Rocks about a 1 foot high make a nice simple retaining wall on the sloped side.

I had a similar situation with mulch on a slight slope landing on the grass. It only was a problem during very hard rains.

I also needed a path in the area, so last year I laid stepping stones into the dirt/mulch for a casual path about 2 1/2' wide. Nothing fancy. No base. They wobble a bit at times, but minimal traffic so that's okay for now. I began a few plantings of groundcovers to help with the erosion, but they haven't even started to get going. However, this year I have noticed the stepping stones are doing the trick at keeping the mulch in place. I guess its just enough to slow the water down. My plan was for the groundcovers to slow things down, but I'm happy with the way this worked out.

Thanks folks. I guess I'll have to figure out the cheapest material I can use. This bed is an established bed and I'd like to leave the shape and size as is but it's approx. 45' x 4' in a crescent shape so it's probably going to be expensive no matter what. Oh well, a project that may have to wait...
Appreciate the suggestions though.
Angela

I am not sure what your landscape style is, but if you have access to branches from pruning you could weave them together or tie them with twine - into a low fence. Use the same material for posts. If the branches are free your cost would be labor plus the twine - willow, grapes, kiwi are good to use.

Alternatively, small branches just shoved into the ground would be inexpensive too. Sometimes you can get kindling you could use from mills inexpensively.

Perhaps there is a place in the country where you could obtain rocks for free - broken concrete pieces and use these as a low rip rap type wall at the bottom of the bed.

I like to use a natural approach as much as possible. Would some large stones/rocks inserted into the bed in stategic places help? (as opposed to a wall?) I look for new houses going up in my area and ask the contractor if he is getting rid of stones--can I help him? (:~)

Hi,
Have a look at a new product called 'edgn'at www.thatproduct.com

I think it will be exactly what you are looking for.

Cheers,
Chris.

Here is a link that might be useful: That Product Pty Ltd

On yer bike Chris, advertising should be paid for.

Options:

1) put stones in the bed to add a small wall. It does not need to be continuous - just a stone hear and there. They don't need to be special if you hide them with plants.

2) Make a berm in the middle of the bed. This can be made with just soil from the current garden. Make the low side flat. Now the running water will wash the mulch from the high side to the low side, but not onto the grass.

3) Like #2, but make the berm with mulch. It will hold back the moving mulch. Add a log or two to help.

4) Add soil to the grass on the low side to bring it up to height of the bed. Will keep mulch on the bed since it is now a bit lower than the grass.

What kind of mulch are you using? If you use shredded hardwood mulch, it interlocks and doesn't float away as easily as bark-type mulch on a slight slope.