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Landscaping ideas for sloped yard


Backyard Slope Landscaping Ideas - 10 Things To Do

Break Out in Tiers

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Creating several tiers on a sloped property can help manage erosion and give you the opportunity to layer different plants and landscaping elements for a cohesive design. Whether you use railroad ties, stone pavers, or concrete to form the tiers, they will make a dramatic impact on the overall look of your property.

Related: 9 Clever Landscaping Hacks for Your Best-Ever Yard

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Build Some Stairs

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If you choose to let vegetation cover your sloping property in glorious abandon, impose a little order by building a set of stairs leading up to flatter ground. Whether you opt for a wooden staircase or concrete steps, this garden feature will blend into the landscape far better if it’s surrounded by plantings on either side.

Related: 12 Perfect Plants for Lining Your Pathway

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Make a Natural Staircase

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Use a natural material like stone to create a stepped pathway through your sloping property. A stone stairway will complement surrounding plantings and help anchor your landscaping design.

Related: 7 Thrifty Designs for a DIY Walkway

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Design a Waterfall

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If you’re ambitious, use the height that your hilly backyard provides to your advantage, and build a sensational water feature. The soothing sound of water will bring a relaxing air to your outdoor space, turning it into your own private oasis.

Related: 10 Outdoor Living Ideas to Steal from California

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Lay a Winding Path

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A winding or switchback path can make it much easier—and safer—to explore a sloped piece of property. A meandering pathway also provides an attractive focal point and draws the eye through the landscape.

Related: 10 Inspiring Ideas for Your Side Yard

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Erect a Retaining Wall

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You can make a sloping property more functional by cutting away a portion of a hill and installing a retaining wall to hold back the soil. This is a great opportunity to create a dedicated planting area behind and along the retaining wall, while reclaiming a portion of your yard for an expanse of grass on level ground. 

Related: Edge Your Beds: 11 Easy Ideas for Landscape Borders

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Cultivate a Rock Garden

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Hillsides can pose a landscaping challenge for plants, which can suffer from the soil erosion or poor drainage typical of sloping properties. When you arrange rocks of varying shapes and sizes on your hillside, you create a stable base for  rock-loving plants like stonecrop, ornamental grasses, and creeping ground covers. A rock garden looks lush and satisfying to the eye, and reduces your maintenance load in the yard.

Related: 25 Plants for Your Easiest Garden Ever

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Devise a Destination Fire Pit

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Building hardscapes into a sloping property is a common and rewarding landscaping practice. When a design culminates in an alluring destination like a fire pit, you’ll draw visitors through your yard and transform what might otherwise be neglected space into the place to be. 

Related: No Money to Burn? 9 Fire Pits You Can Afford

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Install Veggie Beds

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You can take advantage of unused real estate on a slope that gets full sun by installing raised beds for vegetables. Deeper sections of the beds can be used for root vegetables that require more soil, and the shallower portions will be perfect for herbs and vining plants.

Related: 13 Creative Designs for Easy DIY Planters

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Rely on Native Plants

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Festooning a hillside with plants that are native to your area can help make maintenance easier in a spot that would be difficult to mow and landscape. With native plants, you can be fairly certain that they’ll be successful without much help from you, and they will help reduce erosion by providing a network of roots to hold soil in place.

Related: 25 Amazing Plants That Are Native to North America

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How to Cope with a Slope

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With the right plan, even a steeply sloped backyard can be useable and enjoyable.

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45 Backyard Landscaping Ideas for Creating the Ultimate Outdoor Living Space

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Incentivize yourself to spend more time enjoying your yard and garden. Fresh air, natural light, and the right backyard landscaping ideas convert your outdoor space into a highly desirable hangout area. Creating your ideal backyard landscape is achieved through a combination of cultivated areas that make a space relaxing and rejuvenating, while also adding value to your home!

Upgrading your deck and backyard can be as simple as a few minor updates, or you can completely overhaul the entire outdoor area with beautiful landscaping, fully equipped outdoor rooms, and other enjoyment areas. There are endless ideas for backyard landscaping; here are some of our favorites.

1. English Cottage Garden

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Fit for a storybook, English cottage gardens are the epitome of charm. With a dense hodgepodge of flowers, edible fruits, and veggies, these gardens are quaint and imperfect. Go crazy and plant a little bit of a lot of different things to achieve this picturesque outdoor style. Plant some lavender here, daisies or other florals there, a boxwood, some vines and other shrubs . . . you get it. The overall look is only limited to plants that thrive in your climate.

2. Water Feature with Fountain

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Water features add elegance and zen to a backyard. Let the soft babbling and gentle splashes relax the vibe of your outdoor space. Depending on the space you have available, a water fountain can be added to a backyard pond or pool, it can be part of a birdbath, or it can be an above-ground or small tabletop structure.

3. Several Seating Areas

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Having several seating areas is beneficial for more than just backyard parties. When you consider the different types of seats you have indoors, it makes sense to add extra seating outside too. Incorporate different chairs for eating, lounging, reading, and more to get the most from your space. Rather than drag the same patio chair around the yard to enjoy or avoid the sun, having strategically placed patio furniture ensures you and your guests always have a comfortable place to relax.

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4. Minimalist Outdoor Space

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Adding more landscaping elements to your yard may not necessarily be the answer. For some, more furniture, more plants and flowers, more bird feeders, and more of anything else can make a yard feel cluttered. You also need to consider the time and care it takes to maintain everything you add to your backyard living space. Find calm and contentment by taking away the extra stuff, and highlighting your yard’s simple, natural beauty.

RELATED: 14 Ways to Make Your Small Yard Seem Big

5. Multipurpose Backyard

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Backyard landscaping ideas have to suit the needs and desires of your entire household. In a single yard, you may need space for kids to play, you may want a vertical garden, you may need to plant trees to provide more shade, you may want to plant flowers that attract bees and hummingbirds, and the list goes on. Before deciding on a drastic change that limits the use of your backyard, consider everything you want to use it for, and make sure that your landscaping ideas work in harmony with your lifestyle.

6. Well-Placed Retaining Wall

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A useful and attractive sloped backyard landscaping idea is the addition of a retaining wall. This wall holds back soil and prevents soil erosion and potential damage to your home. Before breaking ground on a retaining wall, have a detailed understanding of the property line, above ground and underground utilities, know that the soil will support the wall, and that the wall has good drainage. There are plenty of available designs that fit in wonderfully with the atmosphere you’re creating with your backyard landscaping.

7. Small Swimming Pool

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It’s hard to beat the appeal of a gorgeous and inviting pool. The calming blue color it adds to a space makes it feel like a vacation in your own backyard. A home with a pool is the place to be in the summer, whether you’re hanging out with friends, reading, or swimming laps. There are a variety of pools out there to suit your specific needs—your ideal backyard pool landscaping may include a diving board, a small pool for the kids, or a specific shape or length. The right pool contractor can bring your vision to life.

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8. Ground-Level Deck

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Say the word “deck” and you may conjure images of a barbecue grill area, a cozy outdoor room, a fresh air yoga space, and a ton of other potential uses. Advantages to adding a deck include less landscaping maintenance, more room to entertain, aesthetic appeal, and potentially increased property value. There are a lot of reasons to say yes to adding a deck to your backyard, what’s yours?

9. Pretty Pond

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One way to amp up your outdoor relaxation is by building a pond. Do it well, and this outdoor pond landscaping idea becomes a stress-free space that exudes feelings of calm. Fill it with fish and pond plants, such as horsetail, taro, or water lilies. After you establish the ecosystem, maintenance is minimal, and you can spend more time enjoying the pond than working on it. A backyard pond is a terrific addition to a large backyard and gives you a noteworthy feature for your home.

10. Lush Lawn

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Let’s face it, how the grass looks makes or breaks the aesthetic of your backyard landscaping. Thick, perfectly tended grass has a simple beauty that makes a yard look amazing. It’s never too late to improve the look and feel of your grass. Whether you grow grass from seed, or get a near-instant upgrade with turf, you can’t go wrong investing in your lawn.

11. Gardens Galore

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Who says you can only have one kind of garden? Every home, no matter how big or small, has the space for a garden. Depending on your passions and your space, your new garden may be a style you hadn’t yet considered. Edible vegetable gardens and ornamental tropical plant or flower gardens are popular. With limited space you can add a vertical garden or raised garden bed to your deck or patio, start an indoor herb garden, small succulent garden, fairy garden, and more.

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12. Drought Tolerant Landscaping

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Dry weather doesn’t have to annihilate your garden and lawn every year. Certain climates have windows of time when there’s no rain and the moisture in the soil dries up. If droughts occur in your area, avoid the heartache of investing in water-loving plants and switch to drought tolerant greenery. Depending on your local climate, adding plants like lavender, catmint, California poppy, yarrow, and artemisia keeps your outdoor space colorful and thriving.

13. Filled with Flower Beds

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Flower-filled gardens are lovely, but flower beds and pots give your backyard landscaping a little something extra. Elevated flower beds are kinder to the back muscles, with less bending required to prune, plant, and maintain. Flower beds can be placed in areas where they’ll get the right amount of sun, which may lead to more thriving flower gardens. An empty or neglected flower bed attracts attention for all the wrong reasons; keep your flowers perky and thriving by selecting outdoor plants meant for your climate.

14. Paver Patio

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The addition of a patio off a bedroom or other living space gives you another outdoor area to beautify. Create a serene place for drinking your morning coffee, entertaining, or enjoying a different view of your backyard. Decorate your patio with furniture, string lights, wall art, and greenery and create a micro paradise.

15. Minimal Mowing

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Enjoying your backyard and maintaining it are two separate activities. For more pleasure and less upkeep, bring features to your backyard landscaping that reduce the amount of grass you need to mow. Instead of grass, build a deck or terrace to extend your living space. Still want the greenery without the work? Replace traditional lawn turf with creeping thyme – it gives you a beautiful, hassle-free lawn that can still be stepped on.

RELATED: Goodbye Grass: 13 Inspiring Ideas for a “No Mow” Backyard

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16. Vegetable Gardens

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Cut your grocery bill by growing your own seasonal produce. Not only is a vegetable garden a charming backyard landscaping idea, but it also provides you with a hobby that gets you outside in the fresh air. It’s hard to beat the taste of healthy, fresh veggies you grow and harvest yourself. While summer is a time when many veggies thrive, there are still many vegetables you can grow through the fall.

17. Fully Fenced

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Dreaming of a house with a white picket fence? Maybe you prefer your privacy? There are many reasons to get an aesthetically pleasing fence, and it’s not just to keep urban critters out of your yard. Depending on your backyard landscaping ideas, a fence creates a neutral backdrop that you can use to design your perfect backyard space. Pick a fence with decorative appeal and enhance it with some creeping plants, outdoor lights, or weather-resistant art.

18. Welcoming Walkway

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Instead of using a gaudy “keep of the grass” sign, a clear walkway is a simple way to keep foot traffic off a lawn. Depending on your outdoor landscaping decor, walkways can be simple rocks, marble or cement tiles, wood planks, decorative concrete, and more. Find what fits your style and use it to create a clear path around your home.

19. Starry String Lights

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The addition of string lights adds ambiance to an outdoor space, and allows visibility for entertaining well past sunset. From classic Edison bulbs to novelty chili peppers, string lights come in several designs to suit a variety of style preferences. Make sure you hang outdoor string lights safely and out of the way of walking paths. We like these highly rated simple string lights available at Amazon because they suit any occasion.

20. Partial Privacy

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When it comes to fencing, all-around fences may feel a bit like you’re boxed into your own backyard. If there’s a side of the house that offers beautiful views, partial privacy opens up your yard and gives you access to the visual wonders of your neighborhood. Partial privacy can be achieved with minimal fencing, a trellis or pergola, a living fence of cedars or other greenery, outdoor curtains, and many other options, too.

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RELATED: 11 Ideas for Better Backyard Privacy

21. Pergola

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Not a trellis and not a gazebo, a pergola is a distinct structure that can stand alone or attach to the side of your home (though permits may be required). Known for its vertical columns and crossbeams, a pergola is a stunning addition to backyard landscaping. It can provide shade with a fabric canopy or climbing plants, offer an elegant place to sit or mingle, and has a beauty that no other structure captures. This simple pergola available at Wayfair is one of our favorites.

22. Shade Trees

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Being in the sun all day isn’t the best for you. With harmful UV rays, enjoying the outdoors properly means being responsible and seeking shade when you’re able. If your backyard landscaping is a little light on shade, it’s never too late to plant some trees and gain extra shade every year. The best shade trees pair well with relaxing, playful children, and hammock hangouts.

23. Storage Shed

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Prolific gardeners, pool owners, and tool enthusiasts need a place to keep all their gear, or they risk cluttering up their gorgeous backyard. No longer merely a practical storage building on your property, a shed is part of your yard sight lines and should be selected for how well it suits the feel of your yard. For its size, aesthetic, and usefulness, this highly rated shed available at Wayfair fits nicely in many large backyards.

24. Geometric Backyard Landscaping

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The clean lines of modern homes translate well into modern landscaping ideas. Mirror the shape of structures and features around your home within your backyard landscaping. This creates a cohesive aesthetic that flows well throughout your indoor and outdoor living spaces. These shape details can be incorporated into the planters you select, walkway stones, the style of patio furniture, and even how you prune your trees and plants.

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25. Courtyard 

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Marry practical design with aesthetically pleasing features by adding a courtyard to your outdoor space. This open air area is usually surrounded by walls or buildings. At your home, it may be the space between your home and detached garage, guest house, or pool. Rather than force a grassy lawn in an area that sees a lot of foot traffic, lean into hard concrete, decorative tiles, and brick designs that could add a different kind of beauty (and less maintenance) to an outdoor area.

26. Slope Solution

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Every backyard is different, and they’re not all flat. Landscaping a sloped backyard can be a lot of fun, giving you different heights for planting flowers and greenery for extra visual interest. Mowing sloped terrain in its current state may not be your favorite chore, but it’s easy to fix. Areas with a difficult slope can be transformed into flower beds, a succulent garden, decorative rock beds, and more.

RELATED: 10 Lush Landscaping Ideas for a Hilly Backyard

27. Fit in a Fire Pit

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When night falls, gather around an outdoor fire pit. Bond over a fireside chat, stay warm while stargazing, have a date night in your own backyard, roast marshmallows, or just get mesmerized watching the flames flicker and dance around. Memories are made around a fire pit, for young and old. From rustic to elegant, wood fuel or propane, a backyard fire pit is sure to see a lot of use.

28. Quiet Corner

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Many of our backyard landscaping ideas lend themselves to entertaining. Not everyone needs a space to mingle and party, but instead some folks would get more use from a quiet backyard sanctuary. If that’s you, find your favorite area of your backyard, and turn it into your own peaceful place. Partial privacy options can create a little hideaway in your own yard, giving you the mental break you need to meditate, read, or think.

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29. Outdoor Kitchen

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Hosting an outdoor dinner always seems like a great idea, until you’re on what feels like your millionth trip from the kitchen to the outdoor dining table. Outdoor dining becomes a heck of a lot easier when you create the outdoor kitchen of your dreams. Your outdoor kitchen may include a barbecue grill with cooking elements, pizza oven, blender, outdoor fridge, or outdoor sink. Pretty much anything you keep in your regular kitchen can be added to your outdoor kitchen–just make sure you have access to power outlets.

30. Backyard Fireplace

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A fire pit is usually the middle of the action, where guests gather around it. An outdoor fireplace, on the other hand, tends to be on the periphery, larger than a fire pit, and generally more opulent. Some come with mantles, they can be modern or rustic, and they are made from an array of materials. When building your outdoor fireplace, try to place it in a direction that blocks prevailing wind, so it retains more heat for those sitting in front of it.

31. Landscape with a Trellis

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Limited space for greenery? Add a trellis and grow more flowers and plants vertically. This decorative addition is for any size yard and adds a touch of artistry to a landscape design. These can be simple or ornate, depending on the statement you want to make. Made from materials like iron, bamboo, or wood, a trellis can be made or bought in several designs to suit the decor of your backyard.

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Many grasses and plants are ill-suited for hot, dry climates. Choose instead plants and landscaping styles that lend themselves to backyards with dry conditions, or for those who like a low-maintenance backyard. Opt for zen sandboxes, succulent or cactus gardens, interesting rock formations, and decorative elements, like pergolas, that help create pockets of shade.

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33. Outdoor Dining

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When the gorgeous weather arrives, make the most of it. Soak up that vitamin D and enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner beneath a blue sky (or covered patio). When you spend so much time cultivating a beautiful backyard landscape, you want to enjoy it as much as possible. A comfortable, attractive outdoor dining set adds more functionality to your space.

34. Personal Oasis

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Like water in a desert, a backyard oasis is a place you create that’s refreshing and recharging. For some, it’s a set of Adirondack chairs by a water feature, but it could be a small pool tucked away behind a partial privacy screen. For others, an oasis is a relaxing porch swing or hammock. Whatever you need to fuel your spirit—from art, to aromatic flowers, to the perfect outdoor chair— that’s your oasis.

35. Place for Kids to Play

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Some families need to incorporate a place that meets the specific needs of children. From sandboxes to playgrounds, kids require an outdoor area that’s just for them–otherwise their games may encroach on other areas of your landscaping that you want them to avoid. Investing in a large activity structure, such as this highly rated cedar swing set available at Wayfair, keeps kids busy for hours.

36. Stepping Stones

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A series of flat stepping stones give your family and friends stable footing across certain terrain in your backyard. This backyard landscaping idea can be purely decorative, but it usually offers a safe way to step through gardens, across grass, over a rock bed, and even across a shallow water feature. Guide visitors safely through your backyard by providing stepping stones where you want people to walk. Create your own stepping stones, or purchase ones that fit your backyard, such as these resin stepping stones available at Wayfair.

37. Elevated Patio

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Concrete’s not just a slab of gray, hard landscaping that looks like a boring sidewalk. Over the last several years, concrete has become more of an art form. Concrete contractors can color and stamp concrete into various designs and styles, further elevating the appearance of your outdoor flooring, and tying your landscaping designs together.

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38. Outdoor Living Room

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Patio furniture has become more diverse as consumers spend more time living outside when the weather is warm. From weather-resistant outdoor couches to recliners, side tables, and even outdoor televisions hung under a covered patio, an outdoor living room gives you all the comfort and amenities you need to stay outside all day long.

39. Collection of Container Gardens

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It’s possible for everyone to have a garden for their home (actually!). Container gardening uses pots for growing plants, veggies, and flowers instead of growing them in the ground. This style is popular for those living in urban spaces who may only have a small yard or patio for landscaping. Container gardens also work beautifully scattered throughout a large yard that also has in-ground gardens.

Not sure what to plant in your container garden? Here are a few ideas to bring pollinators to your outdoor space.

40. Backyard Bar

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It’s five o’clock somewhere! If you have the patio or deck space, a bar setup may make your backyard the neighborhood hangout during happy hour. A dedicated and stocked bar space is a tremendous upgrade from a bar cart. Serious DIYers may embrace the challenge of creating a bespoke bar setup by the pool or in their outdoor living room, while others may prefer to spend the money to get a bar setup, like this one available at Etsy.

41. Rustic Backyard Retreat

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Dial back the modern influence and settle into a casual, rustic backyard landscape design. This simple backyard landscaping idea just feels comfortable, like your favorite pair of warm socks. Wood and metal accents, mismatched planters, and plants that aren’t perfectly trimmed makes it feel like an escape from the city with a farmhouse, woodsy feel.

42. Backyard Chicken Coop

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The sun rises and the rooster crows, signaling the start of another beautiful day. Wouldn’t it be great to have your own chicken coop in the backyard? Fresh eggs as often as you like, and the potential to start a small urban farm. Chicken coops and their feathered inhabitants add a lot of entertainment to a backyard, too. This idea is reserved for large backyard landscaping, so your chickens get enough room to run around. Build your own, or buy this enormous chicken coop, available at Etsy.

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43. Nap Zone

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A short afternoon siesta can leave you feeling refreshed. Chilling out in the gentle sway of a hammock and drifting off into sleep feels incredible. Beneath the shade of strong trees, outdoor naps come with the ambient noise of your yard, which could be a fountain, birds in the distance, or rustling leaves. Get your share of peaceful moments by tying up a hammock between two trees, like this handmade hammock available at Etsy.

44. Terraced Backyard Landscaping

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For attractive and useful sloped backyard landscaping ideas, terraced gardens are a must. Using retaining walls creates sturdy and accessible garden beds, allowing homeowners to turn formerly difficult areas into beloved outdoor spaces. These tiered garden beds make planting possible in areas that were previously unusable. Creating multiple, leveled sections evens out water distribution, which prevents ground erosion.

RELATED: The Invincible Yard: 17 Ideas for Lazy Landscaping

45. Path Lighting

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Stop fumbling around in the dark, and shine some light into areas of your backyard. Selecting outdoor lanterns for walkways keeps people safe, and creates an opportunity for homeowners to add another personal touch to their outdoor space. The layout of your space lets you know the best type of path lighting, whether it’s installed or portable, like these whimsical lanterns available at Etsy.

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features and options for landscape design

Many owners of a plot on a slope do not understand their happiness. They only complain about the hassle associated with non-standard arrangement of the territory, not realizing that they got a unique example of the craftsmanship of nature, which can be turned into something even more special.

Landscaping of a site on a slope looks peculiar, often fabulous. Winding paths, stone terraces, elevation changes - all this only decorates an uneven area

A plot on a slope requires some effort and expense, which also scares off unlucky lovers who do not want to transform their summer cottage. This article will help to give an idea of ​​the methods and techniques of landscape work on a similar site.

Contents

Land on a slope: landscape design features

Fortifications can be made with your own hands, but this requires a detailed study of the area.

The main technique in the design of a sloping site is terraces, which help to visually smooth out elevation differences and add sophistication to the overall look of the landscape

Top priority items:

  1. What is the slope of the slope?
  2. How close is groundwater?
  3. What are the characteristics of the soil?
  4. If there is a body of water nearby, is there a risk of washing away the area?
  5. What is the ground pressure on the slope?
  6. What is the best reinforcement material?
  7. Which areas are most in need of strengthening?

You can answer all these questions on your own, as well as take the help of an expert who will conduct a professional analysis of the area and give recommendations.

As a result, a very effective design can be organized on a problem area with a slope, which cannot be obtained on the ground with a horizontal surface

See also English garden landscape design: ideas from photos

Fortifications and decorations

So, if you are well prepared, then you need to choose the best option for strengthening the site on the slope.

The choice of material, in most cases, depends on the angle of the slope and the soil analysis of the area on the slope. This question must be considered with all pedantry.

Never plant tall trees on a steep slope, strong winds can uproot them

See also DIY cottage design from improvised materials

Soaring gardens and nature views

Landscaping of a site on a slope allows you to implement a lot of design solutions. Some costs will be required to create an aesthetic component of the site on the slope. The choice of design is carried out depending on the location of buildings, places for recreation, terraces, stairs and even cardinal points.

The erection of terraces creates a picturesque and bright picture on the dacha. Experts advise abandoning symmetry by placing terraces randomly. The lack of consistency gives a natural look to the landscape, completely likening it to a natural creation.

An area on a slope with a beautiful panoramic view will be an ideal place to relax

The waterfall will decorate the slope of the garden plot, and if well decorated with stones and plants, it will create the impression of a natural spring

Terrace can be placed on any ground. For the wet surface of the site, a drainage mound of crushed stone is used, it will give stability to the structure. The arrangement of the terraces is complemented by the cut parts of the pipes, which will ensure the exit of groundwater to the surface, preventing its accumulation under the structure.

Terrace buildings always include paths and paths. Steps are made in some places. Various materials are available for terrace retaining walls:

If the slope is too steep, it is highly recommended to use grout for retaining walls. Also, for the construction of terraces, it is necessary to conduct electricity in order to illuminate these places at night.

A small slope can be reinforced with wooden supports

Significant elevation changes will require concrete work

Retaining wall materials can be combined

When designing a summer cottage, you can release all the accumulated ideas. Create a unique look for your site with asymmetrical lines. Flower beds, bordered by elements of unusual relief, will be evidence of refined taste.

See also DIY garden decor

One step, two steps

It is impossible to imagine a suburban area without the main attribute - steps. The main staircase can be part of the terrace or be located somewhere on the slope. The steps should be of a certain width so that the muscles of the legs do not strain once again, and also fit the general style of the summer cottage on the slope.

On steep slopes, stairs are equipped with railings

All kinds of paths are created from serpentine, and for movements that are too long in time, transitions are provided on which benches are installed. You can decorate resting places from crossings with busts, statues, fountains or small ponds with exotic fish.

A straight path will smooth out sharp changes in terrain

Stairs are usually made of materials such as:

Stairs can be made of stone, brick or wood

When creating a landscape design on a slope, it is recommended to choose the same, preferably light-colored material from which the terraces on the land were made. The aesthetics of the paths are supported by large decorative elements, as noted by florists, which give more contrast to the green flora of the site.

See alsoModern landscape design. Top trends

Rules for landscaping a summer cottage on a slope

A harmonious combination of flower pots and shrubs develops into an amazing and original corner where you can spend time contemplating the beauty of plants. In such a place, it is recommended to install a bench in order to achieve maximum comfort.

Thyme, stonecrop, soapwort and phlox grow well between stones

Conifers are ideal for northern slopes

Rockeries and flower beds will be good on the southern slope

West side suitable for flowers and shrubs that love mild growing conditions

Decorative arches and grasses, complementary to each other, develop into a single landscape image on the slope, so you need to subtly feel what is best for this area. From the selection of plants most often recommended:

The dense green or myrtle color of the cotoneaster turns into a bold blue in low night light, and the blue, cobalt color of the phlox behaves like a false green. The red, full-blooded color of roses fills with life only in sunlight, but dies, turning into deep scarlet in the moonlight. Conversely, a light blueness is expelled from the pale green of thyme during daylight hours, leaving only a cloudy aftertaste.

Choose unpretentious ground cover plants that strengthen the soil and give aesthetic pleasure

Garden arrangement involves painstaking work with shades. Depending on your temperament, personal preferences and lighting, the desired combination of colors is selected. Choose a dominant color, and then decide on auxiliary shades.

Planting of annuals involves preliminary soil preparation. It takes a lot of physical effort.

For lovers of natural style, the "wild" design of the slope is suitable

Southern slopes are chosen for planting garden plants, as they have more sunlight, from which the soil warms up faster, increasing the yield. Grapes, apple trees, apricot and peach trees are planted in the upper part of the plot. For plants that are afraid of the cold, the lower part of the plot is best suited.

Beds of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and onions feel comfortable in sloped areas. However, it is worth worrying about possible drafts. A sufficiently high fence can protect the garden from strong winds.

Neat box-beds on the slope of the garden plot

A more budget-friendly option for beds, moreover, suitable for steep slopes

Expert opinion

Alina Kvileva

Landscape designer

Ask an expert

Hello, my name is Alina and I am a landscape designer, if you have any questions regarding landscape design, ask me with pleasure I will answer them.

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Photo: the best ideas for using a slope in design

100 photos of main structures and reinforcements

Plots with a slope can be considered not the most successful for the construction of suburban seasonal housing. It will take a lot of time and effort to arrange it, but the result is always worth the resources spent. It is on a site with a slope that you can give free rein to your imagination and fully express yourself as a landscape designer.

Brief content of the article:

Preparatory work on a site with a slope

It is important to correctly carry out all stages of preparatory work on a suburban area. To create a comfortable and beautiful suburban area, you will need to strengthen the slopes, create terraces, and think over the irrigation and drainage system.

When developing a landscape design for a site on a slope, it is necessary to take into account the nature of the soil, the angle of inclination and its location. The most favorable is the southern slope. This location allows you to freely grow vegetables and fruits, arrange gazebos and places of rest.

The northern slopes are much worse in terms of creating a beautiful area surrounded by greenery and flowers. Throughout the day, the site remains in the shade, which significantly reduces its attractiveness. In addition, due to the lack of sun, the ground becomes cold and wet, which can negatively affect already equipped terraces.


Terracing

The most convenient and frequently used way to hide large differences in the height of the site is the creation of terraces and zones. Before you start creating levels on a site on a slope, you need to work on the layout and creation of zones. It is important to prioritize and correctly calculate the space needed for work, recreation, green spaces.

Each terrace must be connected to the next one. It can be both stairs and paths. When organizing ascents, they should be made as gentle as possible so that the ascent is not tiring and difficult.

It is desirable that the height of the steps does not exceed 10 cm. It is better to make the steps deeper. The material of the stairs completely depends on taste preferences: wood, stone, tile.

After drawing up a plan for the location of terraces, determining their number and marking on the ground, they begin to strengthen the slopes.

Stabilization of the soil

An important step in the design of the site on the slope will be the stabilization of the soil and the creation of the supporting walls of the terraces. This will preserve the created landscape for a long time, prevent its destruction by groundwater and storm water, and extend the life of buildings.

Before you strengthen the slopes on the site, you need to thin out several important points at once:


A site with a slight slope can be easily strengthened by planting vegetation with a developed root system. In this way, dry soil can be strengthened, but it will require a developed irrigation system.

Strong slopes may require support walls. Such structures allow to weaken the pressure of the soil on the slope and prevent the washing out and erosion of the soil. Such support structures can be constructed from stone, brick, slabs, and water-repellent treated wood.

When choosing a support wall material, consider its strength and durability, the required height of the walls to be constructed and the features of the chosen design.

Walls made of stone are among the most durable and strong. The technology of laying stone for such walls originated a very long time ago. Such walls last a long time and look very beautiful, but the creation process takes a very long time and requires some creative thinking. The stones are stacked on top of each other without a fixing solution. They should be selected in accordance with each other.

Stone can be used with mortar or pre-cast concrete base. This method is much easier than the previous one and is more durable.

Bricks or building blocks are used to make large terraces or large drops. However, before erecting such walls, it is necessary to lay a solid strip foundation.


Support walls made of wood impregnated with moisture-repellent mixtures can be made from logs up to 15 cm in diameter, as well as dense boards. Such walls are not so strong and should not exceed 30-40 cm. To create a wooden support, additional poles or a concrete base will be required, as well as a waterproof film from the ground.

In addition, geotextiles or geomats can be used to strengthen the soil on the site. Such materials have a sufficiently high resistance to moisture, protect the soil from ultraviolet rays and frost, are easy to install and very environmentally friendly, and can be used on a site with any slope.

Irrigation and drainage systems

When backfilling the terrace, drainage and drainage should be provided immediately. If necessary, you can install several drains and trays to drain the accumulated storm water.


The first floor of the terrace always acts as a drain. It is made from sand and gravel. After a layer of earth is laid, and fertile soil is on top. After a few days, a layer of fertile soil is filled up, as natural shrinkage of the soil occurs. Only after that, you can confidently begin to improve the site.

Design solutions for a site with a slope

Beauty and functionality - what every owner of a suburban area needs. Pre-planned zones and having an idea of ​​​​something specific greatly simplify the task of arranging a comfortable environment.

It is necessary to immediately determine the purpose of the summer cottage - recreation with family and friends, creating a garden and growing vegetables and fruits, or all at once.

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