Terracing Steep Slopes with Timber Retaining Walls

Steep slope with poison ivy: solarize (clear plastic 4-6 weeks) or herbicide, then remove plastic. Terrace with 6x6 timbers or railroad ties: work bottom-up, cut into bank, level each tier, spike timbers together, deadman anchors every 4 feet.

Two-person job. Fill tiers with topsoil/compost. Plant different shrubs/flowers per terrace. Mulch heavily. Drip irrigation per tier.

NRCS guide (nrcs.usda.gov/Feature/backyard/Terrac.html) has detailed instructions. Permit may be needed for wall height/earth movement.