Becky i live in a newer residential addition where everything is buried. When i put up our white vinyl fence in 05 i had to get building permit and call the 1-800 number to have someone come out to mark those lines. They are very good about doing that service and they were out 2 days later.
Yes level yards are nice but my front yard slopes away from a big pear tree and when enlarged that bed last year i used field stone to border it. I got the stone for 6 cents per pound and i could pick and choose what size, color and shapes i wanted. Because of the weight and irregular size it is nowhere near succeptable to ground movement due to constant freeze and thaw during our winters and thats what i like best about it.
I put some of the largest ones at the bottom of the slope so the mulch would not just roll right out.
In the backyard my big bed is mostly treated landscape timbers with inter locking holes and half inch rebar to hold them in place. With a good skill saw, hammer and extra long wood bits its pretty easy. You just have to be good at measuring.
