What to do with a sloping garden

Sloping garden blog

What to do with a sloping garden...

After years of designing, constructing and excavating sloping gardens, we can conclude that slopes present their own special challenges.  But don’t fret if your garden has a slope; with smart design and good construction these challenges can be overcome.   Here, we talk about how to embrace a sloping garden and make the most from it. 

The benefits of a sloping garden

A natural contour in a garden provides visual interest. This can be exploited by working with the ground’s slope to create distinct areas within the garden. It can, for example, allow for a raised decking area for relaxing and dining, overlooking a lower lawn area where kids can enjoy playing games.

Also, a slope can offer natural vantage points within garden, of both the garden and beyond, and these spots can make perfect sitting areas. 

Where a garden is sloping up from the house, you can show off attractive features within the garden which can be viewed from inside the house. Conversely, where a garden is sloping away from the house, less attractive features, can be hidden out of sight.

Water features are particularly effective in sloping gardens, where the natural gradient provides the chance to create meandering streams, pools and waterfalls. Not only do water features add beauty, they can also help with drainage, an important consideration in designing a sloping garden. 

Steps and bedding
Sloping garden
Sloping garden example

Designing a sloping garden

Start by thinking about what you want from your garden. For instance; a decking or patio area for relaxing and entertaining? A lawn where your kids can enjoy playing games? Or maybe an area to grow vegetables or cut flowers?

Once you know the features you’d like, it is then a case of figuring out how best to use the space to accommodate them. And with sloping gardens smart use of space is key.

It is also important to think about how your garden will be viewed. As mentioned above, depending on the slope, you’ll have the chance to either show off or hide away features, so consider carefully what you want to see, and what you don’t want to see, when looking out on your garden.

 

Naturally sloping dry river bed

 

Important considerations when building a sloping garden

Constructing a sloping garden can be tricky, especially where there is a significant slope. When building levels and terraces within the garden it is important that all retaining walls are soundly constructed. Good drainage is vital, and it is important that weep holes are included in all retaining walls. 

Drops between different levels will be inevitable but aim to minimize them to ensure that your garden is safe. Also, steep steps and paths are potentially hazardous, so think about how best to make your garden accessible and easy for all to move around. One simple solution is to curve steps and paths across a slope to lessen their severity. 

Making sure that your garden is easy to get around will also make maintenance easier. Consider adding ramps between levels, which will be helpful when using a lawn mower and other gardening equipment.

Sloping garden with stone

Soil Erosion & choosing the right plants

Soil erosion is an issue with severe slopes, but this can be tackled by picking suitable plants. Drought-tolerant plants with deep roots are most effective for stabilising steep slopes, so consider ornamental grasses and wildflowers, ground-covering geraniums and a large variety of shrubs and trees.

For good ground cover on slopes, creeping conifers, cotoneaster, lonicera and heathers work well. Ivy and vinca are also commonly used but be aware that they can become invasive.

To help retain moisture, build small horizontal levels into the slope to make watering more effective. In time these small levels will become less visible.

 

Don’t be scared, sloping gardens can be great!

Yes, a sloping garden presents its own unique challenges, but hopefully you can see that with clever design and good construction these challenges can be overcome. In fact, sloping gardens offer up opportunities that you don’t get when working with flat gardens. So, embrace your sloping garden and create something wonderful!

Raised deck and terracing
Sloping garden using stone

For more information on sloping gardens or general garden design, please contact Papillon directly.

Client Testimonials

Delighted!

We are delighted with the garden and everything is going to be so much easier to look after, and we will enjoy using it so much more, so thanks for all your, and your team’s hard work!

L.S.
Portlethen

Amazing!

It looks amazing Angelique, I can’t believe the difference and it’s so much bigger!

S.D.
Dyce

I love my garden steps

We have had three projects undertaken by Papillon and have been very pleased with each one. We have had very positive comments from friends and neighbours about the improvements to our property. I love my garden steps.

Lesley
Ellon

We cannot praise Angelique and her team at Papillon Design & Landscaping highly enough. From the initial consultation with Angelique, she listened to our requirements and returned with a fabulous design. On site, the team were friendly, efficient and organised and worked hard to complete the project on time and with minimum disturbance. We were delighted with the end result and feel it has really added to our home.

Ian & Anna
Edinburgh

Papillon Garden Designs & Landscaping Limited
Dunvegan Steading, Kingswells, Aberdeen AB15 8RN | Tel: 01224 791569   |  e: info@papillonlandscape.co.uk

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