Sounds like you need a plan to address runoff to me. It is hard to tell from your description what is happening. Do you have downspouts spilling water across the ground? Does the area get any sun? I would address runoff first, maybe dumping downspouts into pipes underground or directing runoff is some way. Then you can stabilize the ground. This can be effectively done with landscaping/grass if you can get it to grow, if not then you utilize gravel/stone/concrete or something along those lines. I would not fool with any dirtglue personally. Riles

We have a smoker on one wood deck and a grill on another. Both pressure treated wood. The smoker is a pellet smoker. It has a drip pail on the side. We do live up next to wilderness, and one time I forgot to empty the drip pail on the smoker, and some critter got to it, so there was some grease spilled, but it disappeared in time. The grill is propane and is hooked directly into the propane tank line that supplies heat for us. We have never had any problems with that at all. Our decks are not stained or painted. Just au natural.

Hi everyone, thanks for the responses. The area is definitely in full sun. The photo shows the most shade and that was 8-9 am. As the day progresses, the sun is more direct and covers more. @laceyvail 6A, WV @emmarene9 I did not think about pachysandra not doing well in the sun. I guess that's out then. I am really not a huge fan of Juniper, to be honest. I have always looked at this as woody and just not my cup of tea. Regarding the tired approach. I had not really given that any thought. I think this point I am gone too far to redo it. I have 2 other projects on the run on the property also. @Yardvaark @Christopher CNC Thanks for your feedback. I am chipping all the branches hopefully this sat. If it appears too steep, I will get some shredded mulch also to tie it together. I Seeded the top and loads of Straw yesterday. hopefully, we will get away with no thunderstorms for a few weeks. @Yardvaark I had never see this bush clover before. Is it a low growing clover that roots everywhere or a single root bush? How is vinca minor as ground cover to protect and spread? Any other options that would line full sun? thanks for your input everyone. Much appreciate it

Susan - I don't think it's a settling issue. I'm at almost the bottom of a hill, and further down (and actually part of my yard) are some very large retention areas for water run-off. As far as I can tell, this is just water being water and finding the path of least resistance. There's actually a retaining wall between the backyard and the house... about 7 feet at the top where the deck is, down to around 2 feet at the corner of the house where there's a door to the basement. If I wanted to get professional advice... what sort of professional am I looking for? I do plan on eventually planting some bushes and other plants along the upslope part of the fence to provide a privacy screen between me an my neighbor, which may help some, but that is probably a few years away. Unless I decide that it becomes important as part of stabilizing the slope and shift my priorities around.