If your land has even the slightest slope, the risk is there.
If the ground above your home has even a gentle slope, the risk is there.
Gravity pulls everything from up high down low. And if your property’s in the way, that’s not its problem.
It could be a small rock rolling into your garden fence. Or it could be…
Between those two extremes, there are plenty of cases.
And between having no protection at all and going all-in with heavy defenses, there’s a wide range of options too.
Up to you.
Choose where you stand and what you’re willing to set up, if needed.
DIY — Small-Scale Prevention
If you’ve got your own garden, I guess you maintain it and tweak it from time to time.
Well, while you’re at it (and if your land is exposed to rockfall or landslide risks), you can add a few observation checkpoints just in case.
They’re just small signs, but if they keep showing up, they’re worth paying attention to:
- Small rocks or pebbles falling more often
- Roots or a tree leaning more and more
- Cracks appearing in the soil or the rock above your house
Spotting them doesn’t mean “Evacuate now!”, but keeping an eye on their evolution matters.
One method that can be put in place individually in some cases is the creation of a buffer zone.
If your property is really exposed to a cliff above, then the idea of this zone is simply to make sure the rocks don’t end up in your living room.
Create a clear space, without fragile or dangerous obstacles, between the slope and your house, that will absorb energy or stop small falling blocks.
It can be done by installing a hedge, some shrubs, or even a small wall or a dirt mound!
It all depends on your budget and your level of exposure.
Low-Cost Protective Methods
If your exposure is too high, it’s recommended to put real professional protections in place.
But don’t worry, not all of them cost thousands of dollars.
I’m going to show you the best bang-for-your-buck options out there:
Reshaping your terrain. That includes adding a berm, which is basically the small dirt mound from the previous part, but sized up properly.
Meaning: it needs to be solid enough so that a falling block doesn’t just smash through it, carry the materials away, and create an even worse outcome.
​(Yeah, that kind of stuff can happen…)
Most of the time, you’ll also add a small ditch right in front of it.
That way, it can catch the first falling rocks before they even reach the merlon.
It’s literally a rock trap, and it works very well.
Yeah, I see the problem you’re pointing out here. You can’t do this one by yourself.
Or at least, you probably shouldn’t.
When you start digging and raising terrain like that, it can mess with the entire balance of the slope.
And if it’s not properly sized by professionals, you might end up worse off than before.
Experts can estimate the maximum energy a block could have when it hits your property. And that number is key to building the merlon.
If it’s too resistant, you overpaid.
If it’s not strong enough, it won’t just be a rock hitting your house, it’ll be a rock and your whole merlon collapsing together.
Heavy-Duty Protection
I can’t end this article without showing you the ultimate method against falling rocks.
Rockfall barriers.
This is a high-strength metal net anchored to the ground with steel cables and energy absorbers.
It can stop any rock that’s falling.
But here, we’re talking real engineering:
Calculating the rock’s energy, anchoring the net deep enough, and choosing the right materials.
You can’t do this with a YouTube tutorial and a weekend, I’m sorry…
With this method, rock size doesn’t matter anymore. Anything can be protected as long as the danger has been properly identified.
​A rockfall net makes sense when:
- You already had rocks falling
- Your house is directly in the fall path
- A study confirmed high risk
The newsletter that makes sense of natural disasters.
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Final Words (For Quick Glancers)
- If the slope above your house tilts — even slightly — you’re exposed.​
Observation is your first defense. Don’t ignore the small signs.
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- Garden tricks and low-cost setups can slow down the danger.​
Hedges, dirt mounds, tires — cheap doesn’t mean useless.
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- Serious slope = serious gear.​
For real rockfall threats, only pro-installed barriers make sense.
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Thank you for your time!
Hydrau
Next Week’s Historic Date📜
50 years ago…
On July 30, 1975, Typhoon Nina (Super Typhoon Bebeng) unleashed its first gusts.
Did you know? It is the second deadliest typhoon of all time.
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