Sloping garden ideas uk
Sloping garden ideas: 20 landscaping and styling solutions for plots on a hill
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(Image credit: Amanda Broughton Garden Design)
Finding sloping garden ideas can seem tricky at first. But it turns out that gardens on a hill can offer plenty of opportunities that a flat site simply can't. Yes, a bit more planning is involved, and some professional input when it comes to calculating retaining walls and drainage. Plus, plenty of muscle power is needed when it comes to re-shaping the plot. But, the end results are often some of the most breathtaking and interesting outdoor spaces out there.
Choose from super-chic, contemporary plans that include neat tiers, smartly rendered retaining walls, and slick water features, or go for wilder and more relaxed plant-packed borders, informal mown paths and rippling streams. The choice of hard landscaping materials is endless, with each offering distinct characteristics. Even practical necessities such as safety railings, steps and drainage channels can become eye-catching design features, that add personality to the final look.
So, sit back, take a look at our favorite ideas, and then start dreaming up your masterplan for your sloping garden ideas. And if you want even more inspiration for your outdoor space, head over to our garden layout ideas feature.
1. Surround a seating spot with levelled borders
Sloping garden ideas can help to show off your borders
(Image credit: Polly Eltes/Future)
Sloping garden ideas can be used to create show-stopping impact, as seen in this plot. The eye is drawn upwards by the wooden-cladded flowerbeds, which cocoon a verdant lawn. Curved steps add to the rustic feel.
Meanwhile, the seating space is given plenty of shelter, positioned on a decked area at the same level as the house. The result is a breathtaking view where all aspects of the garden can be appreciated at once.
Take a look at our outdoor seating ideas for more stunning designs.
2. Brighten the space with pale walls
Garden designed by Living Gardens
(Image credit: Living Gardens)
This tiered plot designed by Living Gardens demonstrates how sloping garden ideas can be used to create a modern, attractive space that all the family can enjoy.
There's plenty of room to entertain on the hardwood deck. Above, a paved seating area is surrounded by a curved planter, which softens the design and provides soothing visual interest. A lush lawn takes up the lower level of the plot.
One of our favorite things about this scene, however, is the choice of materials and colors. The pale hues bounce light around, helping to open up the space and adding to the clean, elegant vibe. The resulting look feels airy and relaxed, and makes a wonderful backdrop to the verdant planting and dazzling agapanthus.
Need more family garden ideas? Take a look at our feature.
3. Add a soothing vibe with curved features
Garden designed by CITYSCAPERS
(Image credit: CITYSCAPERS)
Slopes don't have to be flattened – they can provide character and opportunity for interesting design. This garden has a gentle slope, most of which was kept and turfed, explains Nigel Gomme, Landscape Designer of CITYSCAPERS .
On one side, a series of tiered level beds cuts into the area. These step up in sync with the slope, with a stepped path snaking through them. We love the gentle curves, which are mirrored by the wooden bench. Together, they offer an organic, pleasing vibe.
'On the other side of the lawn, we created a small stream that uses the natural fall in the land to meander down to a pond set into the patio by the house,' Nigel says. 'So in a single garden, the sloping topography of the site is expressed in three contrasting yet complementary ways and mostly, in fact, by keeping the slope.'
4. Try a series of small terraces
Garden designed by Fenton Roberts Garden Design
(Image credit: Fenton Roberts Garden Design)
'You can sometimes flatten a whole garden but you will often be left with a large height difference on one side or at the end,' explains Jo Fenton of Fenton Roberts Garden Design .
'This will require a retaining wall which can be very costly and can introduce issues with overlooking your neighbors.'
Jo demonstrates an alternative approach to sloping garden ideas in this gorgeous plot. 'In this garden we worked with the slope by designing a series of small terraces. The slope across the garden is dealt with by introducing two sets of raised beds where the clients grow their vegetables and herbs.' It's functional, stylish, and the shallow levels add visual interest to the garden.
Don't forget to check out our guide to raised garden beds if you want to get started on your own.
5. Plant billowing borders
Garden designed by Fenton Roberts Garden Design
(Image credit: Fenton Roberts Garden Design)
'Sloping sections of a garden can be hidden within the planted areas enabling other areas to be flattened for practical use,' says Jo Fenton of Fenton Roberts Garden Design.
'This steeply sloping garden was too extreme to flatten out entirely.
Here, we mixed sloping flowerbeds with two paved terraces and a lawn. A narrow access path bisects this large planted area enabling the maintenance to be carried out.'
Adding plenty of height with textural plants adds a sense of romance and drama to the zone. This look would work perfectly as part of our cottage garden ideas.
These Corten Steel garden stairs by Adezz at Flora Select make a striking feature for sloping garden ideas
(Image credit: Flora Select)
Whether you are linking terraces or adding definition to a steep slope, a set of practical and eye-catching steps will help define and add structure to the outside space.
A simple stairway built from blocks, timber sleepers or deckboards will of course do the job but can take up valuable floorspace. Instead, opt for some prefabricated metal steps – such as Corten steel designs – for your sloping garden ideas. Not only do they look rather chic and introduce a gravity-defying edge to any design, but they can hover over borders and have a minimal footprint too.
They make a great choice if you love our modern garden ideas.
7. Mix smart steps and sloping beds
Hardwood decking steps link different areas of this garden designed by Andy Sturgeon and built by Construction Garden Builders
(Image credit: Ben Robert/Blooming Photography/Garden design by Andy Sturgeon/Construction by Garden Builders)
Graceful and easy on the eye – setting steps flush into a planted slope is not just practical but an elegant solution for sloping garden ideas. Solid and distinct, the secret is to make sure the size of each step is right for comfortably strolling up and down and that the width is generous enough to make a bold statement, especially when surrounded with lush planting.
Think carefully about choosing materials and the finished look. In this design, the dark hardwood steps echo the bold windows of the house but keep the look smart, yet organic too.
Looking for more inspiration? Check out our garden steps ideas feature.
8. Use gabions as a retaining wall
This gabion wall is a striking garden feature. Designed by Andy Sturgeon and built by Construction Garden Builders
(Image credit: Ben Robert/Blooming Photography/Garden design by Andy Sturgeon/Construction by Garden Builders)
Retaining walls are key to terracing sloping garden ideas and can become striking garden wall ideas too. There are plenty of options available and these vary widely in cost, planning and installation.
Blockwork walls – rendered or left bare – will require careful planning and preparation, as well as meticulously calculated drainage channels. Stone-filled gabions – such as these pictured – are a handy solution as not only are they strong enough to support hefty banks of soil, they look attractive and crucially let rainwater filter through.
Gabion sizes range from 0.5m to 2m wide baskets and can be made from rigid welded mesh or flexible woven wire.
9. Make room for sunken seating
These black-blue slate walling slips from Bradstone are a smart choice for modern sloping garden ideas
(Image credit: Bradstone)
Introducing tiered garden ideas to a steeply sloping plot is an effective way to manage the space and create a series of small but useable areas too.
You will need to call in the professionals to calculate the best layout and the size and load of any retaining walls, but the result will be well worth it.
Use your sloping garden ideas to look for clever ways to make the most of limited space. Retaining walls can easily double up as built-in lounge seating and planters so think carefully about the number of guests you wish to accommodate. Keep the decor simple and opt for a super chic stone and timber combo.
10. Build in steps and borders
Keep it sleek and modern with these Casarta slate steps from Marshalls
(Image credit: Marshalls)
Adding return walls to a retaining wall and flight of steps can create a striking feature in steep gardens on a slope. A bold combination of materials – such as this pairing of slate and white rendered walls – adds drama to the finished result.
As well as being supremely practical, it also helps to visually link two contrasting styles of gardening – smart and contemporary on the lower level and soft and wilder at the top.
The short return walls also help to showcase the carefully selected border plants.
11. Go for tiered planters
Jura Beige Limestone Step Treads from London Stone are a timeless choice for any garden scheme
(Image credit: London Stone/Construction by Oakley Landscapes)
Dividing a steeply sloping garden into tiers doesn't have to result in a space that's split up by hard, straight lines. There are plenty of clever ways to soften and blur these divisions, particularly if you're searching for small garden ideas.
One way is to use stepped, angular planters. Or, go for fewer, larger planting pockets for your sloping garden ideas – these could be built into your new landscaping or added as freestanding containers. Fill with tall, airy, year-round planting that will soften the harsh, straight lines without casting heavy shade. There's lots of expert advice on designing flowerbeds in our guide to garden borders.
12. Divide with sweeping curves
This beautiful garden designed by Amanda Broughton Garden Design uses sweeping paths and stone walls as part of its sloping garden ideas
(Image credit: Amanda Broughton Garden Design)
Disguise a steep but sizeable plot by introducing sweeping garden path ideas and an equally curvy retaining wall to your sloping garden ideas.
Not only does this subtly divide up the sloping site into a series of terraces, but it also adds a sense of horizontal movement too.
In this beautiful design, a snaking stone wall creates a cozy seating area and also provides the opportunity for a falling water feature.
13. Add character with railings
This garden on a slope was designed by Lindsey Evans Garden Design
(Image credit: Linsey Evans Garden Design)
Steep, terraced gardens on a slope must comply with building and safety regs but it's also a great excuse to invest in some super stylish railings. Choose from off-the-peg or handcrafted, bespoke designs to complement your garden's style and setting.
With so many different materials and finishes to choose from, it's worth researching the options before committing for your sloping garden ideas. Polished stainless steel and aluminium tubular designs give off a truly contemporary and nautical feel whereas wrought iron is much more traditional and ornate in its possibilities.
Fancy a pop of color? Then go for powder-coated steel railings that can be finished in one of hundreds of RAL shades. Wood, tension wire between wood and metal posts and even toughened glass are also stunning options. We have lots more inspiration in our decking railing ideas feature.
14. Use sloping garden ideas to showcase planting
Large flowerbeds and varied planting are key features of this sloping garden by Acres Wild Garden Design
(Image credit: Acres Wild)
A garden that slopes up from the house or patio is the perfect opportunity to show off beautiful planting. Keep your landscaping ideas to a minimum – a flight of timber steps or duckboards leading from A to B will link and punctuate the space without taking away from the planting.
When it comes to planning borders for your sloping garden ideas, introduce layers of shrubs and trees for year-round form and structure. Then, fill in the gaps with vibrant and textural perennials and ornamental grasses.
Encourage low-growing evergreens and foliage to spill over and soften the hard edges of any steps, patios or retaining walls, and use climbers over fences to complete the abundant look.
15. Terrace with easy-care decking
Cladco’s Hollow Stone Grey and Black Charcoal Solid Bullnose Decking Boards were installed in this garden by Gull Rock Decking
(Image credit: Gull Rock Decking)
The best composite decking is a smart, no-fuss and versatile material – perfect for creating steps and usable levels in a sloping garden.
Needing less upkeep than timber deck boards, these vinyl-wrapped planks come in a wide variety of finishes and profiles and can be easily installed to suit your individual site.
Head over to our decking ideas feature for more inspiration.
16. Take a soft approach
This large garden by Acres Wild Garden Design has a beautiful, natural feel to its landscaping design
(Image credit: Acres Wild)
Gardens on a slope can be given a wild touch by playing it simple and keeping hard landscaping to a minimum.
If you have a gentle slope, a neatly mown path leading through a flower-laden meadow is an elegant solution that puts nature and natural form centre stage. Add some drama to the look by keeping the layout symmetrical. Then, place a striking sculpture or one of the best garden benches at the far end of the path – a perfect solution for long garden ideas on a slope.
17. Dig out a sunken patio
Designed by Nordland Landscapes , this garden makes the most of its sloping plot
(Image credit: Krisztian Sipos Photography/Garden design by Nordland Landscapes)
Maximise your garden's usable space by digging out the base of the slope to create a sunken patio. An enclosed seating area instantly creates a cozy feel and offers an extra degree of shelter and warmth, so is perfect for those cooler months.
A retaining wall will have to be planned and constructed by a garden designer or landscaping professional to ensure it can support the weight of soil behind it and deal with any resulting drainage issues.
This smart, urban design involved installing a hidden slot drain to handle any sudden downpours.
Find more patio ideas in our guide.
18. Include falling water
A modern water feature links different areas of this garden designed by Susan Dunstall
(Image credit: Susan Dunstall Landscape and Garden Design)
Gardens on a slope – whether they're terraced or left angled – provide the ideal opportunity to bring in flowing water. It could be a gently babbling stream that meanders down through rocks and is niftily recycled back to the top by a hidden pump and water reservoir, or something decidedly more contemporary.
In this eye-catching garden, the very steep site is divided into two distinct levels with a pair of stunning water chutes and a raised pond built into the lower wall. If you want to incorporate something similar in your garden design, you'll find plenty of inspiration in our water feature ideas gallery.
19. Reinvent the rockery
This modern take on a rockery was designed by Wildroof Landscapes
(Image credit: Jo Crompton Photography/Garden design by Wildroof Landscapes)
Let the beauty of natural stone and Japanese gardens inspire you to transform a dull, sloping site.
Fine gravel paths weaving through rocky borders planted with low-growing sedums, alpines, azaleas and statuesque conifers provides beautiful year-round color and interest. And, it creates an instantly calming mood, too.
This Japanese inspired tea garden by Wildroof Landscapes is a crevice garden full of character and texture. Local stone laid side on and packed close together makes a bold contrast with laid dry-stone walls and boulder-edged planting areas.
If you love the look, be sure to check out our small Japanese garden ideas, too.
20. Go on – add a slide!
This family garden designed by Eldridge London turns the sloping nature of the plot into a fun garden feature for the kids
(Image credit: Lyndon Douglas/Garden design by Eldridge London)
There's no need for an excuse – every sloping garden surely has to have a slide built in! It could be a colorful moulded or aluminium children's version that you bed neatly into a grassy bank, but why not go all out and choose a beautifully-crafted design that everyone can enjoy?
This gorgeous garden includes intricate cedar-clad planters, a lawn, and angled steps.
The stainless-steel slide is extra wide and adds a minimal but striking feature for uber-modern gardens on a slope.
We've got plenty of ways to keep kids entertained outdoors in our garden activities for kids feature – head on over to take a look.
How do you drain a sloping garden?
When it comes to providing drainage for your sloping garden ideas, 'Soakaways (essentially a hole in the ground filled with rubble) are a brilliant, sustainable option,' says Garden Designer Jonathan Martin of Living Gardens.
This is because, 'You're not sending excess water into drainage but taking it away from the surface to soak into the soil below.'
Can you flatten a sloped garden?
Sloping garden ideas can be brought to life with gorgeous garden lighting, like in this garden designed by Living Gardens
(Image credit: Living Gardens)
Completely flattening a significant slope is difficult (and generally, expensive). But instead, you can opt for multiple levels, as Garden Designer Jonathan Martin of Living Gardens explains.
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'You can't easily change the difference in height between the top and the bottom of your garden, so what we usually opt for is a tiered design,' he says.
'In the pictured garden, the gradient was so steep that we needed to step down three steps straight out of the house. This is followed by two tiers down to the lawn. Even then the lawn slopes, so to deal with drainage we dug two soakaways, one a third of a way down the lawn, and one two thirds of the way down, to take the excess water away from the surface.' We adore the use of garden lighting ideas here, too.
Nigel Gomme, Landscape Designer of CITYSCAPERS adds, 'A sloping garden is typically viewed as problematic but as a designer I love slopes as they embody a kind of three dimensional potential that can lead to unique and really engaging spaces.'
'You can cut into a slope, you can cantilever out over it, you can add a rubber liner and rocks and pebbles and run water down it to create a stream – there's so much latent potential to explore.
So my advice would be don't rush to flatten it – think of a slope as a resource rather than a problem and be inventive in how you engage with it.'
Do I need permission to level my garden?
Clever sloping garden ideas can include fabulous terraced structures, like in this garden designed by CITYSCAPERS
(Image credit: CITYSCAPERS)
In general, you don't need permission to level your garden as part of your sloping garden ideas. 'But there are caveats,' says Nigel Gomme, Landscape Designer of CITYSPACERS. 'The first thing you need to consider are trees within the garden. Changing soil levels within their root zones, which are generally twice as wide as the canopy, can damage or even kill trees,' he explains. 'If there are tree protection orders on any trees within your garden you could be breaking the law. So, it is well worth seeking professional advice before you start.'
'Other things to consider include boundary walls and fences. How will level changes within the garden affect your neighbor's wall or fence, for example? If you’re dropping the ground level quite a bit, boundary walls may need underpinning which is an expensive undertaking.
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'However, with thought, there can be ways around some of these problems. We recently landscaped a garden [see above] that steeply sloped away from the house and was also pitched to the side, with protected trees throughout,' Nigel continues. We couldn't change soil levels, build walls or lay paving within the root zones of the trees and the client wanted level surfaces. So, we built raised platforms, decks and walkways that appear to float over the sloping landscape: the trees were unharmed, attractive practical level areas were created for entertainment and outdoor dining, and the sloping terrain was basically left untouched. The point here is that to level a garden you don't necessarily have to level the ground itself, you can build level structures above it instead.'
Looking for more inspiration? Head over to our guide on landscaping around trees.
Garden Designer Jo Fenton of Fenton Roberts Garden Design adds, 'We often encounter the problem of a steep drop from the house into the garden leaving people feeling disconnected from their outdoor space.
This can be solved by adding a raised terrace to the back of the house. However, if this raised area is over 30cm above ground level you will often have to apply for planning permission. This is because the terrace may overlook your neighbors.'
Jill puts her love of plants and all things garden related down to the hours spent pottering around with her Nan and Grandad when she was little. Today she is lucky enough to have a garden of her own in Surrey, England, and spends much of her time writing about them too.
Sloping garden ideas to make more of your outdoor space
Not every garden is made the same - and more are on uneven ground than you might think. Sloping garden ideas allow you to create your dream outdoor space because of - rather than in spite of - the incline.
Garden ideas for sloped spaces are not simply a problem solver, in fact they can offer their own unique interest that you can't achieve with a flat area.
'A sloping garden can offer plenty of opportunities,' agrees Carlos Real, Lawn Care Expert and Managing Director, TotalLawn .
'You can create something truly beautiful with multiple heights and dimensions on a budget. It just requires a little more planning.'
'You might think you are limited to what can be planted on a steep slope, but there’s plenty of options, as many plants can be grown on an angle,' continues Carlos. 'A retaining wall is great for a hillside flower bed. Crevice-loving plants include trailing lobelia, rock cress, thyme, and candytuft. Take advantage of the slope and display your favourite plotted plants on the edges. It’s a great way to add a splash of colour! You can also select easy-care groundcover plants for slopes, such as: lamium, epimedium, lady’s mantle and mondo grass.'
So with thoughtful landscaping even the steepest and most fractured of gardens can be picturesque and practical.
Sloping garden ideas
'Far from being a problem, a sloping site presents some of the best opportunities in garden design,' enthuses John Wyer, CEO and lead garden designer at Bowles & Wyer .
'Tackled carefully, it allows plants to be arrayed in layers so that successive sweeps of foliage and flower build onto one another. Finding the route through the slope also offers potential for drama or subtlety in garden design.'
'Think of the grand staircases and terraces in Italian renaissance gardens. Well, we might not all have that much space (or money!) but it is possible to make statements with sweeping sets of steps leading up to a piece of sculpture or a bench.'
1. Combine steps and raised beds
(Image credit: Future PLC/Howard Walker)
If you're thinking about how to plan a garden, remember that steps and raised beds are each ideal for sloping garden ideas, so why not bring in both? Shallow beds and long, shallow steps means you can roughly have one step per bed, creating a lovely sense of symmetry. Using the same material on the risers as the sides of the beds will also help visually link the structures.
'Don’t be afraid to experiment,' advises Carlos from TotalLawn.
'Mix up the planting, add in splashes of colour and ornaments where you can.' Pockets of potted plants will help create a real impression of cohesion.
2. Add flowerbeds between platforms and lawn
(Image credit: Future PLC/James French)
If there's a gap between your home and your sloping garden, a natural addition is a decked platform area for alfresco entertaining. This can, however, leave an awkwardly empty gap beneath. Fill this will lush planting to disguise.
If you want to keep the illusion that things are level, plant flowers and foliage which grow taller where there's the biggest height discrepancy between lawn and garden decking ideas.
3. Cut a path between sloping lawns
(Image credit: Future PLC/Lizzie Orme)
If your garden is only gently sloped and you're not dealing with a dramatic incline, then you have several options. Cutting a path to lay flat on the ground is ideal and a great use of easy garden ideas. This means you can get evenly from one end to the other, and easily plant a path border if desired.
Plus the look of the two sections of lawn gently sloping upwards gives a bucolic and calming impression.
4. Level out with a raised path
(Image credit: Future PLC)
'Terracing can be time consuming and expensive, so consider all your options first,' advises Carlos from TotalLawn. 'For example, is there anything you can create yourself?'
One such DIY-possible creation is by building in a raised pathway. You can plant on the sloping areas and build a straight path running across the whole area. For safety reasons this is best if there's only a minor slope. Otherwise, it's worth adding a rail to prevent anyone from falling off.
5. Create a rockery inspired cottage garden
(Image credit: Future PLC/Howard Walker)
Cottage garden ideas are, by their very nature, more rustic and ad hoc in appearance. Use this approach to build in slightly wonky, quirky stone steps, walls and beds. You can go uneven in heights and levels and the effect with be charming rather than messy.
Work in cottage garden planting to finish the look.
6. Soften a steep slope with grass steps
(Image credit: Elks Smith Landscape & Garden Design)
If your garden is on different levels and you're not keen on hard landscaping ideas take inspiration from this garden by Helen Elks-Smith MSGD, of Elks Smith Landscape & Garden Design . Instead of incorporating stone steps, Helen has used grass treads – integrating them into the existing lawn to connect the lower patio to the small sun terrace above. Creating a softer approach to the flow of the garden, seamlessly journeying from one space to the other.
The thoughtful addition of grass steps in this garden helps to make the sloped transition feel less structured, because too much paving can feel overwhelming for some settings. This idea is ideal if you want to join two paved areas without having to jeopardise any further lawn coverage.
7. Raise a seating area
(Image credit: Simon Orchard Garden Design)
This new build property comprises of a garden that gently slopes up in two directions into the far corner.
Garden designer Simon Orchard explains how he made the slope a design feature rather than a design feat.
'Levelling the whole garden would have been very expensive in terms of creating the retaining walls along the boundaries – and the walls would have been very high. So instead we only levelled the main terrace and lawn area then worked with the natural slope, incorporating the three chunky overlapping concrete steps leading up to a slightly elevated seating area.'
The staged seating area gives an elevated view over the rest of the garden.
8. Transition levels with a slide
(Image credit: Fiona Lamb Design)
Garden designer Fiona Lamb has created a sloping garden of dreams for little ones, by connecting two levels with a garden play area complete with slide. The element of fun injects a different dimension to the beautifully landscaped garden. This brilliant budget garden idea is also highly practical, giving children a safe way to navigate the steeper levels.
9. Work with an incline to create a water feature
(Image credit: Simon Orchard Garden Design)
In the landscaped garden above, you'll see how Simon Orchard Garden Design used the uneven ground to naturally create drop water feature ideas.
'The grade of the slope was perfect for creating the bespoke two-level water feature,' says Simon Orchard. The different levelled groundwork lent itself perfectly to make a cascading water feature, a tranquil addition meaning the garden benefits from the sound of trickling water.
10. Take a different perspective on planting
(Image credit: Elks Smith Landscape & Garden Design)
'Sloping planting beds can be great to look at – rather than simply view a planting bed from the side an angled view creates a different perspective' says garden designer Helen Elks-Smith. Explaining how the planting differs, with flat beds,'you have to create planting schemes using plants that grow to different heights – but the same height plants will appear taller when looking up a slope.
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'And for some plants this different view has real impact,' advises Helen. 'For example looking into the top of a fern is very different to the view of the fronds from the side, roses and many flowering plants look equally good from the top.'
11. Enjoy a multi-level garden
(Image credit: Simon Orchard Garden Design)
There's incline, and then there's ski slop-style that is hard to imagine where to start?! All you need is an expert, as this garden proves. 'This long sloped garden comprises a height difference of over 5 metres from the upper terrace to the bottom of the garden,' explains garden designer Simon Orchard. 'This made the space pretty much unusable.'
'The solution was to create a series of flat terraces, each serving a different purpose. With steps linking the different areas. A generous dining terrace was created at the upper level by the house, leading down to a lawn with flower borders and a secondary deck. This leads down to a sunken trampoline area from which you can walk onto the roof of the new studio/sauna - which was decked' Simon explains.
12. Zone with different levels
(Image credit: Simon Orchard Garden Design)
A steep sloping garden naturally invites the creation of clearly defined zones, each providing a different purpose. The result of creating a cascade of turfed terraces helps to shape an otherwise unusable garden into a multifunctional family space. Simon Orchard says, 'It's a much more usable garden with different areas to sit and relax in, enabling you to enjoy the garden at different times of the day and take in the various views.'
Garden landscaping costs explained, so you can determine just how much to pay for garden landscaping.
13. Use railway sleepers to add structure
(Image credit: Future PLC/Polly Eltes)
This New England style garden makes a feature of the different height levels, embracing it rather than try to soften the look. Low railway sleeper walls are used to contain flowerbeds between the descending levels.
If you choose raised borders planted with hardy perennials, such as hosta and astilbe, they won't need much care or constant maintenance.
Add splashes of colour with drought-resistant osteospermum and gazania.
14. Install a pond to split different levels
(Image credit: Elks Smith Landscape & Garden Design)
This thoughtful example shows how a hardscape stone wall on the side of a pond was used to deal with a slope across a garden. The wall helps to disguise the slope by making the stone framing look intentional to elevate the lawn beyond. A pond is also a fabulous wildlife garden idea, to turn your outdoor space into a haven for wildlife.
(Image credit: Simon Orchard Garden Design)
The different levels of a sloping garden provides the ideal layout to use garden lighting ideas to full effect. On a practical note it accentuates the different heights between levels, providing a safer way to navigate the journey through. In terms of design the lights add a more dramatic look, as they highlight key planting and bring the many zones to life with illumination.
Try setting each zone to a different light level to ensure you can provide the right light for each setting – brighter in the kids' area, more ambient on a terrace made for entertaining.
16. Give steps character with gabion walls
(Image credit: Bowles & Wyer)
'We designed the expansive landscape surrounding this modern architectural property, including this terraced garden leading away from the house and its adjoining terrace' explains John Wyer, CEO and lead garden designer at Bowles & Wyer.
'We’ve paired sleek paving with gabion-structure walls to create the terraces, finished with naturalistic and textural planting with splashes of Verbena. Not only does it provide an interesting journey as you travel up the steps to the main garden, but it creates a beautiful vista from the house too.
17. Structure a terraced garden
(Image credit: Bowles & Wyer)
'This was a large country garden we designed and built in Berkshire,' explains John Wyer. 'We used the sloping land leading to the property to create a modern terraced garden, which provides an outlook of greenery from every facing window in the house. The lighting scheme also ensures this terraced space is the perfect spot for evening entertaining.
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This design could be scaled down to suit a small garden idea to give the space more purpose and a clearly defined structure. Work with a landscape gardener to tailor the space to suit your own garden needs.
18. Gently transition between levels
(Image credit: Marcus Foster)
'Combine retaining walls with slowly rising steps, which encircle the sloping ground to subtly transition the levels' suggests landscape designer Marcus Foster , 'providing a design feature in the process. His idea to do so is, 'Using natural materials such as breedon gravel and gabion cages.'
'With over-sized aggregates the level changes can be further softened to slow down the pace and thought of moving through the space.'
How do you landscape a slope on a budget?
Embracing it as much as you can, will save costs because your budget isn't eaten up by levelling the ground. Landscaping a slop on a budget is possible by decking over the top of the old surface and swapping raised planters for pots.
'Think about how you use your garden,' advises Carlos Real, Managing Director, TotalLawn, on how to landscape on a budget. 'Do you want a seating area, an area to grow veg, or just an aesthetically pleasing lawn? Separate your space through functionality but think practically about transitioning from one area to the next. Separate your space by introducing rows of flower beds, using railway sleepers to build retaining walls or building fencing using wooden pallets and paint to add a splash of colour.'
'Create a defined route,' continues Carlos. 'Consider how you are moving from one section to another. Whether you require steps or not depends entirely on how much your garden slopes. Why not add in stone slabs? They don’t cost a lot; you may even find some lying around or on Facebook Marketplace for free! Just make sure they’re securely in position (for safety purposes, of course).'
'It’s important to have a space where you can kick back and relax in the summer months. Bark chippings or gravel are quick and inexpensive ways to create a reasonably-level seating area – and can be tailored entirely to the aesthetic you are trying to achieve; gravel and slate in particular come in a range of colours which can be used to break up spaces in the garden.
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'Maintaining a lawn on a slope can be difficult, and even dangerous when operating machinery,' adds Carlos. 'For the most sloped areas, prioritise planting flower beds and keep your lawn in the flatter areas of your garden, where possible.'
What can I do with a sloping garden?
A sloping garden naturally provides different levels to create different zones - one for dining; one for kids; a level for a garden room or a vegetable plot. Zoning the garden allows the space to provide a multifunctional purpose.
'Water run off from any sloping ground will need to be considered,' warns garden designer Helen Elks-Smith. 'Especially where the ground slopes back to the property and out from a driveway. In both cases drainage needs to be considered to capture the water and deal with on site.'
'Sometimes you need or want to cut into a slope, to form terraces. This does tend to push up budgets as the soil then needs to be retained. Drainage is always needed behind garden walls and the walls themselves need to be specially constructed to retain the soil or structures, structural engineers can help.
And moving between the different heights often needs steps. But sloping paths can work just as well and will make the space accessible for all.'
Put down a weed-suppressing membrane (from garden centres) to cut down on the amount of weeding. Then plant the border with ground cover plants, such as geraniums or catmint. Geraniums, in particular, provide good ground cover and colour through the summer. Use tall pots planted with grasses for a statement display.
Can you flatten a sloped garden?
Depending on the height of the slope it may be possible to flatten, but it involves a lot of work and a hefty budget. Levelling a garden can be expensive and might not give you the garden you desire. So working with a garden landscaper to design a garden that embraces the unconventional layout might be a better option.
Garden city. How the utopian idea of the British urbanist influenced the development of urban planning around the world
What is a garden city and how it works
The garden city is the concept of an ideal city, which was developed by the English utopian sociologist Ebenezer Howard at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
His idea had a strong influence on the development of urban planning in the 20th century and is still reflected in modern urban concepts. Howard expressed his thoughts in the book Garden Cities of the Future.
A garden city is a sparsely populated and low-rise settlement that combines the advantages of the city and the countryside without inheriting the main disadvantages of both. People in the garden city live in harmony with nature in cozy well-maintained areas, mainly work in production and receive all the necessary benefits of civilization without the stress of a capitalist metropolis.
Scheme of the garden city and a diagram showing the combination of city and country qualities in it.
The prerequisites for creating the concept were the uncontrolled growth of London during the industrial revolution, the lack of well-thought-out urban spaces and the cost of land, which was inflated by speculators, which did not allow ordinary residents to purchase comfortable housing within the city limits.
According to the author of the concept, London of that time was turning into an overgrown monster, absolutely unsuitable for a happy life.
Howard's idea is to build new ideal cities that will help relieve the overcrowded capital. First of all, these should be small settlements, for about 32,000 people. They can unite in associations with a single center, serving up to 250 thousand people.
Residential part of the city - a circle, an area of 1000 acres, divided into six sectors. In the center of everything is a garden surrounded by public buildings: a shopping center, a library, a hospital, theaters, museums. The second circle is a green park with glazed greenhouses, sports grounds, trade and exhibition areas. Further, circles of residential development and green spaces alternate. The administration offers architects the freedom of creativity and self-expression, mainly low-rise houses, cottages, with personal garden plots are being built.
Scheme of building a garden city.
The city is surrounded by two belts: the first one looks like a large park, where schools, churches and administrative buildings are located, the second one is an industrial zone of factories, plants, warehouses, markets. Around the city is public land, which is protected from development.
A garden city cannot be overpopulated, as is the case with a metropolis. For him, the only way to grow is to create his own satellite city outside the agricultural belt. Howard believed that as a result, more than two dozen such cities should appear around London.
The first garden city in England
The development of the first garden city began already in 1903, in the town of Latchworth, 50 km from London. The architects were Barry Parker and Raymond Unwin. They developed the general plan of the city, guided by Howard's conceptual schemes - a large city garden in the center, neat houses, discharged with parks and squares, convenient transport routes, industrial buildings pushed to the outer circle - all this created the necessary feeling of comfort and closeness to nature.
Photo: letchworthgardencity.com
The architects allowed themselves several deviations from the original concept: the industrial district is concentrated not along the perimeter, but only in the eastern part of the city, municipal buildings are located on one main street - Broadway. Plots with houses, thanks to the hilly landscape, have received the most diverse form, there are open courtyards of common use and alleys.
Photo: letchworthgardencity.com
In later editions of the book, Howard emphasized that city planning was an important but not central theme. “Only a diagram. The plan cannot be prepared until the location is chosen, ”he added such a signature to his drawings.
The garden city attracted the attention of industrialists, and they gradually began to open their enterprises on its territory. However, despite all the advantages of the city, it was settled more slowly than Howard had planned. In 1908, the population of the city reached 5 thousand inhabitants, and by the end of the 20s it barely exceeded 14 thousand.
Of course, such a slight outflow could not save London from overcrowding.
But why didn't people move to Latchworth? First of all, the low solvency of the working class, for which the city was designed, affected. For the majority, even budget housing far outside of London remained unaffordable. In addition, the very idea of living far from the cultural and social benefits that the capital provides did not suit many. The progressive population was still fascinated by industry, Howard's concept was ahead of its time.
Development of the garden city idea in England and around the world
Despite the failure of the first garden city, the idea still attracted people. Urban planners, architects and public figures continued to work on the concept and develop new formulas for an ideal city life.
After the Second World War, the question of the need to decompress the capital arose again, and the construction of cities around London continued. The development projects were led by Patrick Abercrombie, who borrowed from Howard the conceptual component of the garden city, but decided to build larger cities for 60-100 thousand people and create “unloading” zones in the suburbs.
His project is known as "Greater London" or "Abercrombie Plan". The creation of suburban gardens seemed to work more efficiently, but by 19In 63, only 263 thousand people moved to the new satellite cities of London.
To date, there are 32 garden cities in London, but Howard's idea has gone far beyond Britain. Settlements developed in accordance with the concept appeared all over the world: garden areas in Germany and Belgium, Gaul Park in Spain, cities in Italy, Czechoslovakia, Austria. Back in the 1910s, the first such settlement appeared in Russia - in Kratov, 40 km from Moscow. The author of the project was the architect V. N. Semenov, who worked in England in 1908–1912.
An example of a place built according to the concept of a garden city is the settlement of artists Sokol. It was developed by architects A. Shchusev, N. Markovnikov, I. Zholtovsky, the Vesnin brothers, N. Dyurnbaum, N. Kolli, A. Semiletov, I. Kondakov, V. Platonov, as well as graphic artists V. Favorsky, N.
Kupreyanov , P. Pavlinov, L. Bruni; painters K. Istomin, P. Konchalovsky; sculptor I. Efimov. An individual layout has been developed for each house in Sokol, each street has its own tree species: Tatar and Norway maples, ash, poplar, small-leaved lindens. The settlement was created according to the principles described in the Garden Cities of the Future.
Sokol village layout.
"Vologda hut", Sokol settlement. Architects Vesnin brothers.
Two-family house, Sokol settlement, architect ZM Rosenfeld.
Residential building, Sokol settlement, architect NV Markovnikov.
More than a hundred years after Letchworth was built, the ideas of the great dreamer Ebenzer Howard continue to inspire architects and urbanists around the world. The problems he voiced remain relevant: megacities are overcrowded, the urban landscape often looks hostile, infrastructure separates people and forces them to spend time moving to the right municipal facilities.
Howard was not a specialist in urban studies and architecture, but he showed the direction in which urban planning continues to develop around the world: the path of combining the benefits of the city and the comfort of the countryside, the path of improving industrial areas and the cooperation of the population.
Many of his ideas are used in the development of the suburbs of megacities and even individual residential complexes. The principles of the garden city - environmental friendliness, walking distance of municipal buildings, diverse architecture - are also inherited by the New Urbanism movement. Perhaps someday humanity will outgrow the passion for megacities, and everywhere, indeed, there will be a garden city.
The British and gardening
So, the British and gardening.
In today's world, the UK is rightfully considered a trendsetter in the field of horticulture. Although, from time to time, you can find talk about what influenced the development of English gardening.
It is believed that it was the British diplomats, impressed by the landscape parks of China, who brought the culture of cultivating gardens and parks to Great Britain. Well, what is not Chinese influence?
Hyde Park Gardens
But, you see, it is one thing to “bring” the culture of horticulture, and quite another thing to develop it and make it “one's own”.
And the British succeeded here!
Look how, for example, calla lilies - such strict and ambiguous flowers for us, look harmoniously near water bodies! They "sound"..., causing admiration and surprise at the same time...
Hyde Park Gardens
It should be noted that time itself played an important role in the development of landscape gardening culture in the UK. It was at the beginning of the 18th century - the century that would later be called the "Age of Enlightenment" - that the development of the "landscape" style in Great Britain took place.
Irises and Callas combined with Cereals at the Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park. By the way, you can swim in the lake!
We remember from school that it was at this time in Europe that a new class of wealthy people was being formed, called the “bourgeoisie”, which, unlike the snobbish aristocracy, did not have a powerful pedigree, but was distinguished by its business skills and knowledge, so necessary for progressive development of society.
Actually, thanks to the bourgeoisie, the desire for knowledge came into fashion and began to be valued. There is a growing interest in history, philosophy, antiquity and culture; the ideas of Diderot, Voltaire, J. J. Rousseau are discussed in salons and clubs. The famous slogan of J.J. Rousseau “Back to nature!” fully reflects the spiritual aspirations of the "Era of Enlightenment" society. It is no wonder that the idea of a "natural man against the backdrop of natural nature" became popular in all areas of art of that time. These moods and ideas are taken up by wealthy people of Great Britain and begin to be embodied in private gardens of a new type, which will later be called "landscape style".
Detail of a contemporary private garden for residents of Onslow Square in Kensington, Kensington. We got into this garden, as it turned out later, thanks to a broken gate, assuming that the entrance is forbidden only for cyclists and animals, but no such luck! After a while, the caretaker showed up and explained that the garden was not for everyone, and very politely asked "to leave immediately.
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The culture of creating small gardens at private homes was also influenced by the so-called "fencing" policy - the taking of land from the farmers who rented it. The lands were taken away by the owners (in other words, the aristocracy) for grazing - after all, raising sheep and obtaining wool became especially profitable after the development of the cloth industry. As a result of fencing, tenant farmers received small plots at their houses, on which they planted gardens and kitchen gardens.
After the transformation of Great Britain into a world colonial power, the country became rich, and the adjacent plots are gradually turning into ornamental gardens without any agricultural load. Until now, modern gardening in England in the adjacent territories is mainly decorative. In this, the British are fundamentally different from us Russians, for whom, perhaps, it is not so much gardening that is primary, but the cultivation of crops. However, we can also meet garden plots exclusively with "elements of landscape design.
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While researching the topic of English gardening, I came across an article that contains links to rather busy English publication "Gardening in England", published in the magazine "England" No. 7 (3) for 1963 [1]:
" There are 9 million gardens in the UK. 80% of them have lawns. Of these, only 15% do not have flowers, but 40% do not have vegetables. In 60% of families, the husband does most of the gardening; in 25% of families - the wife. The most popular flowers: 1) rose; 2) chrysanthemum; 3) dahlia; 4) geranium.
Hyde Park Gardens. Roses, Irises, Poppies, Ornamental bow, which is very popular in the UK
The same publication says that " since the Saxon era, the inhabitants of England have never been truly city dwellers, always preferring the countryside."
Describing how the English take care of their gardens, the author calls British horticulture "a national art and ... a national science": “Almost a quarter of the UK population spends all or part of their free time tending their garden.
Hobby gardeners grow a good deal of fruits and vegetables, making a substantial contribution to the nation's food production, but it must be said of English gardeners that, unlike their European counterparts, their main interest lies in the field of ornamental plants. It would be correct to call British horticulture a national art and ... in a sense, a national science.
Hyde Park Gardens. Pay attention to planting density, combination of plants and different levels
It is said that since 1963 the attitude of the British towards gardening has not changed much. Ornamental plants still predominate in household plots. Although, outside the city, we saw separate allotments, fenced with a palisade (by the way, very similar to a palisade in our country), where various crops are grown.
In the 1999 edition of The Englishman's Guide, authors Anthony Maiola and David Milstead[2] list gardening in England as a "national sport". They write literally the following: “As soon as an Englishman starts working in the garden, something incredible happens: for some time he completely loses all his practicality and forgets about all other addictions.
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