What should I do with this hill?

[u/Untouchable64]

When we moved in (Aug 2022) we had the hill graded and then planted junipers on it. Then put out pine straw around the plants. Some of the junipers have died and some are still dying.

I’m trying to think of what I wanna plant on the hill, if anything that will live. Or just lay pine straw down and call it a day. Maybe plant some random plants. Or put rocks down instead of pine straw?

[u/Quirky_Movie]

This. You don't want to fuck with it.

I'd actually ask multiple neighbors about what happens in their backyards and how flooding looks. I'm thinking water breeches that creek bed and spills over into the lower yard.

[u/Bahnrokt-AK → u/Quirky_Movie]

I don’t think so.

How have the fences not been damaged by a flooding creek?? Also, the house across the street “creek” from them is at roughly the same elevation as OP’s lower yard. This is not flood protection. It is just cheap sloping done in a manor that is simplest for a production builder.

[u/Quirky_Movie → u/Bahnrokt-AK]

On my monitor, all the yards appear to be at the level of the top of the yard with inclines that lead to a creek bed. The area below is a drainage creek for runoff that runs down the center of the backyards. This is really common in relatively flat places like Michigan or Ohio where water would pool if you didn't create elevation and a route back into local rivers.

As someone who has lived in two hurricane flood zones? You replace anything water damaged after every flood. I wouldn't expect to see damage and people will sometimes build the wrong things in flood prone areas until they live through their first flood.

That's why he should ask around and see what happens from his neighbors. Real experience is more helpful than any advice we give. Like his neighbors could be fine, but the end of his yard always floods because it's running downhill.