What to do with this steep backyard?

12 years ago

Hello,

I am shopping for a home, and have found a house that I really like. Alas, the house comes with a really steep backyard. The seller already did something to it, but it doesn't look all that great. So, if you have any great idea on improving this backyard, please share it here. I'd appreciate it. I have included an aerial photo of how it looks like right now, and an elevation map of the property. Note The current owner has done some leveling. The bottom of the yard is all flattened out for a concrete patch and a play set. They also tried to level out the area right behind the house, but there is still about a drop of 1 to 2 feet from the house to where the junipers are. Ideally, I would like to have the following conditions met by the new design:

1. The area from the back of the house to about 40 feet out would be leveled so that my kids can play on this grassy area.

2. I would like to have some kind of "boundary" for the area in 1.

3. I would like to have some access path from the area in 1. to the bottom of the yard (where the concrete patch is).

Thanks again.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

deviant-deziner
12 years ago
This looks like a perfect example of a project that could use a well seasoned landsape designer.
There are a lot of elements and layers that have to be pulled together into one cohesive design layout.
I think it would be worth the value of investment in some quality design time.
Your property value would be enhanced as well as your quality of life.

You can easily get 40 feet of flat usuable space if you install a retaining wall that is 5 to 6 feet tall ( depending on how it lays out across the contours ) .
In my area ( N. CA ) this would require a soils and structural engineer to augment the landscape plans in order to apply for your grading and building permit.
Along with the grading and installation of the wall, there may be railings or a secondary wall installed along with steps, paths, erosion control, drainage, and more , such as landscaping, lighting and irrigation schematic.

The process of design and installation would be so much more streamlined and cost effective if you had a design professional working with you.
bonsai_audge
12 years ago
I would have to second deviant-deziner's (Michelle's) suggestion. Having a qualified, experienced designer, although it may cost more initially, will be an investment that will well worth it.

Significant regrading and structural/engineered retaining walls are usually quite feasible, but you definitely want to make sure they're done right (and in the right place) the first time around.

If the budget is tight (and when are budgets ever not?), then you can also explore a phased construction/implementation schedule. This is where having a designer will be additionally beneficial - making sure things are built in a logical manner to reduce the amount of redundant work, damage, or repairs needed down the line with each stage. Not to mention that having a master plan will make sure that everything will fit in the end.

Best of luck! There's a lot that you can do on a slope.

- Audric
Related Discussions
Landscaping steep bowl shaped slope-backyard
Q
Comments (32)
taterville, Things are coming along very nicely. I bet when you were in school you were one of those students that always did your homework; I never did mine. lol Most of your measurements worked fine, but something went wrong with the measurement of point A. That's my fault, not yours; my instructions were not adequate for the task. As we go along, there will be times when you need to mark a place on the ground in a semi-permanent way. Any number of things can be used; stakes, tent pegs, or nails with a ribbon attached. Now let me revisit the location of point A. You will need to place a marker at point A that is at the bottom toe of the slope about mid way in the curved transition between the relative straight line of the toe running behind your house and the straight line of the toe running along the side of your house. Begin at point A and measure along a line parallel to the back of your house to a point that aligns with the back of your house, shown in my graphic as point B. Earlier you gave that distance as 4ft 11 inches. That may have been correct, but because we may now be starting from a new location for A, you will need to repeat this measurement. Now go back to point A and measure parallel to the side of your house to a point that aligns with the back corner of your house shown as point C. Think of the box defined by the the three points and the back corner of your house as a rectangle. It is the width and length of this rectangle we seek. You did not give a distance from point E to F and I assume that the slope is just too long and slick to make the measurement. That's OK, there are other ways to find the location of point F. I'll prepare some instructions on how to go about it. You are getting close to providing the data needed to produce a base map defining the terrain you have. It wont have the precision of that of a professional, but is certainly suitable for planning purposes. The precision can be improved as needed. Taking what can be used from your photos, the survey, and the measurements requested by yardvaark and myself, I have made a drawing. Contours shown are at 1 ft intervals. Scale, small squares equal 2ft. I will add to and make corrections as additional data comes in. Below is a thumbnail. The full sized drawing Is in the optional link. I would invite everyone to use any of the graphics I provide to convey your ideas for the site. Here is a link that might be useful:
...See More
Steep sloped backyard - elevations
Q
Comments (2)
Looking at house from slope Looking at slope from back door Between properties
...See More
Need help with large/steep/bare backyard hillside
Q
Comments (5)
We live on a very steep, but rocky hillside and a previous owner put various terraces on it. Since winter is coming, and to prevent that hillside from slipping, plant a lot of creeping rosemary. Rosemary is drought tolerant. Our house is on top of the slope, but you risk a ton of mud from that hill. Our entire 1.5 acres are covered with about 12 automatic drip stations, so everything gets water 3 x per week for about 45 minutes. Junipers, as ugly as they are also are good for erosion. We have many. Thinking about distilling some gin from their berries... NOT! Trees: Olives are drought tolerant as are figs (once established). Pomegranates seem fine with little water too. There is also some kind of burlap sand bag ropes that will help hold back mud and water. The house across the ravine from us has it on their big slope.
...See More
Landscaping a steep backyard slope
Q
Comments (4)
Is it possible to grow anything there, save 3 or 4 bushes? "... the former owners embedded some tire-like items in it ..." That sounds mysterious! I don't know if this will be useful to you, but a while back I came across a method of road building that used a layer of horizontally set tires with their sidewalls removed, filled with rocks, as a sub-base for the purpose of road stabilization. It looked very effective, as well as using a material that is basically throwaway/free. The tires were rock-filled standing shallow cylinders, solidly abutting one another, and their main purpose was to contain the rocks in order to prevent them from migrating sideways. A sideways movement would eventually transfer to a disintegration of the road bed, beginning at the edges and working its way toward the center of the road over time. The tires put an end to the possibility of any sideways migration of the rocks. This same principle could be used on a slope, but with stacked tires. The only things is, the leading edge of tire rows would show. If it could be covered by a vine or creeping growth, that would be one way to get rid of the look. I'm not sure what your possibilities for growing anything, is.
...See More
karinl
12 years ago
While going with a designer would be a good idea, I agree, especially if retaining walls above play areas are in the picture, in the event that this is not an option, you might post some actual photos of the space so that it would be easier to imagine and discuss options.

One question I would have is whether flat space is really all its cracked up to be. You can do so much with a slope that kids can enjoy, that adults can enjoy, and by the way the kids grow up so fast you'll just have the yard ready for them when they move away :-)

Karin L
bahia
12 years ago
Doesn't it seem like jumping the gun asking for design advice for a property you don't even own, and may not even purchase? Additionally there are obvious discrepancies between the aerial photo and the topo plan you included which seems to show a 5foot cross slope at the garage doors/driveway, yet the driveway layout would seem to indicate the grading is actually level across this end of the house.

Creating a more level area immediately adjacent the back side of the house may not even be the most logical/cost effective location,nor have you given any idea of what you'd be willing to spend to transform this supposed liability. If you're seriously interested in bidding on this property, I'd suggest it makes more sense to revisit the property with a local landscape contractor who could advise you on cost effective viable solutions as well as give you an idea of costs. Getting what ifs on redesigning this site with the limited info given is not going to give you anything useful in my opinion.

At the very least you should add additional photos at ground level showing the real existing grades and conditions, and a better idea the minimum dimensions of the flat area you want to fit into that backyard.

What to do with this steep backyard?

Comments (4)

deviant-deziner

bonsai_audge

Related Discussions

karinl

bahia

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US