Nobody enjoys wrestling with a steep lawn. Transform this hillside with terraced planting beds along rough stone stairs rather than turf grass. For year-round texture and color, fill the tiers with ...

Your backyard is filled with untapped potential, from the sunny spot that begs for a flower garden to the sloped hill that would be ideal for an outdoor dining table if it were only a bit more level.

When you’re thinking ahead to outdoor projects, it makes sense to consider the slope of your yard. Many developers flatten sloping sites to make construction more economical and backyards more usable.

Ground with a steep pitch or slope can become a problem area if it is often eroded by runoff water from heavy rains. One way to contain the erosion is by leveling the slope with a terrace, then ...

This is the last of three stories on terracing hillsides. To read the first two stories, "Slippery slopes" and "Know your hillside," go to sfgate.com and type in Deborah K. Rich. "Almost all ...

For thousands of years, builders have used retaining walls to create flat vertical walls or gently sloping terraces on hillsides. While constructing a solid, lasting retaining wall might look ...