Beginner Gardening: My front hill needs help, 1 by zenpotter

zenpotter wrote:
I am on a corner and have steep hills on the West and North sides. When I was working on my hill I had posted many photos to a previous landscaping forum that has disappeared from here. I wish that I could direct you to that. I don't have the time to re-post it all.

Given that you are putting in a driveway I assume it is going to a garage. Have you thought of putting the garage to the front of the house and having a green roof on it, a patio, or some such structure? You could put on more attractive doors or have a mural painted on it to avoid the more garage than house look. I suggest this to avoid the cost of digging the driveway, plus the hassle and cost of the driveway walls. You could then use the money you save to terrace the front hill or add other hardscape.

A couple of suggestions since you have a clean slate, if you could get that hardscape in first you will avoid a lot of hassle re-planting and moving of plants. If not at least leave those areas open so you can put it in later. Choose your trees and shrubs first. For a feminine look think cottage garden.

Here are two Japanese gardens near where I live, Japanese gardens are lovely and calm and one huge amount of work.

http://www.comozooconservatory.org/attractions/gardens/japan...

http://www.normandale.edu/japanesegarden/index.cfm

I am adding a photo from the early stages of my West facing hill, it is in partial sun.