San Marcos means thinking about water first
On a hillside lot, water moves. Fast. A landscape designed without a drainage plan is a landscape that erodes itself. Every San Marcos project we run starts with a grading and drainage strategy:
- Top-of-slope collection \u2014 where does rain coming off the neighbor\u2019s lot go?
- Mid-slope management \u2014 swales, terrace breaks, check-dams as needed.
- Bottom-of-slope discharge \u2014 French drains, channel drains, daylight points to the street.
Only after water paths are clear do we design planting. A beautiful hillside garden that washes down the driveway in the first atmospheric river isn\u2019t a garden \u2014 it\u2019s a mistake.
Terracing vs. natural slope planting
Two philosophies for hillside design, and we use both:
Terracing \u2014 creating horizontal planting beds by stepping retaining walls up the slope. Maximizes usable space, supports a wider plant palette, expensive upfront, beautiful when done right.
Natural-slope planting \u2014 planting directly into the slope with ground covers, anchoring shrubs, and erosion-control matting. Cheaper, less intrusive, right answer for steeper slopes or budget-conscious projects.
We\u2019ll recommend one or the other based on the slope angle, soil, and your priorities.
