Have you thought about some artificial grass? Specially in the area where your kids practice sports.

I have a fenced yard with dogs and I did artificial grass on the sides because one side was a narrow area that they were quickly destroying the sod and the other side doesn't get much sun due to a tall hedge. Really glad I went the artificial grass in those 2 areas.

@chispa Yes, we have debated artificial grass! Is it something you think we could DIY?

You always, always ALWAYS start with where in the world you are.

why thank you @mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)! i am in Northern CA and the yard is north-facing. ferns love it in my yard!

Artifical Turf is DIY provided you will actual labor. Take a look on videos on YouTube.

• Clear the area of all vegetation, install a layer of scrrenings sand that can be compacted.
• Use a compacting tool to level the area
• Roll out the turf and cut to size
• Spread sand over the turf and broom it in to anchor the turf so it doesn't blow away.
• Flooding will lift the turf.

A native garden would be great and with the right plants, keep erosion at bay if that becomes an issue. There are terrific native grasses, ferns, flowers, shrubs. Check out your state's date base to find good matches for what you want. In Virginia, we have the Digital Atlas of Virginia Flora which shows exactly which counties a native plant is found, so I can choose the right plants for my native garden.

I think you need to ask for help and fake grass can be the answer but it is not a DIY job on a slope for sure amnd not cheap. I would look at native plants that help with erosion that help comes form a good garden center with a garden designer on staff . The whole yrd looks like it needs help so maybe a plan to work from would be worth the money

Artificial turf also creates run-off problems, so I wouldn't do it. I'd go to your local (not big-box) garden center and get one of their designers to draw up some ideas. Then you can decide if you want to DIY all, some or none of it.

Before installing artificial turf, please do some research on health impacts of artificial turf. Here is one study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35948114/

There are low ground covers such as white, orange or purple freeway daisies (osteosperumum fruticosum) and (invasive) pink Mexican evening primrose. Fire safety for the house would be first and foremost, so using a ground cover that doesn't build up flammable undergrowth would be best. If the area needs to be dog-proof as well as not attracting raccoons, then artificial grass could be a good option, depending on the slope.

If you have enough sun (partial is ok) coyote bush, Baccharis Pilularis ’pigeon point’ would be a great looking low water use CA native groundcover.

I love trying to include native plants, but for that as well as ANY plant life solutions , it does take knowing your soil conditions as well as sun/ shade, because your particular slope may have been partially man- made or have added fill, or at very least is represents just one type of soil in your region.

It was interesting to review native plant lists and find that some tgat liked my sun/ shade conditions hated the soil & moisture conditions & vice versa, or that drool- worthy descriptions of great plants were plants that only grow in very specific conditions ( hint- nature! Naturally !) & were not “ establishable” in the residential lot unless able to do a lot of groundwork ( haha). This is particularly true of slopes because is very hard ( to me) to modify soil conditions, compared to areas of level ground, built terraces. In particular, “ native evergreen groundcover “ is a tough one. Thinking evergreen because of the fire issues or maintenance, but it is also possible to have various planting pockets of different things . I don’t have dogs but I think you will need planning for tgat and some good references for dog- friendly landscapes, including, what is the dog’s potty system? Will it be free- range or localized, & how, and what clean- up & how? It can be hard to establish a new, starting -over landscape unless it is dog- protected for a good while.

Based on advice above, I don't think I would go with artificial turf unless paying big $$$ to have it done right. But with all the vegetation around there I think it would be a hassle to keep nice looking. There are a few landscaping pros on here hopefully some will chime in with ideas. It would be nice to have some version of grass included, so this is just an idea.

Spreading Groundcover for North California

There really is no easy lawn or no mow lawn or ground cover suitable for play, at least not in Northern California. I would keep the flat dirt area as a play area and install rubber pavers 18"x18". It's what we did. Works great. Dogs love it. Very safe, too.

Or you could go with decomposed granite that can be compacted for play if you want a natural surface.

Have you looked into the dirt locker product? Nice for slopes areas and you can fill some of the cells with gravel to make a walking path

Thank you everybody! All good advice here and some of the issues you have all raised are why we haven't done anything to this point. @tracefloyd I hadn't though of rubber pavers, that's an interesting option. and @deb s I have never heard of dirt locker! Looking it up now!

I looked up those rubber paver we use and they still make some like what we have. Cut to fit with a Sawsall.