Landscaping ideas for sloping yards

How to Garden on a Slope: 12 Ideas for Hillsides

Turn uneven ground into a lush garden with these landscaping tips

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.

01 of 12
Terracing a Hillside Vegetable Garden
Kirk Longpré / Pacific Horticulture
A hillside can be a blessing when designing a vegetable garden, especially a south-facing slope. This west coast garden shared by the Pacific Horticulture Society takes advantage of the elevated ground along the trellised side by planting flowers that will be at eye level as someone walks down the path. Each terraced row is on its own level and gets direct sunlight without being shaded by the row in front. It can be a challenge to get supplies and water to the area. It would be wise to consider drip irrigation, and pathways between the vegetable rows are a must.
02 of 12
Anchoring a Hillside Garden
The Spruce / Marie Iannotti
The soil on a hillside is often less than ideal. The topsoil tends to wash off quickly, taking the nutrients and fertility with it. It's not uncommon to have a hillside, primarily rocks, barely covered with a topping of soil. In that case, you may have to create planting pockets and add some additional soil to establish plants.
This gardener made use of two workhorses, astilbe and hosta. Both can grow in the shade of this creek hillside, and both are hardy enough to take hold in the poor soil. She divided the original plants and quickly covered the entire slope within a few years.
03 of 12
Terracing a Hillside With Stone
sdgtracker
Stone walls are a classic way to terrace and tame a hillside. Although they are a lot of work initially, once they are in place, you have a functional and attractive structure. Stone walls can create planting areas wide enough to work in and around, and they even look good on their own, requiring very little fanfare from the plants contained in them. Since stone tends to heat up early in the spring and hold heat at night, you are creating a microclimate that will allow you to grow plants that would not survive in other areas of your yard.
04 of 12
A Borrowed Hillside View
The Spruce / Marie Iannotti
A hillside can become part of your landscape even if it tapers off into the distance. These homeowners live near a wooded lot that slopes toward their yard and house. They limbed up the trees to create a clearer view. They underplanted with actual woodland plants such as maidenhair ferns (Adiantum) and mayapples, as well as rugged workhorses like hostas and foamflower (Tiarella). The effect is almost a fairytale setting that sets the house as a destination.
05 of 12
Taming a Hillside in Small Bites
1001 Gardens
When the angle of the slope is extreme, stairs are a necessity. However, you do not have to landscape the entire hillside—at least not all at once. Take advantage of the area closest to your living area and create manageable planting boxes. At the lower levels, you can do it without extra equipment, and the boxes are not just easy to work in; they create a garden room for relaxing and entertaining.
06 of 12
A Natural Hillside Rock Garden
Solidaria Garden
Part of the challenge of landscaping a hillside is establishing the plants before they wash down the slope. Plants need water to become established, and watering a barren slope is an invitation for runoff. If you are not going to be terracing the hillside and creating flat areas for planting, adding large rocks and boulders is a good alternative way to anchor the soil while the plants take hold.
This gardener made his hillside rock garden look natural by allowing the rocks to tumble and land where they may. Some weeding and maintenance are involved in the early years, but it becomes less as the plants spread out. As the plants fill in, it looks like the whole garden evolved independently.
07 of 12
Gardening a Roadside Slope
The Spruce / Marie iannotti
It's lovely to have a house situated on a hill overlooking the landscape, but that sometimes means your yard slopes down to the road, giving you the effect of a hell strip in your front yard. As with any other slope, you need tough plants that won't require a lot of grooming. Shrubs and evergreen are ideal for this situation. Since you don't want to obscure the view at the side of the road completely, fill in the front section with lower-growing perennials that will not need frequent division, such as hosta and ferns.
08 of 12
Creating an Alpine Hillside Garden
The Spruce / Marie Iannotti
Consider yourself lucky if your hillside is basically scree or naturally covered in rocks. You can create a unique alpine garden that will draw the eye upward. Follow this gardener's lead and use the existing rocks, but reposition them. Larger slabs are used as steps and platforms. She also makes liberal use of hypertufa or artificial limestone, which blends in beautifully with the natural stone. Finally, pea gravel is used as a mulch, to prevent runoff and create a unifying color palette.
Large evergreens give the planting weight, and self-sowing perennials, like corydalis, are allowed to fill in where they will and soften the rocky ledge.
09 of 12
Turning a Hillside Into a Garden Walk
Carol Norquist / Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0
Terracing the walkway while leaving the planting area elevated gives the effect of encompassing passersby in the flowers. Instead of steps, these homeowners have chosen to lay stepping stones with just enough traction to keep walkers steady.
The exuberant perennials along the walkway are given even more level changes by using containers and pot stands on the lower levels, which create focal points for the journey down. And drivers passing by on the road get a full view of the hillside garden, rather than only the front few plants a flat garden would afford them.
10 of 12
A Four-Season Hillside Garden
Picrevise
When you have a hillside that frames a view of your house, you want it to remain attractive year-round. Colorful shrubs are the perfect answer. Not only do they have four seasons of interest, they require minimal, if any, maintenance. A little pruning in the spring and your hillside should look good for the rest of the year. And shrubs are excellent for controlling erosion. Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia), California lilac (Ceanothus), and prostrate rosemary make good choices.
11 of 12
Covering Ground on a Hillside
Scott Beuerlein / State by State Gardening
For a gentle slope or berm that connects a wooded area with your open lawn, create a smooth transition with groundcovers that naturalize and create a colorful carpet. The soil will drain quickly on a berm, so treat it like a rock garden and use plants such as creeping phlox, alpines, perennial geraniums, and tiny bellflowers. Using flowers in white and soft pastels will keep the cool feel of the woodland. You can extend the color past the spring bloomers with white and yellow variegated foliage.
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Low-Maintenance Plants for a Hillside Garden
The Spruce / Marie Iannotti
Runoff is one of the biggest challenges with hillside gardens and even more so when the slope runs off into the driveway, where soil can settle. Choose plants that will anchor the hillside, such as shrubs, ornamental grasses, and prairie plants, like coneflower, that form a mat of roots. All these plants hold the ground in place and require minimal maintenance during the growing season. They can even be left standing for winter interest.
With a bit of thought when choosing your plants, any hillside or slope can become a focal point in your yard.
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10 Best Plants for Erosion Control in Your Yard

David Beaulieu

David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 11/03/22

Reviewed by

Julie Thompson-Adolf

Reviewed by Julie Thompson-Adolf

Julie Thompson-Adolf is a Master Gardener and author. She has 30+ years of experience with year-round organic gardening; seed starting and saving; growing heirloom plants, perennials, and annuals; and sustainable and urban farming.

Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board

The Spruce / Autumn Wood

The best plants for erosion control are those ground covers or shrubs that are vigorous, attractive, and have a root system effective at holding back soil on a hill. They should have spreading foliage to slow the velocity of heavy rain. If you live in deer country they should also be plants that deer tend to resist eating. The following list gives you a variety of choices, each of which meets these criteria.

In your plant selection, aim for a balance between beauty and practicality. The prettiest plant you find in a garden catalog will disappoint you if you grow it under the wrong conditions (too much shade or sun) or to serve a function it is not suited to serve.

You also have to strike a balance between beauty and vigor, since you may not want to create a landscape-maintenance nightmare by introducing plants to your yard that are going to spread beyond the bounds you intend for them. Some of the best plants for erosion control will be too aggressive for some homeowners, so evaluate the selections on a case-by-case basis.

Few landscaping issues are more pressing and more challenging than erosion control, particularly when you are trying to protect a steep slope from eroding. In addition to growing perennial ground covers and shrubs, such as deutzia, that will spread and strike down roots to retain soil, consider creating terraces. The average DIY'er is quite capable of making terraces via small stone retaining walls on a gradual slope, but, for steep slopes in imminent danger of eroding, the job is best left to pros.

01 of 10

The Spruce / Autumn Wood

Creeping junipers are among the ground covers that like a lot of sun. Happily, they stay short (generally no more than 1 foot) and they're cold-hardy (many being suited to zone 3 to 9). Juniperus plants give you landscape color year-round because they're evergreen. There are several cultivars, including:
- 'Blue Rug' (J. horizontalis Wiltonii): valued for its blue foliage
- J. horizontalis 'Prince of Wales': one of the shorter kinds, being just 6 inches tall
- J. horizontalis 'Lime Glow': for those who prefer yellowish-green foliage
02 of 10

The Spruce / David Beaulieu

In contrast with creeping juniper, Vinca minor is one of the ground covers that can take shade. But, like creeping juniper, it's a short (3 to 6 inches) evergreen.
Another of the convenient features of creeping myrtle (zones 4 to 8) is that it's a drought-tolerant ground cover. Steep hillsides can be some of the least accessible areas of a landscape for homeowners, meaning that watering plants in such spots can be problematic. Plants that are naturally drought-tolerant take some of the pressure off you to care for them.
03 of 10

elzauer / Getty Images

Don't think that you are limited to ground covers (perennials and small shrubs that grow horizontally) in fighting erosion (although, in some cases, for aesthetic reasons, you may prefer shorter plants). In fact, in severe cases of erosion where you need quick results, shrubs can be the best plants for erosion control: They can strike bigger, tougher roots down into the soil. They can form tenacious root systems that are great at retaining soil.
Forsythia (zones 5 to 8, 4 to 6 feet tall) is one such plant, a shrub that flowers in early spring. The weeping form (Forsythia suspensa) can be a particularly good choice for retaining soil on a slope: Where the drooping branches touch dirt, they will strike down roots, thereby acting as ground covers.
04 of 10

The Spruce / David Beaulieu

Like creeping myrtle, Pachysandra terminalis is a short (6 inches), evergreen ground cover for shade. Japanese spurge (zones 4 to 8) is considered a foliage plant. Although it does put out small, white flowers, they add little value. The leaves have a leathery feel and look that lends further interest to your property.
05 of 10

The Spruce / David Beaulieu

What Lamium maculatum has over Japanese spurge is the combination of nice leaves and pretty flowers. It has silvery foliage, and flower color, depending on cultivar, is usually white, pink or purplish. This foot-tall perennial tolerant of full shade is hardy in zones 4 to 8.
06 of 10

Natasha Sioss / Getty Images

Liriope spicata looks like an ornamental grass but isn't. This perennial (1 foot in height, zones 4 to 10) is actually in the asparagus family. Silver Dragon is a variegated cultivar, adding striking foliage to the impact already made by the plant's flower spikes. Grow it in partial shade.
07 of 10

The Spruce / David Beaulieu

Tolerant of sun or partial shade, Ophiopogon planiscapus Nigrescens (6 inches tall) is grown for the black color of its grass-like blades. Even the berries that sometimes succeed its flowers are black. In a sunny spot, grow this zone-6-to-9 oddity as a companion plant for Sedum rupestre Angelina; the gold color of the latter's leaves will create a striking contrast.
08 of 10

DAJ / Getty Images

In addition to controlling erosion, Phlox subulata steals the visual show when in bloom with its carpet of brightly-colored flowers. When you see the blossoms on this short (6 inches) creeping plant for zones 3 to 9, you know that spring is underway.
09 of 10

Laszlo Podor / Getty Images

For a change of pace, try a wild plant on your shady slope. The rhizomes that allow Osmunda claytoniana (2 to 3 feet tall, zones 3 to 8) to spread are excellent for retaining soil and thereby minimizing erosion. Tolerant of wet soils, it's also a great choice for damp hillsides.
10 of 10

Gillian Plummer / Getty Images

Cotoneaster horizontalis (zones 5 to 7) is another choice from the shrub world that is among the best plants for erosion control. You'll like its horizontal plant form if you're looking for a selection that doesn't get too tall (3 feet) but that spreads and puts out big, tough roots that will stabilize the ground on a slope. Like Forsythia suspensa, its branches root where contact is made with the soil. Its fall color and red berries are each a pleasant bonus.

When growing conditions permit, there's nothing like the showier flowering ground covers to blanket a hillside. When in bloom, they make a powerful statement in the landscape. If you have sufficient room, consider growing a mix of them with different blooming periods. This way, you can stagger your display rather than having to endure periods during the spring and summer when your slope is devoid of floral color. Even those that lack root systems vigorous enough to retain soil can serve a purpose: Intersperse them between the better erosion-busters to add greater beauty to the slope.

Article Sources

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Junipers. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension
Vinca minor. Purdue University Horticulture Extension
Border Grasses. University of Florida Extension

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

1 Land on a slope: features of landscape design
2 Fortifications and decorations
3 Soaring gardens and nature views
4 One step, two steps
5 Rules for gardening a summer cottage on a slope
6 Video: garden on a slope
7 Photo: best ideas for using a slope in design
- 7.1 See also

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:

What is the slope of the slope?
How close is groundwater?
What are the characteristics of the soil?
If there is a body of water nearby, is there a risk of washing away the area?
What is the ground pressure on the slope?
What is the best reinforcement material?
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 alsoCreating a flower garden is a form of creative self-expression

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:

brick;
tree;
concrete;
cement.

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.

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:

concrete;
brick;
stone;
tree.

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 alsoCreating a harmonious garden design

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:

thyme;
cotoneaster;
bells;
feather grass;
geranium;
phlox;
roses;
wild rose.

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.

Video: hillside garden

See alsoDecoration of the garden plot: the secrets of arranging affordable means

Photo: the best ideas for using the slope in design

30 landscape design ideas for a private garden in photo

Each garden plot or backyard of a private household deserves the attention of the owners. Creating a unique, practical and at the same time pleasant appearance of the space near your home is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. At present, it is not necessary to be an avid amateur agronomist in order to realize your idea of \u200b\u200bwhat a private yard or plot in the country should look like. Modern technologies, including in the field of agriculture, and an abundance of information on the arrangement of land plots can help to prioritize and plan the organization of backyard space. We hope that the following selection with examples of the latest trends in the world of landscape design will inspire you to accomplish and implement ideas on your land.

All landscape style can be conditionally divided into three main areas: geometric, landscape and oriental style. Of course, no one will follow the canonical implementation of the elements of each style, and these trends can harmoniously overlap within one project.

Artificial reservoirs in private yards

The presence of water on the garden plot, in one form or another, adds a peaceful and relaxing mood to the space, introducing another element of the connection between a human dwelling and nature.

A bowl of water from which water flows continuously is placed on a platform imitating a chessboard using concrete slabs, dark pebble stone and lawn grass. The flow of water visually softens the geometry of the entire composition.

You can watch water flow forever. And if it flows from a neat stone slide in the form of a small waterfall, then you can also enjoy the aesthetic side of the action. In this case, it was possible to organize a soft seating area with the help of wooden garden furniture in light pastel colors.

Small reservoirs lined with stone with a continuous flow of water are a great way to decorate any courtyard, pacify and at the same time give dynamism to the general atmosphere.

The cladding of the artificial pond matches the tiles on the paths and the recreation area, creating a harmonious ensemble.

Interesting design of paths in the backyard

From a utilitarian element of landscape design, intended only for moving around the site, your paths can become a highlight of the design of the backyard. Among other things, the paths are very convenient to use for zoning the space of a private courtyard.

Fine gravel paths formed with metal or metal-plastic guides are simple in terms of arrangement and cost-effective. With the help of gravel of various shades, you can zone the site and refresh its appearance.

An ordinary gravel path is perfectly combined with a complex inclined hill with plants and stones.

Paths formed from stone slabs will cost significantly more, but will last much longer, which will eventually pay off several times over.

Garage path paved with stone is not only a stable and durable surface that will last for many years, but also an excellent backdrop for neatly trimmed plants in tubs and flower beds.

Another way to form tracks is to combine different materials and components. Stones on the lawn or large slabs among pebbles are not only convenient, but also beautiful. Such compositions refresh the image of a garden plot or backyard.

The clarity of the geometry is amazing and creates an incredibly well-groomed garden plot.

Organization of a place for recreation in the courtyard of a private household

Having the opportunity to comfortably sit in the fresh air to read a book, chat with family or friends, have lunch or just relax is the desire of any owner of a personal plot or cottage. To organize such a place, you need quite a bit - garden furniture on a specially prepared site, a path to it and greenery around.

A green wall of living climbing plants has become an excellent backdrop for organizing a cozy corner for relaxation.

With the help of a pergola of unusual design, it was possible to create a pleasant place to relax, protected from the sun, but not without light and space.

A small dining area under the branches of an old tree is a great place for a family meal.

Landscaping ideas for sloping yards

How to Garden on a Slope: 12 Ideas for Hillsides

Click Play for Hillside Landscaping Ideas

Retaining Your Sloped Garden

Terracing a Hillside Vegetable Garden

Anchoring a Hillside Garden

Terracing a Hillside With Stone

A Borrowed Hillside View

Taming a Hillside in Small Bites

A Natural Hillside Rock Garden

Gardening a Roadside Slope

Creating an Alpine Hillside Garden

Turning a Hillside Into a Garden Walk

A Four-Season Hillside Garden

Covering Ground on a Hillside

Low-Maintenance Plants for a Hillside Garden