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Garden on a hill ideas


How to Garden on a Slope: 12 Ideas for Hillsides

Turn uneven ground into a lush garden with these landscaping tips

By

Marie Iannotti

Marie Iannotti

Marie Iannotti is a life-long gardener and a veteran Master Gardener with nearly three decades of experience. She's also an author of three gardening books, a plant photographer, public speaker, and a former Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Educator. Marie's garden writing has been featured in newspapers and magazines nationwide and she has been interviewed for Martha Stewart Radio, National Public Radio, and numerous articles.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 09/28/22

The Spruce / Marie Iannotti 

A slope or hillside can be intimidating when landscape planning. They're also challenging to walk on and work on. Gardening on a slope additionally comes with the risk of soil runoff. Since water naturally runs downhill, it's a good idea to stabilize a slope with contour rows, terraces, or raised beds.

However, hillsides also have some built-in advantages. You have an instant view, and creating a dynamic sense of movement with plants positioned on a hill is easy. This resourceful gardener used the contrasting plant textures of the conical evergreens, spiky flowers, flowing ornamental grasses, and rounded shrubs to animate the garden. The scene is kept moving by a river of silver lamb's ear that runs the length of the bed.

Also, if you're landscaping on a budget, consider groundcovers that will give you a carpet of green along the slope. Incorporate a flower garden on the hill by selecting hillside flowers and vegetation that like to grow in crags and crevices, or on a slope, like sedum, rock cress, creeping phlox, and sweet alyssum.

Click Play for Hillside Landscaping Ideas

Retaining Your Sloped Garden

Retaining walls are how you keep dirt from washing away on a slope. Soil erosion is bound to happen with water and gravity doing the dirty work. But you can add wood, rock, or concrete block to make a retaining wall to hold the soil in place. You can also stagger retaining walls to build a tiered garden on a slope.

Consider installing a retaining wall if you have a steep slope of over 50% or 45 degrees. When installing any retaining wall, add a good drainage system behind the wall to prevent the wall from cracking or collapsing.

Hillside Landscaping: How to Landscape on a Slope

Learn how to upgrade a slope with these ideas and tips. By Janet Loughrey, Garden Writer & Photographer

Cottage-style plantings adorn an urban front yard slope, which is reinforced with a stacked rock wall. Designer: David Coennen. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

A hillside property may offer scenic vistas or other advantages, but can also present some of the biggest landscaping challenges. Slopes are more susceptible to soil erosion and drainage issues, and a steep or uneven hillside can be difficult to navigate, making landscape installation and maintenance more difficult.

A gentle slope is easier to deal with than a steep incline. It’s important to evaluate your property to come up with the most effective solutions for creating a beautiful landscape while keeping yourself and your property safe. Here are some things to look for, along with hillside landscaping ideas to get you started.

PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS

Evaluate your slope.

Determine the grade of your hillside, whether it’s slight, medium or steep. This will help you decide what solutions will be most effective. A slight grade may be controlled with rocks, mulch, and plants to anchor the soil, while a medium grade may benefit from more stabilization with the installation of landscape fabric beneath topsoil or mulch. Steep hillsides will require sturdier measures for controlling erosion, such as a retaining wall or terracing.

Analyze the soil.

The type of soil will affect how well the slope drains and how much erosion might occur. Sand and silt drain more quickly and are more prone to erosion than clay. Less stable soil may require a sturdier option such as a retaining wall.

Consider drainage.

Make sure there’s adequate drainage to reduce erosion and prevent walls from developing cracks, shifting, or collapsing. Water runoff that collects at the bottom of a slope may need to be diverted with a French drain or other drainage system.

Determine access.

How easy is it to get around your slope? If doing the work and maintenance yourself, are you able to go up and down the hillside safely?

Consult a professional.

For a difficult property or complex renovation, it’s advisable to hire a landscape designer, contractor, or architect who can evaluate your property and offer professional advice. This is especially crucial if you live in an area that’s prone to slides, and if you are adding features such as rock walls, retaining walls, waterfalls, and berms that require specialized equipment and expertise.

MAKE A PLAN

Draw up a design.

Make a rough sketch yourself, or consult a landscape professional for a more elaborate design.

Get inspired.

Look for hillside landscaping ideas by searching online or visiting local gardens. Seek out similar properties to find out what worked and what didn’t.

Design for accessibility.

Make accessibility a top consideration in the design. The easier it is to get around the hillside, the safer it will be, the easier it will be to maintain, and the more time you’ll spend outdoors.

Consider scale.

Choose hardscape materials such as boulders or rocks that will complement the scale of the space. Make sure materials will help secure the slope rather than making it less stable.

Choose a style.

Pick a theme, materials, and plants that will harmonize with your home’s exterior. Rough boulders, railroad ties, and native plants will complement more natural-looking houses, while cleaner materials and formal plantings will blend with more modern architecture.

Create a destination.

Construct a patio, seating area, or fire pit where you can take advantage of views of your home or the surrounding landscape. These areas also serve as focal points to draw your eye up and down the slope.

Plan garden beds.

Decide what kind of garden areas you’d like to include, whether it’s a mixed border, rock garden, shade border, vegetable plot, or water-wise strip.

TYPES OF SLOPE STABILIZATION

This moderate slope is stabilized with a combination of rock walls, cement steps, groundcovers, and hedging. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

Mulch.

This is a low-cost solution for a gently sloped yard that helps prevent the loss of topsoil, suppress weeds, and retain moisture.

Landscape fabric.

Landscape fabric can stabilize a gentle or moderate slope and keep soil from eroding. The disadvantage to landscape fabric is that it will eventually break down, compact the soil and may stunt root development.

Rocks or boulders.

Individual rocks or boulders can be arranged along a hillside to help prevent soil erosion. For steeper grades, choose angular boulders that can dig into the soil rather than smooth rocks that are more prone to rolling or washing away.

Soil or wooden berm.

This can provide a more gentle transition to different levels.

Rock wall.

A rock wall is comprised of stacked rocks that are loose or adhered together. Place stone walls at the back of a property, adjacent to a sidewalk, or to define different levels on the property.

Retaining wall.

A retaining wall helps stabilize the soil and define different areas. This is a good solution for a steep slope, and may entail cutting away a portion of the hillside and constructing a vertical wall to hold the soil. Materials can be rocks, bricks, cinder blocks, cement, railroad ties, or other lumber.

Terracing.

A steep hillside can be divided into different levels with a series of retaining walls and flat surfaces in between. The flat areas help control runoff and can be used for planting flowers, seating areas, or recreational opportunities.

Stairways and pathways.

These features will help with stabilization, allow easier access, and connect different areas together. Steps can consist of stone blocks, slabs, or wood for a steeper slope. Pavers or gravel are appropriate for a gentler grade. Create switchbacks on steeper slopes to make pathways safer to navigate.

Waterfall.

Take advantage of elevation change by installing a tumbling waterfall in a sloped backyard. Use materials that will help stabilize a hillside as well as lend aesthetic beauty.

Vegetation.

Turf grass and other plants help anchor a slope or hillside. If choosing turf, make sure the slope can be easily mowed and maintained.

PLANTS FOR A HILLSIDE LANDSCAPE

This hillside with a medium grade is softened with an engaging mix of trees, shrubs, perennials, and groundcovers. Gardener: Nancy Plumlee. Designer: Lori Scott. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

A hillside garden is different to plan for than a flat area. Plant roots will help stabilize a hillside and stem erosion, while foliage provides a canopy that slows water absorption during heavy rains. These can include trees, shrubs, perennials, and creeping groundcovers, with some varieties more effective than others. Here’s what to look for, along with some of the best plants to use.

Plant selection.

Choose plants for hillside landscapes that will develop a deep root system and spread quickly to cover bare soil. Consider microclimates: rock walls will absorb sun, making adjacent planting beds warmer, while shady areas will be cooler. Native varieties have the added benefits of low maintenance and supporting pollinators and wildlife.

Light conditions.

Note how the sun moves over the property throughout the day and in different seasons. Choose plants according to their light needs of full sun, partial sun or shade.

Mix it up.

Grow plants of different types including groundcovers, perennials, trees, and shrubs to create an attractive layered tapestry.

Siting plants.

For more efficient water usage and healthier plants, group varieties together with similar watering needs. Since water runs downhill, site drought-tolerant plants towards the top of a slope, with thirstier varieties towards the bottom.

Sun Shade
GROUND COVERS Creeping phlox, rockspray cotoneaster, creeping sedum, candytuft, liriope, ajuga Sorrel (Oxalis), bunchberry dogwood (Cornus canadensis), dead nettle (Lamium), vinca, Japanese spurge (Pachysandra), wild ginger (Asarum caudatum)
PERENNIALS Sedges and other ornamental grasses, coneflower, stonecrop (Sedum), yarrow, salvia, dianthus Hosta, astilbe, ferns, Solomon's seal, coral bells, epimedium
SHRUBS Spirea, mockorange (Philadelphus), elderberry (Sambucus), creeping juniper, forsythia, sumac, quince Euonymus snowberry, Oregon gape, salal, huckleberry, rhododendron, St. John's wort
TREES Dogwood, witch hazel, hawthorn, native willow (Salix hookeriana), pine Vine maple, Japanese maple, redbud, beech, serviceberry

MAINTAINING A HILLSIDE GARDEN

Select durable materials.

When building retaining walls or other structures, use the most durable materials that you can afford. Cement blocks will last longer than wooden railroad ties.

Use high-quality soil.

Plants will be healthier and need less fertilization when using higher quality topsoil, amendments, and mulch.

Keep garden areas mulched.

A layer of mulch reduces the need for chores such as weeding and watering.

Choose carefree plants.

Use varieties that need little or no pruning, fertilizing, or watering to create a low-maintenance hillside landscape.

Irrigation.

Install drip irrigation to make watering chores easier. A drip system is more efficient and allows water to more slowly penetrate the soil, helping to stem erosion. Overhead watering or sprinklers may cause surface runoff and may not penetrate the soil.

Enlist help.

Use a professional maintenance crew for challenging slopes.

HILLSIDE LANDSCAPING ON A BUDGET

Here are a few ways to reduce the costs of landscaping on a slope:

Invest wisely.

Don’t skimp on structural features to ensure longevity and safety of the slope.

Do it yourself.

Do some or all of the work yourself rather than solely relying on a designer or contractor. Online videos and other resources can offer guidance.

Recycle.

Get landscape rocks, topsoil, or other hardscaping materials on free sites or online groups. Some cities offer free or low-cost compost. Other free hardscape sources may include recycled concrete from sidewalk demolition or other deconstruction projects, or wilderness areas that allow permitted rock collecting.

Bargain hunt.

Peruse nurseries for end of the season sales on plants and hardscape materials.

Trade.

Join a plant exchange group to trade plants for free.

Plant selection.

Choose plant varieties that will quickly mature or fill in. Select varieties that are hardy, long-lived, and fail-proof to minimize plant losses. Use water-wise plants to save on water bills.

Substitute less expensive materials.

Gravel for pathways and patios is cheaper than cut stone, bricks, or pavers.

HILLSIDE LANDSCAPING IDEAS

Brick walls and stairways define the sloped transition between the street and home. Gardener: Bud Deitrich. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

A captivating combination of cement walls, stairways, and shade plantings define the steep slope of this modern-style urban garden. Designer: Laura Crockett. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

Dfferent levels and angled pathways compel visitors to explore this terraced hillside garden. Lush shade plantings soften the angular lines of the hardscape. Designer: Laura Crockett. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

A gentle slope defined by a rustic rock wall and stone steps leads to a secluded backyard seating area. Designer: Philip Thornburg. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

Cottage-style plantings adorn an urban front yard slope, which is reinforced with a stacked rock wall. Designer: David Coennen. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

A stone paver pathway on a gentle slope connects a spacious lawn to a patio area. Lush plantings soften the rock walls, lending richness to the landscape. Designers: Anne Marsh and Gary Fear. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

The main feature of this backyard slope is a babbling stream with a series of waterfalls. A gravel pathway that allows access for maintenance leads to a quiet seating area surrounded by lush plantings. Designers: Anne Marsh and Gary Fear. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

This hillside with a medium grade is softened with an engaging mix of trees, shrubs, perennials, and groundcovers. Gardener: Nancy Plumlee. Designer: Lori Scott. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

A grand double waterfall anchors this moderately graded slope. Irregular boulders and rocks lend the appearance of a natural stream. Designer: Laura Crockett. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

This moderate slope is stabilized with a combination of rock walls, cement steps, groundcovers, and hedging. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

For this wooded backyard with a moderate grade, multiple solutions include large boulders, a paver pathway, and shade plantings of ferns, grasses, perennials, and shrubs. Designer: Philip Thornburg. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

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Landscaping an uneven area: how to design a complex site with slope, hills and holes

There are a number of landscaping ideas that will look strange on flat terrain. Or they will be expensive. So it is a site with a difficult terrain in some cases - good luck. How to dispose of an uneven area "wisely"?

B.DeMichele Inc.

Let's define the terms
To define the "flatness" of the site, the term "surface slope" is used. It is calculated in ppm (yes, the same ones that are used to measure the strength of alcohol). A slope of one ppm means a lowering of the surface of 1 mm per 1 meter of length. For example, for a normal flow of water in theory, the slope should be from five ppm. However, in practice, during construction, slopes of 10 ppm are usually laid on this.

Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC

Irregularities can also have a local character - for example, pits or hills. Consider how you can use different options in the landscape.

Chris Snook

Option 1: Relatively flat area with “pit”
If a sharp drop in relief is a pit, then most often it is simply filled in. But you can beat it in the project: a pond or a recreation area will organically fit into the depression, as in the photo.

ABOUT THIS…
Drowned garden: Sounds intriguing, but in fact everything is simple

Roxas Architectural and Landscape Bureau

In the photo: a local depression of the relief was used to create a reservoir. The lowering is decorated with slopes. It can be seen that the garden is in the process of being created, but it feels like it will be beautiful

arnouva elanández

In the photo: German landscape project - the recess was such that it was easier to put a house inside it

ABOUT THE PROJECT WITH PHOTO…
Houzz03 An interesting solution could be the organization of a semi-underground cellar - we build walls, a roof, we fill the space remaining from the pit with earth. On the roof of the dugout, you can break a flower garden of ground cover plants, then the cellar from the side will be invisible. The main thing is to correctly calculate the structure of the building so that it can withstand the weight of the earth.

Weltevree

ABOUT THIS…
In reserve: What you need to know about building a cellar

Important: Pits on the site are often heated by groundwater, rainwater accumulates in them. Therefore, when using them in a project, do not forget to install pumps with filters and divert water from the sites to the storm drain system. When constructing low buildings, be sure to consider drainage.

Option 2: Relatively flat area with hill
A more common occurrence on the site is a convex irregularity, that is, a hill. Hills grow after digging a foundation pit for the foundation of a house, remain in the form of overgrown construction waste dumps ... But such seemingly unnecessary "heaps" can also be used.

ETs Ekopochva-LD

For example, arrange a rockery. Or disassemble one large hill into several small ones, recultivate them with a fertile soil mixture and sow them with a lawn. Get a minimalistic picture. You can create a retaining wall around the hill, and cut off one of the slopes, put a stone bench there, build a hearth and enjoy the fire in the evenings, while being hidden from prying eyes.

Francis Landscapes

In the photo: the spa complex is inscribed into the existing relief . Thanks to a successful combination of architecture and geoplastics vacationers are completely invisible from the outside - they are hidden by a lawn on a hill

Wagner Hodgson

In the photo: minimalistic landscaping of an uneven site You can’t call such a solution completely natural, but it has its own charm. Sometimes you don't need to complicate anything to get a light and contemplative landscape

Roger Washburn Landscape Architecture

In the photo: an example of geoplastics on a complex terrain. Existing irregularities were reclaimed, a step-by-step path was made in the recess, and the bend was emphasized with hosts

Junckerhaven

In the photo: hills in this area could already be or turned out after digging a foundation pit under a reservoir - who knows? But the land was not taken out and the site was not leveled, but an interesting relief was made

KOKENIWA Japanische Gartengestaltung

In the photo: an example of geoplastics on the roof. But who is stopping you from repeating this composition on your hill that has been interfering for a long time?

Margie Grace - Grace Design Associates

Tip: Look at the work of Japanese gardeners. With what tenderness and accuracy they treat any uneven terrain, how masterfully they fit all the functional zones into existing pits and bumps, not comparing them, but, on the contrary, emphasizing them.

KOKENIWA Japanische Gartengestaltung

Modulor

Option 3: Flat ground
There may also be different options. For example, a plot is flat on a plane, but this whole plane is inclined. In such cases, the territory is most often terraced: buildings are built on one flat terrace, and a garden is planted on the other. At the same time, there can be several terraces, and they can be of various complex shapes. The place of the height difference is either set rigidly - by retaining walls, or softly - by a slope device.

RELATED…
Retaining Walls: How to Use Them on a Difficult Site

Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC

Retaining walls are used all the time in our gardens. But slopes are not very common. And in vain! If there are several terraces on the site, the abundance of retaining walls may seem too deliberate. But the slopes are not so noticeable and also cheaper in execution. You can plant a lawn on the slopes (if the slope is sharp, it is better to sow the lawn in a special lawn grid). You can create an interesting uneven composition of trees and shrubs. You can arrange a stream or a whole cascade. In this context, flowing water will be very organic - much better than the option on a completely flat lawn.

Field Landscape Architecture

In the photo: the slope can be designed not only in a landscape style, but also in a regular one. In this case, it may be recommended to reinforce the slope with a lawn grid, hiding it under colored mulch

Roger Washburn Landscape Architecture

Pictured: slope option for classic English style gardens

SeARCH Architecture and Urban Planning

4 Pictured: SeARCH Architecture and Urban Planning

2

a conceptual building that fits perfectly into the existing uneven landscape. Grandiose views are provided to the owners!

Motionspace Architecture + Design

Pictured: a plot on a slope. Smooth terraces with a house and a sports ground are connected by a slope. Stairs and no walls!

In the photo: an example of the use of various terracing methods: both a wall and a slope. Moreover, the wall is structurally connected with the structure on the lower terrace

Keith Willig Landscape Architecture, Inc.

You can also cut small sections of retaining walls into the slope to organize a recreation area. And the slope in the playground area is a godsend! This is a ready-made slide, a base for a bungee or a mini-climbing wall for kids ... And unlike a retaining wall, a fall from a slope will be less traumatic (and some children even love to roll down them “sausage downhill”).

Important : Drainage must be laid in the crest and at the base of a large slope - either in the form of a trench filled with crushed stone, or in the form of a drainage pipe with a device for overflowing water from the top of the slope to the bottom.

NM design

In the photo: a children's complex on a relief. A hilly playground is always more interesting and at the same time fits better into the design than a purchased children's playground

Wentworth Landscapes

In the photo: climbing hill

Pacific Resource Brokers

Pictured is an example of using a slope as a playground. We save on a separate playground and earthworks, and as a result we get a natural landscape with useful content

Shorewood Homes, Inc.

In the photo: an example of a country house inscribed in a slope: the lowering is involved, the building has a variable number of storeys. At the same time, the relief of the site is preserved. As a result - the cost of developing an individual project of a private house n in an uneven area and savings on earthworks during construction

Iconic Homes

In the photo: another example of a building on a slope: the use of pile foundations reduces the cost of construction, while maintaining the existing relief

There are areas with a gentle relief through which the inflection of the earth's surface passes. That is, at the junction of two not very inclined planes, a depression is formed - a ravine. This happens if the site is located along the drain line. The slope may not be very noticeable to the eye (and even when walking), but during the melting of snow or during autumn showers, water will descend along the drain line. Such a variant of complex terrain requires especially careful calculations. Any mistake can lead to the fact that the built house will crack or float away, there will be water in the basements, and the orchard will never please with a good harvest.

ONE!CONTACT-Planungsbüro GmbH

In the photo: a garden on a difficult site - in a drain. The slopes are reinforced, but there are no strict retaining walls. Backfilling with crushed stone at the foot of the slope protects the “channel” from erosion and serves as external drainage. A pond with a cascade in such a lowland looks very organic

Titov Brothers Workshop

In particularly unlucky cases (when clay soils do not allow spring water to soak in, and the strip foundation of the fence is made without a drainage pipe, and there is simply nowhere for water to go) in the lowlands, the soil becomes acidic and covered with moss…

When working with such an area, it is important to understand in time that it is problematic. To do this, look at the soil in the spring, ask around the neighbors. Doubts arose - call geologists and order a geo-substructure. These relatively small expenses can save you from many problems in the future.

It is most often useless to fill up the drain line with earth: the water passes through this place, as if through a gutter, and this gutter begins very far away. Only surface runoff will bury itself in the embankment, it will not stop groundwater ... The only right solution for such areas is the installation of a drainage and drainage system, as well as the competent location of capital buildings. The drainage line itself can be designed as a stream - since the water itself has chosen this place, you can play along with it.

Secret Gardens

Option 4: Extremely difficult terrain
Gardens on the slopes with access to your own pier or over a cliff - for a gorgeous view from the top terrace. It would seem that such a slope should definitely be terraced and dissected by many stairs. However, different approaches are also possible here.

If the garden is "species" and is intended only for contemplation, the slope can not be redrawn. It is enough to arrange one large terrace to accommodate buildings, and clear the rest of the territory from dead wood, chaotic undergrowth and garbage vegetation. Ennoble, decorate with large boulders and sculpture, conduct landscape lighting and leave for admiring sunsets / sunrises.

The Garden Company

If a descent is required on an uneven site, you can not only “cut” the ground into even terraces, but alternate slopes with retaining walls to diversify the picture. Or decorate the slope with a serpentine path. I personally really like this solution: each turn of such a path creates a new viewpoint, reveals a unique picture that will hide around the corner. This is a very exciting game! On the turns of the track, you can put various platforms, like beads on a thread. And this approach will also be more economical: due to the lengthening of the route, the slope softens, and you can do without stairs and retaining walls.

Secret Gardens

Important: The surface of the sloping path must be rough (so as not to slip and fall down), and along the path - a drain is arranged (options - an open gutter, a tray closed with a grate, or an underground storm drain with periodically installed storm grates ). The path should be well lit and have railings at least in particularly sharp places.

Photographer Mark Kozhura

In the photo: an example of using different types of cover to organize a descent - and tiles and backfill using sleepers as steps, and wooden flooring for a gentle descent, and stairs. Such a technique diversifies the monotony of a long descent

Architectural bureau "Designus"

Instead of conclusions
Do not rush to level everything to the state of a football field. Perhaps all these irregularities and complexities of the terrain are the main highlight of your site. And they only need to be emphasized and carefully used. Look for inspiration from nature itself. Then your garden will be beautiful and harmonious, with its own charisma and personality. There won't be another one for sure!

Grounded

YOUR TURN…
Show how you used difficult terrain on your property. What difficulties did you experience during the implementation of the project? Share your ideas.

Explore landscaping ideas for a sloping garden and turn a sophisticated backyard into a beautiful and functional space.

Daria Antonova

• 5 min read

Finding sloping garden ideas may seem daunting at first. But it turns out that gardens on a hill can be not only beautiful, but also functional. Such a landscape can offer you many opportunities that simply do not exist on a flat site. Yes, it will take a little more planning and a professional approach when it comes to retaining wall and drainage calculations. But as a result, you can become the owner of one of the most amazing sites.

Choose from modern plans that include tiered levels, retaining walls and water features. Or opt for more plant beds, sloping paths and babbling streams. Even safety essentials such as safety railings, steps and drains can be unique design elements that will add a special touch to your backyard.

Do-it-yourself slope strengthening

Don't despair if you get a plot on a slope. Just properly strengthen the slopes, and your site will be transformed. To strengthen sloping earthen surfaces with your own hands, use our tips:

  • Clear slope area of ​​plants;
  • Remove the top layer with a shovel or similar;
  • Select the reinforcement material. Biomats, geogrid, stones, logs, gabions are good options for creating side supports;
  • Place reinforcing material on the sides of the slope;
  • Fill in the gaps between the reinforcing material with soil and small pebbles;
  • Plant plants with branching, deep root systems that are suitable for rocky soil.

A slope ready to be reinforced can be planted with small fruit trees and shrubs, thus creating a garden where space savings are required.

Important: never plant tall trees on an unstable slope, in strong winds they can be pulled out of the ground along with the roots.

If the slope of the uneven place exceeds 8-10 degrees, you can dig in the base of the reinforcing material deeper. For large slopes, the recess for fortifications can reach one meter.

Relaxation area

A sloping garden can offer many functional ideas. For example, you can arrange a place to rest in a "shelter". If you prefer to admire the views from a height, a terrace for relaxation is best done at the top of the site. If it is supposed to rest in the shade, then the lowland and the northern slope are an excellent option for arrangement.

The terrace can be formed with retaining walls. They will create a natural boundary and help with zoning. Even small walls will give backstage and isolation to the zones, protect them from wind, noise and fuss. A recreation or barbecue area becomes very cozy, limited by a smooth arc of the retaining wall, which can be immediately supplemented with a stationary bench.

Retaining walls can easily be used as built-in lounge chairs and flower pots, so consider the number of guests carefully. Decor can be as simple as possible: try a combination of stone and wood.

Curved elements

Slopes do not have to be leveled - they can give you an opportunity for interesting design. If the garden has a gentle slope, most of it can be covered with turf. On one side of the slope, you can create many multi-level flower beds. They will rise in sync with the slope, and a ladder will pass through them. The geometric severity of the cascade of flower beds can be diluted by the smooth bends of the bench. Together they create an organic, pleasant atmosphere.

Series of small terraces

Sometimes you can level the entire garden, but you end up with a big difference in height on one side or at the end of the plot. There is an alternative approach. In the garden, you can design a series of small terraces.

The slope is removed by installing raised bed sets, where you can grow not only flowers, but also vegetables or herbs. It will look functional, stylish, and small levels add visual appeal to the garden.


Add steps

A simple staircase built from blocks, wooden sleepers or decking is fine, but can take up valuable ground space. Instead, opt for some prefabricated metal steps. Not only can they look original, but they are also a great choice if you like our modern garden ideas.

Elegant and pleasing to the eye can also be obtained by installing steps close to a slope planted with plants. This is a practical and elegant solution for a sloped garden. The secret is to make sure that each step is the right size for comfortable ascent and descent. Think carefully about the choice of materials and how they will affect the final look.


Use gabions

Retaining walls are the key to sloping garden terrace ideas and can be bright garden wall ideas. There are many options available and they vary greatly in cost and installation. Block walls, plastered or uncoated, will require careful planning and preparation, as well as carefully dimensioned drainage channels.

Stone-filled gabions such as the one pictured are a convenient solution as they are not only strong enough to support heavy mounds of soil, but also look attractive and, most importantly, rainwater permeable. Gabions vary in size from 0.5m to 2m wide and can be made from rigid welded mesh or flexible braided wire.

Tiered vases

Dividing a steeply sloping garden into tiers should not result in hard, straight lines dividing the space.

Learn more