Dirt Locker® is an interlocking HDPE terracing system that turns a raw hillside into stable mini-planters. Each curved cell traps soil, moisture and nutrients while perforated walls let excess water cascade gently to the next row, stopping destructive runoff. Once vegetation takes hold, root networks thread through the cells and native ground, creating a single, living erosion control product that keeps the slope in place year-round.

Clear turf and green weeds, rake out ruts, and lightly regrade so every row sits level. Leave dead organic matter—it will compost beneath the system. Switch off irrigation a few days before work and never install on saturated soil. To place this erosion control product you’ll need: 3-lb mallet, 2 × 4 tapping block, gloves, 4-ft level, Dirt Locker® units, J-hooks, plus wheelbarrow, shovel and topsoil/compost for back-fill. Skip landscape fabric; roots must penetrate native soil to lock the slope.

Absolutely. Mark out a zig-zag or horizontal path, fill chosen cells three-quarters with soil, cover with landscape fabric, then top with gravel, pavers or stone. Anchor each step with J-hooks on both sides to keep it solid. If you’d like expert input, our founder offers live Zoom consultations and digital renderings that tailor the erosion control product to your exact slope, budget and planting plan.

Dirt Locker® is DIY-friendly, yet help is available. Use the ZIP-code referral map on our website to find certified crews already familiar with the erosion control product. No listing nearby? Book a virtual consultation and we’ll guide you—along with your preferred landscaper—through estimating, layout and installation so your hillside is done right the first time.

Accurate slope angle ensures you order the right Dirt Locker® size. Open our free online calculator, then: (1) place a 4-ft level on the ground pointing downhill, (2) raise or lower the downhill end until the bubble centers, (3) measure the vertical gap between level and soil with a ruler. Enter the 48 in run and your rise into the tool; it instantly outputs slope degrees and recommends the right erosion control product configuration.