Stumps and clearing debris can cause slope damage, smother important vegetation, and make access difficult in the future. Consider chipping your woody debris. The chips can be used on rustic walkways and as free mulching material to discourage weeds. Keep rocks, dead trees, logs, stumps, and brush piles. Decaying plant matter helps build your soil, thus preventing erosion.
Dead trees provide homes for birds and other wildlife.
Each square foot of non-porous paved area adds more runoff that will make its way down a slope, causing erosion. For driveways and patios, use paving stones or gravel. Keep Big Changes To A Minimum Build your home in harmony with your land. Keep the natural contours and vegetation of your site. Big changes with heavy equipment means more runoff, more destruction of wildlife habitat, and more potential erosion and slides.