I think whatever you use to replace the timbers will cost about the same.... unless there's plenty of big rocks where you live? I'm sure you're going to want to keep some kind of retaining wall in the back to prevent soil erosion down that slope? But for the front, it would probably be a big undertaking to level out the entire area. But you could try sloping it. Palustris had a very detailed posting of a similar area he called "a crevice garden". Let me see if I can find it. here ya go: http://www.gardenstew.com/viewtopic.php?t=24305&highlight= Maybe you can do something like that?
Thanks Cherylad! I did check out Palustris's crevice gardne and it is absolutely beautiful. But too much work for us to handle on our own.
Maybe he'll volunteer to come do it for you! When I lived in New Mexico, we used railroad ties to create a retaining wall. They are treated and showed no signs of any kind of rotting after 13 years. If memory serves me correctly, they were about $20 a piece (in the 1990s). It wasn't simple (required some tools and muscles) but wasn't too hard either. It was needed to stop the erosion and I liked the looks of it. retaining wall ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) Just trying to give you some ideas.
This style just need some seeds,pea stone and concrete. ( photo / image / picture from designshare's Garden )
DS--I love the idea of a terrace, then letting the slope do its thing. I especially like the last design, with the terrace attached to the house. It looks more natural, allowing the land to do what it wants (be a slope), but still making a usable area for people. The railroad ties buttressing up a square lawn area remind me a bit of landowners attempts to prune shrubs into lollypop shapes--things that do not occur naturally (in nature). Tina--I am guessing these design ideas feel like a tremendous amount of work/money. Perhaps you could do it in stages? In a scaled down way?
Tina I bet you could find some free rocks or other stuff to use in that area. Have you tried looking at your local craigslist or freecycle website to see what people are giving away in your area. You maybe pleasantly surprized :-D Maybe they would even deliver for a small cost just to get it out of their way. Hope you find out what is causing the sinking?
Update (4/8) Today filled the hollow ares in the ground with topsoil and compost. Then on top on that I put in a tire and added some more compost and some insect killers. I am going to put in more soil and plant something - here is where I need some suggestions. What should I grow in the tire ? It will be kind of raised, so I was thinking will plant some marigolds and also vines in the edges to cover the tire. What say? Also added some stepping stones. Here is the picture of the little progress I made today : ( photo / image / picture from Tina's Garden )
More work was done this week (5/8). Finally added a wall. Also the top yard has another small flowering bed. Put zinnia seeds in that yard and sunflower seeds on the tire. The laundry detergent container holds my new trumpet vines. ( photo / image / picture from Tina's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from Tina's Garden )
