A garden on a slope offers you a variety of advantages that a horizontal surface cannot offer. There are natural models here, which require complex garden design on the flat terrain. This guide is packed with tried and tested tips on how to creatively design an embankment as a slope garden.

Slopes can be fortified with dry stone walls

Slope reinforcement determines the style - this is how it works

In professional garden design on a slope, slope stabilization is a key function. Planting plans and ideas for beautification can only be tackled once the embankment has been sufficiently stabilized. A terracing on several levels creates space for flower and perennial beds, the vegetable garden and a lawn as a playground for the children. Materials and design of the slope reinforcement determine the style:

  • Limestone retaining walls and stairs create a Mediterranean flair
  • Erratic boulders along the embankment and natural stones paving the way match the natural garden
  • Slope reinforcement with gabions underlines the modern garden style

The rule of thumb here is: the steeper the slope, the more mass is required for secure slope stabilization. The gravity wall, the foot of which accounts for a third of the height, is considered the queen of hill climbs. A dry stone wall made of natural stone is suitable for a small embankment of less than 100 cm in height. Design a garden on a slope with gabions, ideally stack several metal baskets on top of each other with a slight incline towards the embankment.

Tips for creative garden design on a slope

A sloping garden is predestined for a stream that flows into a pond on the lower level. Installing a long slide for your children is a must for the family garden. By individually planting each terrace along the embankment, a paradise of ornamental and useful plants is created. The following recommendations may serve as your inspiration:

  • Plant the vegetable and herb garden in the sunny, upper part of the slope near the house
  • Plan additional seating on the lower levels in addition to the terrace by the house
  • Settle robust shrubs and perennials with a strong root system in beds with a slight incline
  • Plant a sunny bank with ground cover roses, cushion bluebells and bergenias

Cool, damp northern slopes are more difficult to plant because light is scarce here. For such locations we recommend planting with ivy, privet and autumn anemones. Numerous ornamental grasses also show their most beautiful side in low-light locations, such as mushroom head sedges or variegated flat-eared grass.

tips

In a garden on a slope, the right lighting contributes significantly to safety. When designing paths and stairs, integrate spotlights and lamps into the planning for all steps and possible tripping hazards. If supply lines and lighting fixtures can be installed in advance, this foresight significantly reduces the costs.

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Garden design