First landscape project at the house

We bought this house back in October of last year and for the most part we spent our spare time getting rid of junk around the property and repainting. I finally came up on room to breathe and started my first landscape project with the goal of having a small patch of grass to lay on and let the dogs enjoy (real grass feels better than fake grass).

It's a downhill sloped area and we ideally want a almost flat area. We'll eventually put shade over the area.

So far:

• Removed chain link fencing
• Removed old wood posts cemented into ground
• Relocated trees
• Removed unwanted plants

Project progress:

• Dug out and leveled a ~11" deep trench for the retaining wall
• Started filling in the area with gravel base

To do:

• ~1" of base in the trench to level the first row of bricks (which are 4" tall)
• First row of bricks
• Rows 2 to 5 down with construction adhesive
• Medium-sized rocks behind the wall for drainage
• Retaining wall caps
• ~3" of topsoil
• Seed the soil

Before (photo taken during our initial inspection after starting escrow):

 

Today, after a week or two of digging and filling whenever I had spare time..

 

If anyone's done this before, let me know if I'm doing anything wrong or feel free to provide some tips.

 

Also worth noting that the property has a septic tank and I'm pretty sure the leech lines aren't under this area.

 

I would have thought you got a copy of the septic system build when you bought the house. I would think they would have an online access to the design on the state website. In WA they do.

 

It’s how much dirt you want to retain determine the depth of first row

 

I did my backyard last year. 25 yards of dirt to level it.
I learned two things

1) don’t do landscape projects in the hottest part of summer

2) I’m a knowledge worker for sure.

 

I dug 10 yard of dirt just to build that retaining wall, the trench is 18” deep by 20” wide. Fabric first, then lay 5” of base rock. If you go 3’ high do a toe drain. Back fill with ¾ rock. I buried my first row for stability.

 

Tools you’ll need, circular saw with 7-¼ diamond blade, rubber dead blow hammer, caulking gun, level or laser level with reader. Knife, beers.

 

How did this pan out in rains without any piping behind wall?