Berms: Mounds with Many Uses in the Landscape
What is a Berm?
A berm is a mound or hill that you can create in your garden. It’s like a raised bed without walls. Berms can be used for many different purposes, both practical and aesthetic.
Practical Uses of Berms:
- Directing foot traffic: Berms can be used to create pathways and guide people around your garden.
- Assisting with drainage: Berms can help to direct water away from your home or other structures.
- Blocking unsightly views: Berms can be used to block the view of compost piles, sheds, or other objects that you don’t want to see.
Aesthetic Uses of Berms:
- Creating a focal point: Berms can be used to create a focal point in your garden.
- Adding interest and variety: Berms can add interest and variety to your garden landscape.
- Creating a natural look: Berms can help to create a more natural look in your garden.
Where to Put a Berm
The best place to put a berm depends on its purpose. For example, if you want to use a berm to block the view of a compost pile, you should place it near that area. It’s also important to make sure that you have enough room to construct a berm.
Berms can be built in a straight, narrow form like a wall, but they often look more natural when they are sinuous, irregular, and natural looking. According to landscape specialists, berms that are irregular in size and shape look more natural than those that are symmetrical.
How to Build a Berm
To build a berm, you will need to:
- Choose a location for your berm.
- Mark out the shape and size of your berm.
- Dig out the soil to create a shallow trench.
- Fill the trench with soil and tamp it down.
- Continue adding soil and tamping it down until you have reached the desired height.
- Slope the sides of your berm to prevent erosion.
Tips for Siting a Berm
- Consider the slope of the mound. Berms on which plants are to be located must have gentle enough slopes to allow them to thrive. This also prevents erosion problems.
- Make sure the berm is long enough. In general, a berm should be 4 to 6 times longer than it is wide.
- Keep in mind the maximum berm height. Experts recommend a maximum berm height of 18 to 24 inches (45.5-61 cm).
- Consider garden drainage. Berms can be used to improve drainage, but they can also alter the drainage in ways you do not like or want.
- Don’t change the grade of soil within the drip line of any tree or big shrub. This can damage the tree or shrub.
Can You Put a Berm on Top of Asphalt or Concrete?
It is not recommended to put a berm on top of asphalt or concrete. Cement and other hard surfaces do not allow water to pass. That means that when a berm is built on cement, water won’t sink into the soil past the cement. During rain storms, the entire berm may become unstable and erode.
