage is that riprap isn’t easy for people or animals to walk across. The best
solution is to fill in difficult spaces with gravel, smaller rocks, or dirt.
4. About Sustainability
How do I know if a slope is too steep and needs to be terraced?

11. 2:1 Slope Ratio
This is a vertical drop of one foot per two horizontal feet. At this pitch water runs off quickly, often
before it can seep into plants’ root zone. It is viewed as the most extreme slope where plants ​may
still grow, although they still often fail.
3:1 Slope Ratio
A 3:1 slope ratio is milder, but you will still need plant species that are drought tolerant. At this pitch
plant roots will get water and they can survive and do well. 3:1 is the maximal pitch to consider a
grass lawn.
Less than 3:1 Slope Ratio
The more highly favored slope ratio is less than 3:1. More types of plants can thrive at this pitch
since there will be greater availability of water at the root level.
Choose The RIght Plants for Your Slope
Different states will have their own indigenous species of groundcover plants, creeping shrubs, and
trees that are best for their microclimates. Missouri is no different, and our state, like many others,
can even vary from region to region.
For the best local plant options, the ​Missouri Botanical Garden​ website provides info on what native
plants, shrubs, and trees are recommended. For more information, you can contact the ​Missouri
University Agricultural Extension​ office.
In Conclusion
We hope you will find this information guide useful for the challenges you may face in your Lake of
the Ozarks landscaping project.​ ​Contact us​ to speak with a friendly, qualified representative for one
of the best landscape companies at the Lake, Heartland Landscape Group.​OW TO GET STA