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Photo Journal - Hillside Landscaping Vol 2 - Terracing with Wood
90Hillside Landscaping Pictorial Vol 2
Landscaping a hillside can be one of the most difficult landscaping projects. After building my new home in a hillside community in Southern California I was left with a hillside in my backyard that had never been landscaped before.
The primary landscaping idea was to create as many flat/level areas as possible. Sloped surfaces are very limiting as to the type of plants you can use. So, if you want to have a vegetable garden, a flower bed or walkways you need to make level areas.
The cost of materials was a major concern for my project as the hillside was fairly large. The lowest cost per linear foot for raw material was wood. The primary wood I used was cherrytone landscaping lumber logs, available at Home Depot.
Another reason for using the landscaping timbers is the weight of the material. I have used a lot of stepping stones and landscaping bricks as well as the timbers and one thing is for certain: Wood is a lot easier to carry than stone or bricks. If you consider loading the material into a cart, then onto your truck, then off the truck to the backyard, then finally to the place you want to place it, it adds up to a lot of lifting. I can carry 2 timbers more easily than one landscaping stone.
This Volume expands on the first volume with additional photos of areas done since the publication as well as newer photos of the lanscape from the first issue. I have also included detail photos of how the posts were made.
Terraced Hillside Garden - Photo No.1
Photo #1
This is the west end of the middle section of my hillside. This section is nearing completion. I also made a strawberry patch out of one section.
Terraced Hillside Garden - Photo No.2
Photo #2
This is the center area of the middle section of my hillside. This section is nearing completion. This area provides a ramp area to access the lower portion of the garden.
Terraced Hillside Garden - Photo No.3
Photo #3
This is the east end of the middle section of my hillside. The landscaping timbers here provide a space to plant annual flower beds below the hillside ground cover.
Terraced Hillside Garden - Photo No.4
Photo #4
This is the bottom section next to the property line. The landscaping timbers here provide sections on a slope to provide row planting of corn and beans. I ran out of posts and wedges so used wood stakes to hold the timbers in place until I get replacements.
Terraced Hillside Garden Landscaping Timbers Pile- Photo No.5
Photo #5
Home Depot had a sale on the cherrytone landscaping timers for under $2.00 each. I bought 52 and had to make 2 trips but saved $50 over the regular price. Lowes has similar landscaping timbers, but are about 25% smaller in diameter. Last September Lowes were the only ones available so I used a few. Lowes were not as strong but made better posts. The smaller ones were easier to put a point on as I could cut them in one pass. The Home Depot ones have to be turned over to complete the points.
Terraced Hillside Garden Landscaping Timbers Posts- Photo No.6
Photo #6
This photo shows the timbers cut into 2ft sections and have 6" of one end cut to a point. The points make it a lot easier to pound into place to support the horizontal members.
Terraced Hillside Garden Landscaping Wedges- Photo No.7
Photo #7
This photo shows the wedges formed when the ends of the posts were pointed. Don't throw these away. They can be used to support single tier timbers in place instead of posts.
Terraced Hillside Garden Smaller Landscaping Timbers- Photo No.8
Photo #8
This photo shows the smaller Lowes timbers. Because they were smaller, I stacked them with the flat side facing the posts.
Terraced Hillside Garden Wedge Detail- Photo No. 9
Photo #9
This photo shows the wedges used on single tier logs. The wedge shape is easy to hammer into place. Use a minimum of 3 wedges per log, 4 if the ground is too soft. Be sure to bury part of the log so they will not come lose over time. These are used mainly for edging of walks and not ment to retain soil.
Terraced Hillside Garden 3 Log Tier Detail- Photo No. 10
Photo #10
This photo shows the a 3 log tier. I used 3 ft long posts because the soil was fairly soft. Before I got the posts into place, I used left over rebar and a large rock to stablize the wall first. The soil on the down side of the wall will be compacted over the coming weeks to further stablize the wall. I compact the soils by putting down a layer of soil 6" thick, wet it, then walk on it every other day until I reach the height I want.
Terraced Hillside Garden View From Above- Photo No. 11
Photo #11
This photo shows the west end from above. This is a work in progress. It will take me a few more weekends to finish this section. I usually spend one day landscaping, the other day tending the existing garden.
Terraced Hillside Garden Volume 1 Review- Photo No. 12
Terraced Hillside Garden Volume 1 Review- Photo No. 13
Terraced Hillside Garden Volume 1 Review- Photo No. 14
Photos 12, 13, & 14
These photos show what the area shown in volume 1 looks like today. The timbers used for steps shown in photo #12 have been in place for a year now, as they were the first timbers laid down. In photo #13 you can see the neighbors yard in the background, which will give you a good idea of what my backyard used to look like. In photo #14 you can see my spring seedlings. I reuse all materials from the nursery. The mulch I get from the city green recycling center for free.
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Nice Hub.
Excellent Hub indeed!
that/s great! We didnt do nearlyt hat much and i was a PAIN. You did a great job
My friend lives on a hillside in Spain and has been moaning about not being able to do anything with his garden. I have just sent him an email with your url, fantastic hub!
Hey Girl Watcher,
I applaud anyone willing to take on such a project. For your future projects, allow me to make a few suggestions from a professional landscaper that will prove helpful:
1) Always stagger your joints. This will make a much more stable and stronger wall. Never allow one joint to fall over the top of another.
2) When building 4 timbers or more high, use cripples instead of driving in posts. Cripples will make the wall much more stable and will give you a clean front to your wall.
3) Tie your timbers together by driving 10" "Timber Nails" through your timbers (3 or 4 per timber) to tie them to the one below it and help lock lower joints together.
4) Build from feature to feature. In this case, the terraces should be built from one set of steps to another set or tie it into another wall that runs perpendiculaer to it. This will tie all of the elements together and add additional stability to the ends of the wall.
5) Apply landscaping fabric to the inside surfaces of the wall to prevent soil from washing through the cracks. Additionally the soil that is allowed to enter into the cracks will also hold moisture and cause the timbers to prematurely fail. This is of vital importance if you live in an area that experiences freezing weather as the moisture that the soil holds will cause the timbers to split.
6) Whenever possible always dig the entire trench for the starter course all at once making sure it is level and then compact the soil in the bottom of the trench with a tamper to help guarantee stability of the wall.
These things will help make a stable and secure wall that will last for many years to come.
the "Hillbilly Gardener"
Such a nice garden! I love it :)
Love your backyard. The idea of landscaping it that way is great. Post more pics if those plants are much bigger and greener.
Kris
Excellent
I have developed more of the hillside and many plants have grown larger but now it is getting towards winter and not many flowers now. I did get some great floral images this summer that I might post into a new hub, though.
Exactly where do you get your free mulch? I also live in Mission Viejo. Thanks.
The city of Los Angeles has 4 places around the city where they grind up the organic material that is picked up by the trash trucks. The one I go to is in the Tujunga Wash near Hansen Dam. They might have a simular program with your city recycling. I just go there and fill up my truck bed. Nobody is ever there except gardners.
THank you!!! after hours of looking for some good descriptions and photos you have it here! Bravo! Marty
Lots of hard work. The great thing is now that you have so much of the ground work done, you can improve on your individual beds as you have time, money and plants. Nice hub. I worked 18 years in landscaping in Dallas. This was a major job you did. You go man.
Thanks CS. It is still a work in progress. I've added a few more beds and adding a concrete sidwalk on the side of the house. I hope to publish a update in a few months. I've had some failures too. I am going to rework parts per "Hillbilly Gardner" suggestions. It's a majot job as you say, but it's keeping me fit and saving me from having to spend $ at a health club to keep in shape!
I think I need to state this again, those pictures are really great.
I've not had to deal with this (North Texas has few hills of that grade) but my brother lived in West Virginia for a few years and this was just what he needed. It looks like a lot of work.
Very hard job and so well done! It really pays off, if it is done properly.
Very nice job. I have a less dramatic slope in my yard so this hub will come in handy if we ever decide to change it. Excellent photos!
One great hub! Wow! Fabulous photos and very helpful informations about wood terracing. I was having secong thougths on having my front yard terrace with concrete because this one is amazingly beautiful! I will share one lens http://excavatorsguide.com/trucks It is about equipments for excavation with tons of informations, facts and links that is helpful to those who have a large excavation project that needs these equipments to get it done quickly.
Thank you for sharing those great ideas for landscaping on a slope like that. Most people that I have seen use the customary landscaping concrete blocks. Your use of the timbers creates a very nice look. Hillbilly gives some really great tips as well. Thanks guys.
Brilliantly done, love the photography as well. Great hub
nice hub, and nice garden. great job.
great photos.... great hobby and good jub :D
These are great picture. Exactly the inspiration I was looking for. I have a large hillside like you and what to do something very similar. I know it has been a long tim esince you made the original post so I am interested in how your project is holding up? Do you know what Hillbilly Gardner meant by a Cripple ? Did you every try this?
Thanks again for sharing your pictures.
Georgina,
It's been almost 4 years since I first laid these wood retainers and they are still doing pretty good, for the most part. Some of the vertical posts have rotted out at the base. I put these directly into the ground without a concrete base or support. What hillbilly meant by "cripple" is a diagonal brace to the posts. I have stacked some stack-able blocks to keep my walls up since the posts are rotted. Only about 25% have rotted so far. I plan to replace the posts with cemented in chain link poles. I can paint the posts so they will look better than unfinished.
I had a great harvest of tomatoes this last year. The garden in spring was quite beautiful with lots of wildflowers and reseeded annuals. The terracing has made a world of difference. It is a joy to walk up and down the paths and enjoy my garden.
I believe that if I had Hillbilly Gardeners advice before I started it would be in even better shape. Good luck in your future garden.
Thanks for the update and info on the cripples Girlwatcher - very helpful. Thats good to know about the rate at which the posts rot out. I think its so great that you managed to turn a difficult slope into a productive garden. Hopefully I'll have as much luck.
I think the rate of rot out has to do mainly with how the water drains in that area. Most of the rotted ones are places where the run off water kind of collected at the base of the posts. Some of the taller ones where the base did not get as much water have lasted much longer and are still doing a good job. It might have something to do with the base wood used. Some I bought from Loews that were a little smaller in diameter but a denser type wood that is lasting longer. You can tell by lifting the logs. Some are more seasoned and heavier.
The rotted logs are mainly the post or verticle logs. The flat or horizontal logs have faired much better. They have aged better good too with a nice weathered patina.
I hope this helps.
Looking very nice! Nice photos
The cut on the bottom of the posts may have contributed to the rotting. The cuts do not have the benefit of the wood preservative so they can rot faster. There is a product that people call 'copper green' that will preserve the cut areas of the wood. It costs about $10/gt/t or $14/gal. (in 2010) It is easy to apply, but it really stinks for a while.
Also, wood retaining walls over 3 feet from the footing to the top may need a permit from the city in many areas.
Good suggestions D Zook. The cherrytone finish is not really a perservative but more of a cosmetic wash. Either way the copper green would be a better solution.
I would not make any wall over 3ft high with this material nor do I think this material would be approved for this type of use. The main use of this cherrytone landscaping timber is decorative and to simply slow down the water and allowing it to soak the ground around the base of the plants.
hi this is the best website los angeles flowers for every kind of flowers.
Wow... you just saved me about $300. I was going to use $16 railroad ties to do a similar project that your photos showed. I've procrastinating the project because of the cost, now I can't wait to get it started. Thank you! Thank you!Thank you!Thank you!Thank you!Thank you!Thank you!Thank you!Thank you!Thank you!Thank you!Thank you!Thank you!
Beautiful garden! I,too, have a California hillside and its lack of purposeful use was driving me crazy. I started exploring terraced gardens, because I have always wanted a vegetable garden, and now my landscaper is going to do a similar style garden for me. Thanks for the inspiration!
Wow, I love the way you did your hillside. I live in a very simular type of hillside in El Sereno, just northeast of downtown L.A. I have a few fruit trees on the hillside that do well, but it's almost impossible to get to them because of the steepness of the hillside. Would it be okay to send you some pics of my hillside so you can give me some advice on where to start?
Silvasd, I started by making a path down each side, then switched back from a old foot path. Every hillside is going to be different. Ideally you want the paths (24"wide) about 6-8 feet apart to make it easy to work in. You need paths wide enough so you can bring cart to roll down. Plan carefully because once you cut a path it's very difficult to restore. Plan also how you will get water hoses down to the areas.
Thanks Girl Watcher. I'll keep this in mind.
I think the project would have looked nicer if you had used some other type of stake besides the cherry timbers. The timbers used as stakes will rot especially quickly (being buried in the soil) and a contrast with some natural branches looks a lot better also.
Hi... did you need a permit in LA for doing that?... I understand that you don't?
we are also building a 27 inch high planter on our hillside with faux rail ties and our
neighbor called the city about a permit...
Kim 4 years ago
Those pictures are awesome. I am about to tackle my back hillside and may use some of your ideas. I have the additional issues of trees and a brushy undergrowth. I love living in hilly terrain, but it sure is a lot harder to do basic tasks going up and down the ravines.