Since I love looking at before and after pics, I figure I'll post these for others to enjoy/critique as you have time. This yard is on a steep hillside above bluffs above the Missouri River in Missouri. We are slowly trying to tame the yard. It's not really as big as it appears, under an acre -- but it's on a ravine and high up, so it feels expansive, but is still a manageable amount of land for us these days. We bought an untended yard (except close to the house), with erosion issues to the point of mudslides. Nonetheless, the views from the home are beautiful and it's on the edge of town so we can walk to activities, so we were willing to take on this yard. I'll gladly welcome all advice on plants or any other advice related to what we're trying to do here.

Here's some pictures of the west and central yard a few years back:



Can't really see the vines and washouts on those pics. Here's what it looked like if you went inside the brush (the stones are old collapsing retaining walls):



The first thing we did was install multiple rainbarrels as well as a dry creek bed (french drain) on the east (highest) side of the yard that functions to slow and direct water. We also installed a path on the east side that is edged by decaying wood, which serves to outline the path, but also to slow and even hold the downhill flow of water. Here is the east side as of last spring



Below is the center yard last year, with new patio, and turkey visitor (roughly same shot as second picture in this post)



We then built a terraced garden, which doesn't look that steep from above, but you get a better idea from below. This is our vegetable garden.



This year, we're adding fencing around the garden (critter problems) and hopefully beginning to plant the east yard which is now clearer. I'd really love a pretty woodland path, with islands of native plants The next to last picture below is roughly the same spot as the first above - the maple in the first is the shadow in the below, and the pecan in the first can be seen in the upper right hand corner of the below. The beginning of the garden fencing is visible in the lower left corner below. Finally, added a picture of a spot in the middle of the east yard. Not all of the areas needing clearing are clear by any means. We can only clear what we can plant and care for before beginning another area. We never let any yard waste leave our property, as we use anything available to fill or prevent runoff. So, in the final, you see gravel, rocks, and wood, all placed around to fill in while we get ready to establish plants. We'll have to add more retaining walls, too, but one step at a time *whew*



Feel free to suggest anything, as I'm not experienced in doing all this -- just learning as I go..

Thanks for looking!

Oops. This belongs in the garden photos forum. Is there a way to move it?

Quite a transformation! Looks great, so far.

Thanks. It's my version of fitness equipment

Chris can you see the river from your house or from your patio? I think my favorite photo is the dry creek bed, I love the pathway and daffodils.

We can see the river from the house and from the patio. In winter, we can see the river the full length of the yard, but where the river is actually closer there are a lot more trees, so it's hard to know that you're seeing river. In summer, leaves block our view everywhere except to the north east. That view, though, was one of the things that really sold us on the house! I'll see if I can find a pic of it later, as I've already taken a longer break than I planned..had to see what was going on in this forum!

Thanks on the dry creek bed. I only used rocks I found in the yard on the edges (although inside the creek bed is drainage and purchased gravel). It's not dry all the time, either! Looks like another river when it's raining! It has stopped the edge of the yard from continuing to fall off into the ravine, and I was hopeful it would look kinda cool. Trying to grow some moss on it, now!

OK, so here's the river from worst to best view in the back of our house:

Worst view, north west yard, same area as 6th picture above, but taken looking north instead of west, and taken today (above was taken last year). This is where the river is closest to the house, but also where the greenery is heaviest. The blue in the middle is the river. Luckily, the sun came out a bit. Otherwise the river looks grey like the trees and is very hard to see. Shows just how many vines we still have to take out on this section of yard. DH cut down 3 small trees in preparation for removal of 2 larger ones by pros. One is the tree on the left - obvious even in this picture how girdled it was from the vines. The other on the right hand side had also been girdled and is splitting. The tree in the middle with bird house will remain. Luckily, we have a wood burning stove in the lower level, so we can put all this wood to good use!



And then the view that sold us on the house, north east yard. When I am too old to garden, I plan to sit in the sunroom and enjoy the view

That is a fantastic view Chris! I can see how it would be a selling point. You and DH have done a lot of work.I

We also live on a river, the Alabama. We are in a bend so the view is pretty much straight ahead and there is a wetland behind us with trees and brush. Then a slough. We have a very gentle slope down to the water, maybe 30ft from the front of the house. When it floods, the water from the slough covers the ground first. The dam below us was slow to open the gates that day!

Checking the forums are addictive like buying plants! Glad you found us!

Sounds like you have a great view, too! I'll bet you have some good fishing there

There's just something about water. Even if we were as close as you, we couldn't walk down to the river here. There's a limestone bluff down to the river on this side! We're up really high, so if we ever flood -- better build an ark! But, at least really high gives us a nice view of the horizon. And, walking home from town beats a stair stepper any day!

Yeah, this forum is addictive. I surf a lot after hubby is asleep. I figured I should stop looking for plants to buy, as I've already bought so many this year, and he's worried about us taking care of them all as they settle in. Figured this would keep me out of trouble! But, now I'm not so sure!!

I had to laugh at the fishing! I used to be DH's partner but then he got me interested in the gardening and that took care of dipping the hooks. April and Oct are the best fishing months and also the best gardening!

Pretty soon I'll be having to get up with the chickens to beat the heat so I'm enjoying it while I can. I have learned to tote a beach umbrella if I have to be out in June or later, and I bought a shop fan to cool me off under the house. Necessity is the mother of invention!