The pitfalls of a sloping plot and how to create a beautiful garden on a hillside

Sloping plots are usually noticeably cheaper. This is because you have to allow for the unavoidable cost of levelling the ground to build a house. While the building needs a level surface, you do not have to be so strict with the garden. You will save on earthworks and, on top of that, you will get a truly unique garden. How do you go about it?

What do you need to watch out for?

The most important factor when landscaping a sloping garden is securing it against landslides. Retaining walls are a great help with this, and they also work as decoration. 

You can choose from a wide range of materials. For a natural look, you can go for timber palisades, but even with the best care they will start to rot after some time and will need replacing. Stone or masonry walls are a more durable, long-term solution. Even here, though, you need to make sure they do not fall apart over time.

Wire gabions filled with stones have also been a trend in recent years. They look very unobtrusive and modern in the garden. Although this solution is a slightly bigger investment, gabions will last for several years looking as good as new without any maintenance.

A terrace with a breathtaking view

A great way to deal with a sloping garden is to create stepped terraces. Simply level one section of the slope at a time and connect the individual levels with a few steps, or just put a railing along a path running down the slope. On the individual terraces, you can then create flower beds, seating areas or even children’s climbing frames.

A stepped garden will give you a beautiful view of the surroundings. Choose suitable seating according to how large an area you level. On a smaller area, you could place sun loungers, for example. In a larger space, do not be afraid to build a garden shelter where you can put a table and benches with storage space. This way, you will not have to keep carrying everything you need for a barbecue or a fire up and down the steps.

Strengthen the slope with suitable plants

It is not only retaining walls that help to stabilise a slope, but also various trees and plants. To reinforce the soil, choose trees with strong roots; we particularly recommend firs and pines. However, be careful to plant them in a suitable spot. Their roots spread a long way and could damage nearby structures. That is why you should plant them well away from walls and shelters.

On a slope, always choose plants with hardy roots. Ornamental grasses such as blue fescue or Japanese sedge are ideal. Shrub roses also cope easily with a hillside, and among annuals, moss rose (purslane) or ice plant, for example.

The ideal space for a beautiful rock garden

A sloping garden is just crying out for a rock garden. Looking after it is fairly demanding, but you will be rewarded with beautiful flowers for almost the whole year. Do not be afraid to plant clematis, aubrieta, wild thyme or rock roses. Let heath aster, for example, grow straight out of the wall, where it will decorate your garden with lovely white flowers in autumn.

Undisturbed relaxation

In a sloping garden, you can easily create a spot with plenty of privacy for undisturbed relaxation. A sloping plot does not have to mean the end of your vision of the ideal garden, but you need to allow for maintaining the slope and constantly walking up and down steps. Despite these drawbacks, a hillside garden can be a beautiful and peaceful place where you can relax without missing out on a plentiful harvest of fruit and vegetables.

Read also about hydrangeas and how to combine them in the garden.