This is the right time of year to address your erosion concerns.  An ounce of prevention can sometimes prevail over acres of sliding mud, and plenty of neighbors and in-laws that will readily tell you what you should have done. Consider that the upcoming cool months provide a time when roots grow fast and the need for water is less apparent for new plantings.  You and your newly planted stock have the advantage over the hot sun or cold nights. The varieties that we recommend most often for planting on the sides of hills are:

• Woolly Thyme
• Honeysuckle
• Snow in Summer
• Junipers
• Manzanita (CA native)

There are also varieties of "slope saver grasses" that we sell quite alot of.  Imagine the benefits of a hardy fescue that will grow to 8" - 12" and then just flop over.  You don't have to mow it, and it is very drought tolerant.  This isn't your grandfathers lawn, it is much better suited to the lack of water that you would likely see on a hillside environment, and it will be able to tough out the seasons that the more domesticated varieties would have difficulty with. 

Be alert to these signs of erosion:

• Bare spots anywhere on your property
• Tree roots exposed above ground (except for certain species that grow naturally, such as maples)
• Small stones or rocks appearing on the ground surface
• Small rills or gullies beginning to form
• Build-up of silt in certain areas
• Soil splashed on windows and outside walls
• Soil washout along driveways