Front yard, split level, hill

last year

Bought this home two years ago, not realizing how much upkeep had not been done over the years. I’ll be killing the grass and seeding. However, we want to change the landscaping in front of lower windows and on the hill. The brick planters next to the sidewalk are gone. The hill must be stabilized, and the side of the brick box under the windows runs water into our neighbors basement. Would love any suggestions.
Thank you.

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Comments (5)

Design Fan (NE z7a)
last year
You removed the brick planter/retaining wall. You will likely need to build another retaining wall to address the water issue and erosion on the slope. The retaining wall will need a pipe behind it to help redirect water flow and to reduce pressure on the wall.

Consider engaging a professional that can properly design and install this before installing the landscaping. The large tree will impact the your landscaping plan.
mojavemaria
last year
Agree with above advice and wonder if you could regrade to get rid of that hump by the planter without changing the soil elevation around your tree? Perhaps a swale on the side of your yard by your neighbor could be used to direct runoff water away from their basement towards the street.
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Sigrid
last year
You appear to have a downspout that runs into the planter. Sending the water elsewhere will probably be a significant investment. I can't tell from your property where a good place to send the water would be. Possibly, you could send it to your backyard.

Why kill the grass? It looks good to me. If you remove it, resod or reseed, it's probably going to look the same in 5 years.
mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
last year
Could we have a current picture, and a general geographic location?

BTW, the hill is stabilizing - beneath the grass.
partim
last year
last modified: last year
An easy and inexpensive fix to your neighbour's water problem is to add a flexible downspout extension. The previous method of letting the water run onto the ground in front of the brick planter, was not working because the water was still discharging too close to the house, and running towards the neighbour's home.

Just attach a brown flexible downspout extension and run it much closer to the street, away from both your homes. At least 10 feet away from the house, or longer if needed. The water must drain reliably towards the street. The extensions can be attached together if you can't find one long enough.

I prefer this to a French drain, because I've had experience with these clogging up. More expensive too.

And when we have ice and the downspout fills with ice, I temporarily disconnect the extension to let the ice chunk fall out of the downspout, to prevent ice dams on your roof. Don't know if this is an issue where you live.

I use the brown corrugated type. They last a long time, and are easy to move to the side when mowing.

https://www.homedepot.com/b/Downspout-Extension/N-5yc1vZ1z0w36c/Ntk-elasticplus/Ntt-downspout+extension?Ntx=mode+matchpartialmax&NCNI-5&visNavSearch=downspout%20extension--5--4294595604