Best Ideas for sloping gardens: Creating ideas for slanted gardens is a challenge for landscape architects. However, the existence of an inclination of the ground should not be considered as a defect in any way. On the contrary, if you take advantage of the terrain, you can turn the patio of a simple slope into a fabulous place.
The 40 Best Ideas for Sloping Gardens
To solve your doubts to respect we have decided to provide you in the present article ideas for gardens located on sloping grounds.
The sloping grounds are a good place to create terraced gardens, spectacular retaining walls, themed platforms, stepped or inclined alleys, artificial waterfalls, or endless pools.
Here we will give you some tips on how to turn the uncomfortable inclination of your garden into an advantage. They will help you overcome some of the most common problems with an inclined garden design, such as the difficulties of mowing the lawn, the problem that part of the garden is not used or can not be used, or soil erosion.
Includes terraces in your sloping garden design
The traditional way to overcome the slope in a garden is through the construction of terraces. Basically, this means converting a slope into a series of flat surfaces with different levels. This makes gardening easier and allows you to use different styles at different levels.
Terraced materials can also be an intrinsic part of the sloping garden design. You can use a whole range of terraces in your garden, including different types of stone, wood, sheet metal, bricks, and even old tires. These allow the creation of attractive surfaces if your garden is tilted upwards.
The disadvantage of the terraces is that they can be expensive and difficult to carry out, especially if the slope is steep. Unless you want to face the challenge, have a small plot or really have the necessary knowledge, it is advisable to consult a landscaper or professional builder. In addition, a good garden designer can suggest cheaper alternatives to the construction of retaining walls and expensive foundations.
Gabions are a profitable option for creating terraces. These are wire cages filled with stone, commonly used in civil engineering projects, such as road construction, but also in gardening. They can be cheaper than building retaining walls and also look more modern.
Use average to decorate your sloping garden
An excellent way to manipulate the feeling of your leaned garden is to play with the plants you choose to plant there. For example, on lands sloping down from the house, planting tall foliage at the bottom can reduce the perception of the slope.
However, planting tall trees or plants at the top end of a garden with an upward slope could make you feel closed and overwhelmed. And looking up can make tall plants look absurdly high and dominant.
Best Ideas for sloping gardens
Plants can also be used to stabilize a slope and prevent soil erosion. There is a good selection of low-maintenance plants suitable for steeper slopes and can add color and texture to your sloped garden design.
Use platforms in the inclined garden design
The installation of platforms and the creation of a wooden patio in the lower part of your garden can be seen very well since it will give you a focal point and will attract attention. It can also be a good way to transform a neglected part of the garden into a social area, where you can entertain yourself.
This option may also allow you to install a structure that might otherwise be impossible given the inclination as a water source or pergola. And the installation of a garden shed or a summer house on a terrace means that you do not have to worry about uneven, sloping foundations or the accumulation of water.
Space design
Vertical space planning is always carried out after the completion of construction work and after electrical, plumbing and drainage systems are built in the yard. In this stage, all walks, stairs, retaining walls, roads and fences are defined. The design of the characteristic points of the terrain is planned and an optimal plan is made to overcome the inclination.
Professional advice
The presence of large slopes in most cases requires that the design of the garden be carried out by professionals in this specific field. The objective is not only to achieve functionality and aesthetics but also to avoid landslides. Avoid subsidence and deformation is another important point in the modeling of the land.
For the purpose, it is appropriate to stir and water the soil and it is advisable that the soil remains a winter. In the course of vertical planning, several factors are taken into account, including the purpose of the terrain, the pavements, the characteristics of the soil, the dimensions of the individual terraces (stepped, edges, ditches), appropriate vegetation, etc.
Effective retaining walls
The construction of retaining walls is mandatory if there are larger slopes in the terrain. If the slope is smaller and the terraces are lower, retaining walls are not necessary. When they are built, most of the time they use stone or concrete. The retaining walls provide well-formed and functional horizontal areas that can become a decorative accent in the garden. With your help, the garden is divided into functional zones of varying height.
To soften the height difference behind the retaining walls, cascading bushes are planted and hedges or other decorative plant compositions can be formed.
The materials that are used in the construction of the retaining walls must be in harmony with the selected pavement, as well as those of the house and the fence. The natural stone will give a solid appearance and a natural aesthetic to the patio. The monolithic concrete structures and the common bricks are another good alternatives, but it must be taken into account that the formwork, in this case, is a necessity.
The retaining walls can also be made of wood, in this case, however, you have to think about a good waterproofing. The contact of the wood with the soil sooner or later will cause putrefaction processes under the constant influence of humidity. Also when retaining walls are built, drainage is required to remove part of the water.
Beautiful and functional walks
A garden cannot be complete without beautiful walks that connect its picturesque corners. If the terrain consists entirely of terraces, the trails can be completely staggered or have a slight slope. The latter creates the feeling of nature walks.
The retaining walls and walks should follow the profile of the terrain to avoid serious excavation activities. The pavements must be made with materials that are in harmony with the lining of the house, and it is recommended that one type of material dominate over the others. The decorative qualities of the materials and the pattern of the pavement contribute to the high aesthetic value of the squares and the walks.
It is interesting that the dimensions of the walks and the variety of materials at the subconscious level determine the speed of movement. For example, narrow walks cause a more rapid and focused movement, while wider ones slow us down.
When the decorative elements are designed and placed along the axis of the pavement, they also indicate the direction of movement. The walks with soft and harmonic lines give a landscape aspect and it is appropriate to use materials such as asphalt or felt for them. To not seem too monotonous, the longer trails can be “animated” with squares, rocky gardens or changes in the axis of movement.
Stepped beds
Imagine a composition of flower beds emerging before your eyes that fill the entire patio … Wonderful, right? The beds can have the shape of large steps throughout the patio or accentuate separate places on the lawn. Do not underestimate the choice of suitable vegetation.
It is good to choose a certain palette that will predominate in the general composition. Cool tones will create a feeling of more space in the patio, while warm colors will provide a great deal of hospitality and comfort. It would be good to bet on the contrast between the plants in neutral and bright colors.
It is also important to take into account not only the colors of the flowers but also the foliage, the fruits of the plants and the bark of the tree species. The selection of vegetation should also be made depending on the typical climatic conditions of the area.
It is appropriate to have at least two seasons or accentuate with evergreen species. Avoid planting too large plants, this can disturb the balance of proportions in the composition.
Corner of rocks
If you want to animate the space and create a feeling of greater volume, you can create an attractive corner of rocks with different shapes and sizes of stones, fine felt and a little bit of wood. Similar compositions create a symbolic projection of mountain, river and arboreal vegetation.
These compositions are easy to make and are suitable even for small yards. Its style is reminiscent of Japanese minimalist gardens. To improve the effect, you can design a small pond and a bridge and also decorate with lanterns and bamboo fences.
The effect of water
The construction of improvised fountains or artificial waterfalls is another spectacular tool to decorate sloping gardens. The jets of water seem to be absolutely natural, flowing from the natural heights of the terrain. There are many options to set up such facilities, starting with traditional stone galleries, fences and decorations and reaching glass or ceramic structures in a minimalist style that emphasizes the natural beauty of the water jet.
You can make an improvised water area using a small channel surrounded by stones and plants and a water pump with a nozzle that creates water effects.
Themed playgrounds
On each of the separate levels of the patio, patios can be created for different purposes. In this type of terrain, they fit originally, seen both individually and in the general aesthetic concept of the landscape.
Depending on the specific size of the garden and the budget available, you can design a cozy corner for morning coffee, family barbecue area, kitchen garden, mini playground, playground or even a pool. The thematic platforms will make the area of the plot as functional as possible and will give the garden a unique personality and style.
Pool in the clouds
In case you have enough area and height, you can get something really impressive: a pool that seems to be floating in the sky. The reason for this lies in the peculiar way of design in which the retaining walls of the steep slope form a part of the pool without any borders around it. And while you enjoy the bath and look over the edge, you will see the lower part of the landscape that falls below the pool.
Such installation provides the wonderful sensation of swimming in the sky, enjoying the natural landscape. Of course, the realization of such a project is associated with serious costs, but those who could afford it will definitely not regret the effect achieved.
Garden lighting
Choosing the correct exterior lighting will create an impression of depth of space and a dramatic effect during the hot summer nights. Gently illuminated ornamental vegetation, accentuating themed corners or artificial ponds will give a solemn glow to the garden. Use solar illuminators to mark the lines of the walks, also decorate with decorative lanterns and tea candles the space around the pool. The effect is fascinating!
An important point in the planning and modeling of vertical terrains is to implement the project by a specialist, as well as formally be present in the architectural plan of the particular property.