Almost 2 years ago, I installed landscape fabric and blue rug junipers in our front yard, which is sloped quite a bit. I was tired of mowing it, and I knew we would be moving, so I wanted it to be low maintenance.
The following spring and summer (2009), I finished putting large whitish rock on top of the landscape fabric, to help protect it from the sun, and also to make it less likely for weeds to get started.
Since the place is a duplex/double, there are two cement steps going up the front yard. This means 3 separate areas. Everything has held up well in two of the areas, but the third is a different story.
I'm not sure if it is partly due to the neighbor kid playing on the stones, the mailman walking on them, or the increased slope. All I know for sure is that the stones are coming loose on the steepest part, about a 3' tall by 5' wide section, and moving down onto my neighbor's parking slab. He doesn't like it. I don't like the fact that the landscape fabric is once again exposed to the sun.
I've been trying to think of different ways to successfully solve this problem. The main idea I had was to have someone use mortar mix, or possibly fiber reinforced concrete to slap down a layer, then push the stones down into that ~2" thick layer. Once it sets up, I don't think the stones would move much. Another idea I had was possibly putting the stone in, and then using metal mesh or something to help hold it in place. However, that would need to be anchored somehow, and would probably introduce ways for weeds to grow.
Anyone have experience with an issue like this? I'd like to get it taken care of in the next week or two - the place is currently for rent, and it is just one more headache that I don't need.
Thanks!