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Sloping garden plans


10 Sloping Garden Ideas: Landscaping tips for a tricky space

(Image credit: Future / Mark Bolton )

Looking for sloping garden ideas?

No garden is completely flat, unless a digger has been in and levelled the site. Many gardens are on a slope, which, when initially viewed, can be a little daunting.

Many questions are raised, such as what happens if it rains heavily? Will there be erosion of soil? Will the soil dry out? What plants can I grow? What is the easiest solution for getting from the bottom to the top? And, of course, many more. 

But a slope can add real interest to a garden and create a character all of its own. 

Here are some great garden ideas to inspire your next project on a slope.

Sloping garden ideas

1. Add stone walls for interest

(Image credit: Future / Polly Eltes)

Garden wall ideas can provide interest by creating terraces with steps built in. The walls will create small pockets to grow alpines and drought-resistant plants, and will provide a backdrop to the plants.

2. Create a defined route

(Image credit: Future / Mel Yates)

Position steps at alternate ends of each terrace to create a defined route or pathway through the garden. Clever garden path ideas will add interest and tease you on to the next level. 

3. Create a unique garden path with edged borders

(Image credit: Future / Annaick Guitteny)

Define the edges of borders with a metal or plastic border edger, or a line of gravel setts. This will outline the spaces, and, depending on the material chosen for the pathways, will contrast beautifully for a unique garden decor idea, too.

4. Don't be afraid to experiment

(Image credit: Future)

Mix up the planting, with vertical spires and mounds for a more dynamic effect, and don’t be afraid to place a taller, fuller plant towards the front of a border.

5. Plant ornamental grasses

(Image credit: Future / Annaick Guitteny)

Ornamental grasses are perfect for slopes. If you're wondering how to grow ornamental grasses, most prefer well-drained soils, and the added angle of the slope will provide a cascade effect when the wind blows them.

6. Plant according to your space

(Image credit: Future)

When you think about how to plan a garden, it's important to consider the soil. 

Towards the top of the slope the soil will inevitably be drier than at the bottom, and a simple soil test will help identify the soil texture, which will influence the range of plants. The soil could even be acidic towards the top and more alkaline towards the bottom, or vice versa.

7. Consider the cost of terracing

(Image credit: Future / Mark Bolton )

Work within your budget and be realistic. Creating terraces is a lot of work and can be expensive to achieve. But cheaper options, such as retaining walls from sleepers rather than stone, will help keep down the costs.

8. Avoid a perfect lawn

(Image credit: Future)

It just isn’t achievable to keep the perfect lawn on a slope. It is difficult and can be dangerous, especially when dealing with machinery, such as strimmers and lawn mowers.

9. Go for the simplest solution 

(Image credit: Future / Mark Bolton)

Sometimes the simplest solution is the best. Marking out borders on a slope can be tricky, but it can be done. 

Plant these up with a good mix of self-naturalising bulbs, such as Narcissus, Scilla and Galanthus; groundcover plants with fibrous root systems, such as Geranium, Calluna; herbaceous perennials like Pachysandra, Lamium, creeping Phlox and shrubs such as Cotoneaster, Forsythia and Ceanothus.

10. Be cautious of laying lawn on a slope

(Image credit: Future)

'To mow a lawn on a slope is very difficult indeed, so why not opt for leaving the grass to grow longer, which is brilliant for wildlife or perhaps sow a wildflower meadow mix onto bare soil,' advises TV Gardening Presenter, Landscape Designer and Writer, Mark Lane .  

'In no time at all the flowers will be up and the slope will look incredible. For the steeper slope consider laying wildflower turf, which already has the wildflowers growing within it'.

What do you do with a garden on a slope?

(Image credit: Future / Annaick Guitteny)

There are numerous way you can plan, plant and design a garden on a slope. Use clever design to transform an awkward space into an ideal outdoor area, even if it is not level.

Sloping gardens present lots of different opportunities for planting schemes, from whimsical and wild, to formal and regimented. 

Whichever style you choose, do bear in mind that a sloping garden always benefits from experimenting with plants of different heights. If you're looking for garden shade ideas, a few mature trees or even palm trees offer coverage and look great in combination with ornamental grasses, shrubs, and border plants. 

How do you make a garden on a slope?

(Image credit: Future / Veronica Rodriguez)

First and foremost, you must think about materials. This is purely down to personal choice, but consider hard standing materials such as a riven paving or a slab with a rough finish or gravel for level pathways. 

With a slope, there will be more rainwater run-off, so provide adequate slip-resistance underfoot. Of course, flower bed ideas such as borders filled with glorious plants will soak up the majority of the water, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

What can you plant on a steep slope?

You may think you are limited to what you can plant on a steep slope, but in fact, you have an abundance of options, according to Mark Lane.

'If a slope is not seen as a problem, then many plants can be grown on an angle, while at the same time stabilising the soil. Of course, plants will always grow upwards and outwards, so even a plant with a vertical spire, such as foxglove or Digitalis, will grow straight and not at an angle (in most cases). 

'Groundcover plants such as the greater periwinkle or Vinca major, or climbing plants like ivy Hedera colchica ‘Dentata Varegata’ are perfect for stabilising the soil.  

For very steep slopes, coconut matting can be pegged down on top of the soil and then planted up through the matting. Over time, the matting will decay, but the plants will still be there.'

Should a garden slope be terraced?

(Image credit: Future / Mark Bolton )

According to Mark Lane, there should be level areas (terraces) cut into the slope with steps or ramps linking each terrace, with retaining walls to hold back the soil. 

'By introducing these level areas, borders can be created on the flat, and depending on how often and how many terraces are put in (which is a personal choice at the end of the day) can create a tiered garden to great effect. 

It also means that gardening on these terraces is easier as there is no awkward bending or leaning to get the right angle or the right standing or sitting position.'

Jennifer is the Digital Editor at Homes & Gardens. Having worked in the interiors industry for a number of years, spanning many publications, she now hones her digital prowess on the 'best interiors website' in the world. Multi-skilled, Jennifer has worked in PR and marketing, and the occasional dabble in the social media, commercial and e-commerce space. Over the years, she has written about every area of the home, from compiling design houses from some of the best interior designers in the world to sourcing celebrity homes, reviewing appliances and even the odd news story or two.

Sloping garden ideas: 20 landscaping and styling solutions for plots on a hill

(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...

'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.'

'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. 

Build an inclined garden 🌿 All about gardening and garden design

Erosion, labour-intensive cultivation, a sloping garden make it possible to quickly overcome the best wishes. However, it is enough to create a few objects to turn this hostile universe into a small paradise.

Article content:

Erosion, labour-intensive cultivation, sloping garden allow you to quickly overcome the best wishes. However, it is enough to create a few objects to turn this hostile universe into a small paradise.

Gentle garden

If your garden has a gentle slope, there is no need to start the main work.

Create curved lanes in your ornamental garden, as our English friends are well aware. Position your beds perpendicular to the slope to tame it and conserve the best water for irrigation. nine0003

Choose fleshy roots and rhizomes that hold the soil much better. Create a system of ditches on top and go around your crops to protect them from runoff.

In the same way, if you want to create a vegetable garden, install the pleis always perpendicular to the slope to save the soil. Then you can grow vegetables in these areas, at a man's height.

Steep garden

The steeper the slope, the greater the phenomenon in the ravine due to runoff. Cracks and holes appear that prevent nutrients from staying in place and making watering impossible. This type of land must be developed in such a way that crops are possible. It will then be inspired by our elders who practiced the terrace method, creating cultivation levels where the preserved and heated land can be cultivated without worry. nine0003

Another important interest: the aesthetic aspect. A holiday garden always has a special brand if the plants are well spaced. Higher at the back of the décor and lower at the front to create a beautiful perspective.

How to create terraces of culture in my garden?

Terraces must be perpendicular to the slope to be effective. The choice of materials varies depending on the desired effect, as well as according to the budget. However, note that a stone retaining wall will be much more durable than a wooden version, saving you the hassle of starting work every five years, but it's all down to personal choice. If you prefer plashes or logs that are very aesthetic and ideal for holding on a low slope, choose a rot-resistant wood such as robinia. nine0003

To build your first terrace , start at the top of the slope and divide the soil at the bottom of the future terrace. The retaining wall will be created at the foot of the first terrace. Continue up the slope by drawing successive terraces that don't have to be the same size. You can vary the pleasures and break the visual monotony.

Watering Plan

The Automatic Watering System is perfect for watering your garden while saving both water and your health because it's best to avoid hitting and dropping full watering cans on sloping ground! nine0003

access

To gain access to your terraced garden, you will need to create paths: gentle stairs, shoelaces, the choice will be made according to the slope of the slope, but you will also need to think about the practical side, creating access areas for transporting your wheelbarrow.

Video on the topic of the article: Excellent solution. Sloping land is not a problem. We strengthen the slopes..

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For a long time I decided to share my experience and write an article on this extremely important topic with slopes and drops, saturated with examples of sites with slopes, various drops, depressions and bumps and what ideas, the designer modifies this terrain beyond recognition , but as soon as I opened the word, the topic always turned up easier and my lazy brain instantly clung to it, like a saving straw :).
Well, there is nowhere to go, very rarely in our relief areas with a slope in Minsk and the Minsk region you can do without design, ideas, retaining walls, stairs, terracing and so on. nine0007 So, let's figure it out together!

Basically, in such articles they write how cool and beautiful it is, then they add that you are very lucky, because you have a plot with drops, create, everything is in your hands. All these parting words are abundantly “fertilized” with a huge number of ideas and a bunch of beautiful photographs from all over the world, and at the end of the article, some masochists definitely recommend smearing stones with kefir to root moss in retaining walls. But it doesn’t make it any easier for us, really :)

Since I like to understand fundamentally everything that includes the words design and landscape, this article is no exception. My main task will be not just sorting out ideas that are more misleading than helping , but rather an analysis of real practical experience that sets you up to understand and feel the characteristic and technical techniques that can help in solving planning issues related to your relief area, where is the retaining wall or stairs just a tool like other elements of improvement. nine0003

So be patient and let's deal with this difficult relief topic.
Pay attention in this context, the aesthetics of the stairs are very important, but I will not touch on this important issue within the framework of this material, since Dima has already tried and described everything in detail in this article - the stairs on the site.
First, let's find the beginning. Pay attention to this drawing, it clearly demonstrates the possibilities and consequences of the same relief. Which do you like?

What do we feel when we build a house and equip a plot, seeing obvious relief differences? Surely we assure ourselves to think about it later during landscaping work. But after each rain, washed away soil and exposed small ravines remind of the inevitable.

Approximately the same feelings of anxiety are transmitted to me when I am engaged in the construction and improvement of these relief areas in Minsk and the Minsk region. And at the first meetings with customers, a clear emphasis and hope can be felt in the conversation. - "What do you think Dima, it is necessary to make retaining walls or you can do without them." You can easily, I answer, in your case, bring 60 cars of earth and fill up the lower part of the site right up to the roof of the already built bathhouse :)

Where do these fears come from!? It's simple, all people are mostly visual, and in this case they perceive the volume of their site statically and visually. Therefore, when we have a flat area, we perceive it expressively and wholeheartedly, we easily orient ourselves in further actions. Another thing is when our site has a clear slope and relief differences, which raises many questions: where to place a retaining wall, what to build, hire people or do it yourself, how to link everything into one whole, what and where should the stairs be, whether drainage and so on. nine0003

All of these factors prevent us from clearly seeing our site as a whole. And we, at the subconscious level, want to align everything and evenly divide it into terraces.

Have you ever wondered why there are so many TO-18 loaders in Minsk!? provide site planning services.

Machinists, who plan our sections, say - “so, now I’ll plan exactly here and then I’ll level it, don’t be afraid, the owner will be like a runway.” And imagine if they thoughtfully approached the change in the relief, suggesting what to preserve and what to strengthen, our sites would noticeably change. nine0003

Dima-Dima again idealistic nonsense, tractor drivers thinking about harmony and compositional integrity in landscape design, they don't even know such words.
Hence the main consequences in the form of a banal layout and a heap of ill-conceived monumental structures on the site with which one has to live in the future. How to avoid this?

Work out in detail on the master plan the possible options, thereby you will force your consciousness to perceive the area with the drops as a whole. Remember the plan provides an excellent opportunity for to see the interaction of all the fragmented elements and details, which is difficult to see in reality on the site. Each of you has his own manifestation of the relief, someone is in a lowland, someone has a tangible difference along the border line between neighbors, someone thinks where to put a house on a slope, and so on ad infinitum. nine0003

It is the hand-drawn plan that becomes a tangible breakthrough in the understanding of the site. Your, as it seemed to you, problematic topographic feature, now you can embrace it completely before your eyes, print 10 copies, edit over it with a marker, offer different options until you feel an interesting development of the scenario.
Further, working with the plan, you must constantly ask yourself the question, how else can I beat this drop?

Then our goal is to further develop this theme and enhance the perception of nature.
Make it the main goal and the general theme of your site. So at this stage it is important to know the circulation of traffic on the site (I hope you have already drawn a plan where the paths, bathhouse and other volumes will be!), set priorities - highlight the main movement, that is, from parking to the house, from the house to the bathhouse and secondary paths for walking around the garden, what is this for ?!

Look, many of the relief areas where I was engaged in construction and landscaping in Minsk had already filled “supports” in the entire width of the area from fence to fence. Moreover, the main movement to the lower part occurred only through one-twentieth of the retaining wall where there was a staircase, and for the rest of the length the tiled retaining wall with a parapet was an alien element and destroyed the usable space? nine0048

Don't you think that it is much cheaper, more logical, and most importantly more organic to arrange a fragmentary retaining wall and stairs, and beat the rest of the drop using geoplastics and slope terracing.
In this context, we are reinforcing our main goal to make the site feel as natural and organic as possible .

These slopes are subsequently ideal for creating a rock garden and lend themselves very well to landscaping with lawn and various crops that strengthen the upper horizon. In which you can design step-by-step stairs made of natural stone, arrange interesting patios, plant trees and shrubs, in other words, use them for their intended purpose. nine0003

The story on this topic, until I forgot. One early morning, a man called me and asked me to urgently come to his site to solve the drainage problem, which was not related to landscape design. Arriving at the site in Tarasovo, I began to conduct hydrological surveys, and at that time he lamented for a very long time over the fact that he had chosen this site for building a house in the Minsk region. And now on its site with a strong slope at the very bottom there is always water and interferes with the construction work of the bath complex. nine0003

The granulometric composition of the soil of this area is loam, and besides, with a high COG. The customer insisted on carrying out drainage work. His house was being built for sale, and this wet moment confused potential customers. I offered him to turn the disadvantage into a distinctive feature. Namely, let a stream with a waterfall go down the slope and arrange a lake with fragrant water lilies near the bathhouse from below, attach a terrace on pillars to it.

Stormwater collected from the house is also to be dumped into this lake. On the spot, on the “knee”, I sketched out the concept and design of his site with a slope for him. At first, he was distrustful of this idea and probably thought “what kind of idiot this Dima is and who entrusted him with the level,” but then he apparently realized that for the same money for reclamation that he would dig into the ground, you can get elements that enrich the artistic site value. nine0007 Accordingly, its liquidity in the real estate market will increase. Subsequently, he applied for a project on this topic.

Remember, when you develop logical and characteristic themes on the site, then it will a priori look natural and beautiful.

Moreover, by manipulating the terrain, you enrich the variety of views from different vantage points. Make perspectives on other volumes of your garden semi-hidden and fascinating, gradually opening up. nine0071 Here is an example of the characteristic development of geoplastics. A customer contacted me with a request to find ideas for a site with a slope, and subsequently for pouring retaining walls, arranging a rolled lawn. His house was located behind Zaslavl among beautiful views of the hills, meadows and forests (this relief area in the region of Zaslavl and Logoysk in Belarus is commonly called Belarusian Switzerland) Moreover, he has no neighbors from all sides (lucky man). The house was built in the half-timbered style and lined with earth on all sides, and on three sides it is surrounded by terraces for admiring the Belarusian landscapes. nine0003

Having admired all this beauty, I didn't even think to fill in the retaining walls. I already intuitively knew what to do and was completely immersed in thoughts of how to technologically transfer the characteristic landscape motifs to the site of my client. As a result, the entire landscape around the house was designed in the form of green slopes with stones. In general, what is in the window is in the store.

  • It is a completely different matter if the site has a slope in the city or suburb of Minsk with a large number of neighbors .

In these conditions, our sites are limited geographically. We no longer have 25 acres, but usually 10 or 6 :( Every meter is important here. In this case, we need to work more carefully with the plan and think over the landscape design in detail.

And here we can safely state that we are part of society. In such dense urban, suburban and cottage areas, we feel like in an aquarium! dimension is the official entrance group in front of the house.The second dimension is the area behind the house, and the third is the most sheltered, the most intimate for relaxation and reflection.Wind, noise, bustle is somewhere higher………
In this case, the sloping area is very good for us, since the descent is always identified with shelter and protection. And with proper zoning of the site, we can develop and enhance this feature of and, as a result, get a chamber patio, a small lawn or a gazebo by the pond, hidden from prying eyes, that is, our main requirement for is to create isolation.

Here is a good example.
Small plot on all sides densely populated by neighbors . I, while planning and designing a garden in Raubichi, Minsk region, isolated the most remote corner even more, and strengthened the feeling of intimacy by a general decrease. Moreover, he revealed and enhanced the characteristic natural features of the site with a slope, equipping from top to bottom a stream that flows into a pond under the terrace in the patio. The dimensions of this cozy patio repeat the dimensions of the terrace near the house. Everything is made from natural materials. Everything is focused on solitude and relaxation after a week of work.

  • Important . In the city and the suburbs, natural materials - wood, stone, earth, plants, water - become even more important than in a distant village, where we are surrounded by all these textures in the literal sense. Therefore, make the most of natural materials to enhance your ecological island.

Let's look at a common planning error


Look, we can do it traditionally, just order the construction of a concrete retaining wall in Minsk, thoughtlessly pour it and we will get a lower terrace, or just 2 pencil cases crushing the most important area of ​​the garden. nine0027

It looks very disharmonious, but most importantly, these pencil cases subsequently determine the structure of landscape design.

In this example, we organized a retaining wall in the most active traffic zone in the form of a closed courtyard near the bathhouse, and designed the second part, where there is much less traffic, in the form of a descending slope that can be formed in the form of a rock garden or other volume. Such an arrangement will strengthen the relationship with the house and the bathhouse, create a much more harmonious development of landscape design, and in the future your stay will be much more comfortable. It turns out and saved and strengthened. nine0003

Important. Use the golden section rule. If you choose to combine a retaining wall with a natural slope, stick to the one-third rule. That is, either the slope occupies 2/3, and 1/3 is a support with a ladder, or vice versa. Use the laws of similarity and identity. Use the dimensions of the house and materials for facade decoration in the dimensions of retaining walls, patios, terraces. Let's say you have a house with a width of 11 meters. If this size is used in the dimensions of the retaining wall, patio, gazebos, then such a direct interaction unites disparate volumes. Your main task is to avoid fragmentation of unrelated elements. nine0003

Example “island” . I designed and built this zone in the form of a semicircle, which forms the lower island where there will be a gazebo and around the lake. Please note that on the side of the retaining wall there is a bridge for connecting two ponds, and the composition will be completed by a waterfall falling into the lake from the retaining wall.

This example shows a fragmentary retaining wall with stairs leading to the bath complex, I organized the rest of the area in the form of a natural slope. nine0003

Practice shows that many individual developers do not consider one of the best and more logical options for placing stairs, retaining walls and leveling the height difference on their site, on the side of the house, let's look at this option.

Each house has passages between the wall of the house and the fence on both sides, usually narrow.
These passages are ideal for arranging stairs and retaining walls
1) With this arrangement, a ladder with a retaining wall will be located in narrow, little-used areas, as a result of which this gives us the opportunity to use the most important area behind the house without drops and heaps of concrete walls, for example for nine0007 family lawn.
2) There are many more options for technologically linking the landscape design with the design of the stairs, retaining wall or a group of stairs, terraces, as there are two verticals, a fence and a house wall. In which runs of stairs can rest. In addition, it is easy to use structures for vertical gardening.

And here is a clear example of a 1.5 meter difference, equipped on the sides of the house.

When designing the space of your site, always try to perceive retaining walls as an important element that must form some kind of isolated zone . That is, retaining walls are always more harmonious when they predetermine or highlight the neighboring volume with their shape.

Being engaged in landscape design and construction of this site in the Minsk region, I attached double importance to all retaining walls. Please note that in addition to its direct task - holding the rock garden soil, it is part of the "yin-yang" zone, that is, a structural continuation of another zone. You may ask what came first, an egg or a chicken :) In this example, it doesn't matter, what matters is a well-thought-out drawn landscape design plan that allows you to work out the neighboring volumes in detail. nine0003

The next example is on this topic. Pay attention to what faceless entrance groups we have and landscaping in front of cottages in the Minsk region. We just put the road board right under the line and that's it! In this context, I designed this group in the form of a low stone retaining wall giving the shape of a wave, which, firstly, fulfills its direct task - cuts off the roadway from the local area, and secondly, forms cozy lawns with plantings, clearly demonstrating that landscape design is here begins in front of the house and gradually intensifies throughout the entire relief area. nine0003

I repeat once again, the most important thing is not to make a common fatal mistake, do not divide the most important part of your back garden “stupidly” into fires, you can always find an interesting, and most importantly more organic scenario development. Moreover, imbued with the idea that the places of change in the slope of the relief must necessarily be emphasized or strengthened.
Just think, for the same money that we “swell” into concrete in Minsk, thereby deteriorating the artistic value of our suburban area, we can create, for example, a floating terrace, deck or gazebo towering over the slope of the site. The entrance to which we will densely plant with vines, leaving only a narrow passage. nine0003

Entering it, we will see the views and perspectives that we design. Such a terrace or patio will become the main and favorite feature of your relatives and neighbors, as well as a distinctive feature of your relief area , because in this case the structure in the form of a terrace on an inclined area equally belongs to heaven and earth, isn't it wonderful?! Well, at least not trivial.

Do not give up, look for exactly those features that are inherent in your terrain and terrain, enhance them and enjoy the result. nine0008 And if you have a very complicated “puzzle”, drop the plan and photo of the site to my mail, I love embossed puzzles.

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