Good Questions: Landscaping ideas for a slope?

Hi AT,

I'm looking for resources for contemporary landscaping in the North Bay or SF. We have a 50's house in Marin (not an Eichler) which we bought from the original owners who let everything go so there is NO landscaping now, and we back up to open space so the back section of the back yard is fairly steep. We'd love to get some ideas for modern, low-maintenance, low-water landscaping. [more pics after the jump]

Thanks,
LMax

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Anyone?

Comments (2)

We have a VERY steep slope, that is tiered on one side of the site with a slope/golf green on the other.

By building in concrete block 'steps' you can create layers that take water more efficiently, and you can plant 'green' plants (we use high Country Gardens from new mexico - lots of waterwise plantings for the west)

If it helps, our 1952 ranch bungalow has a lot of its original landscaping, as do many in our neighborhood. In steep lots, terracing with local quarried basalt is common. Railroad ties are used to terrace as well. These terraces tend to be planted with a lot of low linear evergreen shrubs. Other common landscape plants in the neighborhood are yucca, flax, camelias, rhododendrons and flowering dogwood. The palette tends toward deep reds, pinks and silver.