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Hit the garden slopes running with these bright ideas for terraces, zones, paths and more
Jo SimmonsApril 23, 2019
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several books on design and numerous features for glossy homes mags over the years. For Houzz, I cover decorating ideas and trends and interview designers and professionals for their insights. My favourite pieces to write, though, are Houzz Tours, as I love exploring and learning about real homes. Call me curious — or nosy!
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We are not all blessed with an open, flat garden. Many of us live in hilly towns or the rolling countryside. Terraces cut into the incline are probably the most common method for making the most of those tricky sloping plots, but there are lots of ways to have fun with an uneven landscape. From snaking paths to jutting decks and sunken seating areas, here are some ideas for beautiful and exciting sloping outdoor spaces.
Colin Cadle Photography
1. Add a Deck
Constructing a deck over a steep downward slope affords level space for entertaining and great views of a garden. Depending on the angle of the slope, the deck could also be raised on pillars to create storage or even a playspace beneath.
Find a deck builder on Houzz
Field Landscape Architecture
Field Landscape Architecture
2. Build a Banked Border
Many plants are just as happy growing on slopes as in level beds, so try adding garden beds that rise up from a path, creating a green, enveloping corridor. Small steps cut into the bank will give you access for weeding and pruning.
Envision Landscape Studio
3. Design Terraces Around Different Themes
Terraces cut into a sloping garden gain extra style points when each is given a clear identity. In this design by Envision Landscape Studio, the lower level contains a water feature, while above are structural plants that stand out against a white wall. Beyond is a more relaxed planting set against black stained wooden walls.
Matarozzi Pelsinger Builders
Matarozzi Pelsinger Builders
4. Plant a Living Mural
If your garden slopes upward, the rear boundary will be much more prominent. Make a feature of it by creating a planted wall, as seen here. Alternatively, grow trees in pots along the wall or train climbing plants up it for a vibrant backdrop. Here strips of lawn and shallow steps with inset lights create a green carpet leading to the lush wall.
How to Add a Living Wall
Sallie Hill Design, Landscape Architect
Sallie Hill Design
5. Keep Plantings Loose and Low-Maintenance
Planting a slope with a relaxed mix of hardy, low-maintenance plants rather than neatly lined-up specimens that require a lot of care is a great way to make a garden slope attractive. Plus, you won’t need to clamber around on it with the pruning sheers every weekend.
How to Find the Right Native Plants for Your Yard
Visual Jill Inc.
Visual Jill
6. Install a Rail
Walls and terraces can create steep drops that can be dangerous. If there is a grade change between a terraced area and the ground (even if it’s only a couple of feet), local building codes may require you install railings. Install railings for safety and style.
Work with a railing company near you
SHELTERWERK
Shelterwerk
7. Create Zones
While an outdoor dining space is best positioned close to the house, an area devoted to reading or lounging can be located anywhere in the garden. Make the most of the more private reaches of a sloping garden by building a small terrace and adding garden furniture there.
London Garden Designer
8. Lay a Feature Path
A sloping garden is usually more visible from the house, so help link it to your interior with a gorgeous, snaking path that’s fun to look at and walk on. This tiled path in a backyard by London Garden Designer draws the eye all the way to the upper reaches of the gently sloping garden, enticing you to explore it all the way to the end.
KellyBaron
KellyBaron
9. Squeeze in a Seat
A cultivated sloping garden like this one is not best suited to entertaining or playing, but it is perfect for sitting and relaxing. The steep slope here has been walled to create beds; a horizontal slice of lawn, just big enough for a bench, has been included in the design to provide a spot in which to sit and admire the garden.
Shop for an outdoor bench on Houzz
Avalon Northwest Landscape, LLC
10. Mix Up the Materials
In a sloping garden, the materials you use to terrace the incline can be as eye catching as the plantings. In this design by Avalon Northwest Landscape, steel backs plant beds while boulders add visual depth.
Discuss your project with a landscape designer
GEL: Griffin Enright Landscape
11. Go Green on the Steps
Steps are a necessary ingredient of a sloping garden, but you can create a very naturalistic effect by growing grass on them. These stairs by Griffin Enright Architects are covered with Korean grass (Zoysia tenuifolia, USDA zones 7 to 9; find your zone), which is tough and bright.
Your turn: Share photos of clever design solutions in your garden in the Comments.
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