One way to control erosion is to build a retaining wall at the foot of the slope in your yard ... like concrete blocks. These ...

A retaining wall allows you to turn a useless (for landscaping purposes) slope into a terraced, flat area. And perhaps the easiest way to build such a wall is with used railroad crossties.

If you live in Pittsburgh, you know it’s not exactly flat. Hills, slopes, and elevation changes are part of what makes this city beautiful, but they can also cause serious problems for homeowners.