Question
What can I do with the hill that is on my property?  I had three landscaping contractors come in and two suggested getting rock to put in the ditch and up the side on the hill that is across the entire front of my lot.  The estimate of one of them, including re-grading and mulch and laying the rock, was $5000.00.  The other gave no estimate yet.  My 16-year-old son believes that, if we get the rock delivered, we can lay it ourselves and save money, but I will admit I have concerns and question whether this is the best solution.  Another contractor suggested terracing and retaining walls, but also stated that would greatly add to the expense.  His other solution was to put drainage pipe from the small culvert to the large culvert and cover it with fill dirt, then build a retaining wall on the section that leads from the large culvert in the edge on my property.  What is your expert advice?  I really don't want to mess with planting, etc. on this hill since I have been struggling with it for two years.  I just need a solution that will present an appealing look to the front of my home and that will not be dangerous to mow.

Here is additional information:
On the front corner of my lot facing the road, I have a steep hill that goes down to a drainage ditch and several culverts that drain water from the rest of the housing development. The largest culvert is at an angle, intersects my lot about 1/3 of the way across the front yard and leads to another large culvert on my neighbor's property that goes under his driveway and leads to a small creek. The steep hill that leads up from the large culvert is almost impossible to climb while standing upright.  It has trees and azalea bushes at the top, but the hill is basically bare red clay and scrub growth (The erosion is terrible and tree roots are becoming exposed.)  The other two-thirds of the yard also has a drainage ditch and a small culvert that goes under the concrete driveway. The large hill, however, has been gradually graded as it gets closer to the driveway, so that the hill is less steep.  With great care I can mow this part of the yard while wearing cleats; however, the other part of the yard could only be mowed by hand if I attached a rope to the lawn mower and pulled it up and down while standing at the top of the hill. My entire front yard slopes downward toward the drainage ditches and I basically have no topsoil left.  I do have moss growing in the yard.

That is the e

Answer
Hi Karen - Yep.  Retaining walls will add to the cost, but how safe is having to mow with cleats or a rope/pully system, now?  If you put in 50 feet of wall, at say 3 feet high, the cost should be about $4,500-$6,000, plus some cost of regrading the earth around it.  With the reduced slope (and hopefully breaking up some of the red clay soil at the same time), mowing should be easier.  

If you opt for the rock solution, I'd suggest larger rock - no smaller than 4" diameter - plus you'll get lots of weeds, and now with the added rock you *CANNOT* mow it unless you have a death-wish!  Weed-wacker/string trimmer at best.  If oyu do it yourself, how will you re-grade?  Rent a bobcat*?  Lots of cool attachments, but can be costly.

*(http://www.bobcat.com/loaders/product_lines)

Due to the proximity of a creek, use of an herbicide is limited or even restricted (don't want to kill all the wildlife, and stuff), so thats out, as far as keeping weeds in check.

Not many options.  If you want t keep it in lawn, I'd spend the money and do the walls...it may even open up a level area for a future deck or patio.  

You can even install the wall yourself if your 16-yearold is feeling particularly adventuresome - check out the Hometime Video of how the average homeowner can do it, or go to one of the retainging wall websites - Versa-lok, Keystone, Baselite, Pyzique, Selecticd, etc.

I've even used old log timbers harvested on-site for a rustic "Davey Crockett" sort of effect. (http://www.portolavalleyranch.org/design/ex3_7_2_4b.jpg)

Substitute logs for planks on this detail.  Good luck!

~Marc