Is it similar to this: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/a-challenging-rocky-slope-becomes-a-standout-backyard-feature-stsetivw-vs~104162468 ?

Similar, but not nearly as tall. After I expose it, the elevation will likely be about 1-2 feet tall. But probably around 200 square feet of uneven "floor" space.

Have you considered leaving it in place, exposing it as a feature and working around it? That might save a lot of back-breaking work and also offer creative possibilities.

That amount of exposed rock will be and should be a dominant feature and focal point in the garden. The question isn't how do you incorporate the rock into the landscape, but how do you incorporate the landscape and your use of the space around the rock so that it remains a dominant feature and focal point?

At this point there are too many unknowns about how the rock exists in relationship to the house, the larger backyard and how you want to use the space to offer more than it will be and should be a dominant presence that all other aspects of the landscape must work around.

Can you add photos? Put them in the comments and wait for the initial grayed out image to turn full color before hitting submit.

My previous home had a large tilted granite surface that was between 1’ and 6’ below the surface. We used part of it as a ramp, and built rock gardens around some of it, but some we terraced because it was too steep to be practical for walking or gardening.

In relation to the shed and septic system. About 30 feet behind, parallel to, the back of the house.

From the second floor looking down at the shape. It's hard to see in the pic, but the rock "steps" in a sort of way. The top portion is the most exposed in this image. On the bottom of that is several larger flat shelves that I've only exposed the tops of for the most part.

Are you standing on the septic so it is the foreground of the top photo above?

I would absolutely expose the stone and use it as a feature.

K&D -- totally. There's no moving this thing. So, I'm looking for different ways to feature it.

Christopher C Nc -- definitely. I want this to be a predominant feature. Just looking for different ideas and when I search for anything, I mostly find images or ideas where people are trying to bring in landscaping boulders to garden around rather than people who are trying to build their landscaping around existing outcroppings.

NH Babs -- Sorry, no. I'm standing on the back porch looking out towards about 3/4 of an acre of back yard. The septic system is about 20 feet to the right of the rock. The drain field starts behind the rock about 30 feet and continues to the end of our property. They had to break through the rock vein to lay the pipe from the septic tanks to the drain field.

I would clear off as much of it as possible and then fill pockets in the rock with just enough soil to support rock garden plants. If it is limestone, the soil is likely somewhat alkaline, though I would get it tested to be able to evaluate whether particular plants will be happy there. The combination of weathered rock with just a few plants should be lovely.

Give it a back border, probably of a similar rock, to keep the soil from washing down onto it, and plant in front of it only with low ornamentals such as some of the groundcover Dianthus. I would also likely put a patio in the area so that you can enjoy it from up close.

@NHBabs.....love the idea of a nearby or adjacent patio to enjoy the outcropping.

@K&D, It is a fairly common practice here where there is a lot of granite ledge that gets worked around, and it is a beautiful effect.

littlebug, thanks. That looks awesome.