Jeanne, this situation appears to me to be one where you would be best served and receive the most benefit from an onsite visit and discussion with a professional designer/consultant. An online forum, even with input from the few professionals that post here, is just not prepared or qualified to provide the sort of information and assistance you need, even with more detailed photos. Earth movement and grading, drainage and the safe and stable retention of hillsides and slopes are all pretty technical aspects of landscape design that require expertise to address successfully and that is best accomplished by someone with the proper qualifications seeing it in person and with a first-hand familiarity of the location, climate and soil conditions.

I "second" what Gardengal said and will add that in order to transform the junkyard into something you can appreciate, you might get rid of the the junk. I'm sure in all that stuff there are many things that will never be used. I would be better to have it gone.

If you are presently working off of a plan, you could post that plan here to see if anyone sees pitfalls in it. If you are not working off of a plan, you should be. I would not undertake such a complicated endeavor with no actual plan.

I have been a professional landscape designer for over 20 years and highly recommend that you seek out a one on one consultation/design that quite possible will not only give you great ideas, but will create a most incredible garden space that can be enjoyed for many years to come.

Linda Greenberg, APLD

704-995-7173

linda@lglandscapes.net

It looks as if you are trying to do too many things at once and not completing any one of them. As stated above, get help. You're over your head. A good pro will get your priorities in order.....Hopefully before any substantial rain.

I see you're not afraid of a shovel and hard work. ;-)

Mike