Nobody enjoys wrestling with a steep lawn. Transform this hillside with terraced planting beds along rough stone stairs rather than turf grass. For year-round texture and color, fill the tiers with ...

When Esther Hayden moved into her Seven Oaks home in 1990, the hillside in her backyard — similar to many found throughout Rancho Bernardo — had mostly ground cover and was spotted with a few trees.

People might argue that the front yard and the exterior house color are the impression makers of any home. Then comes the interior of the house, and lastly, the backyard. Now, forget about people and ...