James Peck
Owner, Mr. Green Turf Clean - Professional turf care specialist serving San Diego County since 2023.
Last updated: 2026-06-05
The order of operations on a Point Loma slope
On a Point Loma slope, drainage and retaining come first, irrigation second, planting third. Skip the order and the first wet winter pulls the new bed downhill. We design and install in that sequence on every job below Sunset Cliffs. Most slope projects need 4-8 weeks from first site walk to last plant in the ground.
Last updated: June 2026
What a Point Loma slope actually does in a wet winter
Water finds the grade. A yard that drains fine in August will move soil in February if the path off the lot wasn't planned. The streets that step down toward the water carry runoff that piles up against any retaining that wasn't sized for it.
We have rebuilt enough beds that failed the first winter to know what the warning signs look like before we ever break ground.
How we design the drainage first
Sam walks the lot twice on a slope job. Once dry, once after a hose test on the high side. The hose test shows the path the water actually takes, not the path the survey suggests it should take. Those are not always the same.
From there the order is:
- Mark the path of surface flow and the points where it leaves the property.
- Size any retaining wall to hold the load behind it, not just the dirt.
- Place French drains and catch basins where the hose test said the water actually pools.
- Run the irrigation main lines after the drainage is in, not before.
- Plant after the system is tested with the next rain or a deep soak.
How much does a Point Loma slope landscape project cost?
| Scope | What it includes | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Drainage only | French drains, catch basins, regrading | $4,000 to $15,000 |
| Retaining wall plus drainage | Block or stone wall under 4 ft, drains behind | $12,000 to $35,000 |
| Full slope redesign | Retaining, drainage, irrigation, planting, lighting | $40,000 to $120,000 |
Ranges depend on access, wall height, and how much of the existing irrigation and hardscape we are tearing out. We give a written number after the site walk.
What we will not skip
We will not put plants in ahead of drainage to make a budget work. We have seen what that looks like in year two and we will not put our name on it. If a homeowner needs to phase the work, we phase it. Retaining and drainage go first, planting goes in the next phase when funds are ready.
That has cost us jobs. We are fine with that.
The plant palette comes last for a reason
Once the slope is stable and the water moves where we want it to, plant choices open up. Coastal Point Loma still narrows the palette. Wind off the Pacific dries leaf tissue faster than two miles inland, and the soil shifts from sandy at the top of the bluff to denser further back. We choose species that match the section of the lot they go on, not a uniform palette across the whole yard.
How to start
If you have a slope yard in Point Loma or below Sunset Cliffs and the last winter showed you something you did not like, the site walk is the first step. We will tell you whether you need a landscape architect for the structural piece or whether the project fits inside our CSLB license. Either way the conversation starts on the property.
See our landscape design service, our hardscape work for retaining and pavers, or the Point Loma page for more on how we work in this area. Reach Ecosystem Landscaping & Design to schedule a walk.
If we have worked on your Point Loma yard, mentioning the slope work and your street in a Google review carries more weight than a star rating with no text.