--- title: "How do retaining walls prevent landslides?" date: 2022-05-04 author: "Pawan Khatri" url: https://oceangeosynthetics.com/how-do-retaining-walls-prevent-landslides/ --- May 4, 2022 | [Insights](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/category/insights/) # How do retaining walls prevent landslides? ![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/retention-ponds-300x102.jpg) A landslide happens when a slope can no longer hold itself up, usually because heavy rainfall has saturated the soil, but sometimes after an earthquake or volcanic activity. Landslides are among the most damaging geohazards. Erosion at the toe of a slope, gravity acting on steepened ground and forest fires that strip vegetation also trigger them. Human activity adds to the risk: cutting slopes for roads and buildings, [mining](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/suitable_sectors/power-and-mining/) and deforestation all lower slope stability. ## Landslide Protection ![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/landslide-protection.jpg) One of the most common ways to protect a property is a [retaining wall](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/solution/retaining-walls-soil-reinforcement/). If you already have one, check its drainage. Many older retaining walls drain poorly, so water builds up behind them, the pressure on the wall rises and the wall can bulge or fail. A retaining wall can be designed to suit the landscaping, but its job is to stop soil moving. Some measures you can take yourself. Planting vegetation is a quick way to stabilise sloped ground, and it works best on moderate slopes where movement has not yet started. Retaining walls need more planning: have a professional assess the site and decide what type of wall suits it. A correctly designed and installed wall retains the soil and protects the house from the triggers listed below. ## Concrete retaining walls Segmental concrete block walls are dry-stacked: the blocks interlock and need no mortar. The backfill behind the wall must be well compacted. Loose fill lets water in, which weakens the soil and can lead to collapse. Block walls can be laid to curves, which is often needed on landscaped slopes. ## [Gabion](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/products/gabions/) Retaining walls A gabion retaining wall is a gravity structure: its weight holds back the slope and resists sliding and overturning. Gabion retaining walls can be built up to about 30 feet high. Because the stone fill is free-draining, water does not build up behind the wall. ## The Protection Fulfillment of Gabion against Landslides Ocean Global supplies gabion structures for landslide protection works. Gabions are cheap to make because they use relatively little wire, and they are filled with local stone, so the fill rarely has to be hauled far. The mesh travels folded flat, and the baskets can be filled and stacked by hand without heavy machinery. On landslide protection works each basket is laced firmly to its neighbours, so the whole wall acts as one monolithic block while staying flexible enough to tolerate some ground movement. Combined with gabion (Reno) mattresses to protect the slope surface, gabions stabilise soil on slopes and allow vegetation to grow back through the stone. Below are eight ways to keep a landslide from affecting your construction projects. ## Eight tips on how to prevent landslides ### 1. Use sandbags ![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/sandbags.jpg) If heavy rain is forecast, sandbags, plastic sheeting and tarpaulins give temporary protection to a slope. Burlap can also protect areas prone to flooding and surface washout. For longer-lasting work, sand-filled [geotextile bags](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/products/geo-bags-manufacturers/) hold up better than ordinary sandbags. ### 2. Vegetate your slopes ![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/vegetation.jpg) Sloped parts of a property can slide under gravity and the pressures described above. Planting is one of the quickest and simplest defences. Roots bind the topsoil and plants draw water out of the ground, so less rain soaks into cracks and starts a slide. On bare or steep slopes, [erosion control mats](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/products/erosion-control-mats/) hold the soil and seed in place while the vegetation establishes. ### 3. Think related to your retaining walls Build retaining walls from durable material, whether stone, brick or steel. Drainage material behind the wall (free-draining gravel, a drainage composite or weep holes) stops water pressure building up and keeps the wall stable. Gutters and drains that carry rainwater away below ground also help. ### 4. Building diverting debris pathways You can also build dedicated debris channels. Working with your retaining walls, they steer landslide debris away from the property and reduce damage when heavy rain hits. Be careful where you send the flow: if it lands on a neighbour’s property, you could be liable for the damage. ### 5. You can amend the gradient of the slope Regrading the slope is the most involved option, but one of the most effective. Flattening the slope means removing material from the upper part and placing it at the toe. Hire someone with geotechnical expertise to do this. Done badly, it can make the slope and your existing structures more vulnerable. ### 6. Avert collective yard waste Do not leave piles of leaves, landscaping material or loose gravel on sloped parts of the property. They block drainage and add load, which increases the risk of a slide. ### 7. Minimize water-off Avoid adding water to hilly or sloped areas, for example by washing vehicles there or over-watering. If you notice more water draining across a slope than usual, deal with the cause straight away. ### 8. Plan installations carefully Planning an irrigation system, pool or other water feature? Before you break ground, make sure the sloped parts of the property are protected from the extra moisture it will bring. Ocean Geosynthetics supplies weld mesh gabions and double twisted hexagonal gabions in a range of sizes, as gabion baskets, mattresses and decorative gabions. To discuss a slope or retaining wall project, speak to the geotechnical team at Ocean Non Wovens Pvt. Ltd. Get Ocean Geosynthetics in your Google feed[![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/google-g-logo.svg)Add us as a preferred source on Google](https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=https://oceangeosynthetics.com/) [![](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ed-234x300.png)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/turnkey-sports-project-dehradun-case-study/) [Case Studies](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/category/case-studies/) [Turnkey Sports Project – Dehradun Case Study](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/turnkey-sports-project-dehradun-case-study/) For a turnkey sports project in Dehradun, Ocean Geosynthetics supplied 8600 sqm of non-woven geotextile sheet for the base of an artificial turf playing field,… [See More](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/turnkey-sports-project-dehradun-case-study/) [![Gabion box for slope stability](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/case-study-3-300x200.webp)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/gabion-box-for-slope-stability/) [Case Studies](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/category/case-studies/), [Gabion Box](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/category/gabions/) [Gabion Box Application for Structural Stability](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/gabion-box-for-slope-stability/) Project overview Project Name: Infrastructure Stabilization Project Location: Shajapur, Madhya Pradesh Product Used: Ocean Gabion Box Quantity: 330 Pieces Introduction Ocean Non Wovens supplied 330… [See More](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/gabion-box-for-slope-stability/) [![Landfill base with a compacted clay layer next to overlapping geosynthetic clay liner panels](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/ocean-gcl-vs-compacted-clay-photo-300x225.webp)](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/geosynthetic-clay-liner-vs-compacted-clay/) [Geosynthetics](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/category/geosynthetics/), [Insights](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/category/insights/) [Geosynthetic Clay Liner vs. Compacted Clay](https://oceangeosynthetics.com/geosynthetic-clay-liner-vs-compacted-clay/) Geosynthetics have gained widespread popularity in civil, geotechnical, environmental, coastal, and hydraulic engineering projects owing to their versatility and cost-effectiveness. 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