Beginner Gardening: Beginning steps for slope landscaping needed - Preparation, 1 by Clementine

Clementine wrote:
I haven't found anything to answer my question/problem in reading the first couple of pages of this forum, and I apologize if this has already been answered somewhere.
When I have some idea what to do first, I will continue my questions, so that I can develop this project step by step.

Here is my situation and I will attach a couple of pictures:

The slope runs north to south and is on the north side of the house. I am guessing that the angle is about 25-30 degrees. Drainage should be only from what rain will fall on it, as it is well drained away from the crest away from this side of the slope towards the west. The soil was imported from somewhere nearby (red) and is quite hard and needs amending.

In mid-September, DH sprayed Round-up and then two weeks later mowed it. Now, there are lots of clumps of cut-off vegetation stalks (i.e. weeds and two small trees).

Questions:
1. How should I remove those clumps? Indeed, do I have to?
2. I am sure there are lots of seeds there, how should I deal with those? Pre-emergent spray - when? Black plastic? I would of course like to start planting rather sooner than later.
3. I have lots of soil amendment and cow manure bags (broken, 50% off, LOL).
4. I have read in another thread about strategically placing some rocks, and I do have some (there is one on the picture on the right in front of the car), but they are not very big, and also, I do not have any bricks from the wall construction left.

Many thanks for any and all ideas/experiences,
C.

This message was edited Oct 28, 2008 2:58 PM