Sloping Garden Advice Needed

8 years ago

Having lived in our home for nearly 4 years, I’d like to start tackling the garden. It’s a decent space (20m x 12m) but is a boring oblong & is difficult because of the direction of the slope. We need to build steps from the doors closest to the greenhouse & would like to install a deck / patio in this area but would probably need to move the greenhouse although I don’t know where to relocate it. The shed needs to stay. Don’t like the boring borders so would like to do something different there. Would like to keep some lawn. The fruit trees are old & could go. Any thoughts / advice for this awkward slope greatly appreciated! Looking to work on this over time having spent too much on whole house renovation! Have attached a rough plan & some photos.

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tamp75
Original Author

8 years ago

Forgot the photos!

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Comments (41)

tamp75
Original Author
8 years ago
Photo of border.
Emily
8 years ago
That’s a large and expensive tree fern in your left hand border. It would look great surrounded by other normal price ferns. Where is the sun in your garden? And do you use the green house for doing greenhouse stuff?
Regarding the slope, I think it needs splitting into two different levels where each are flat. I really love multiple levels in a garden think they add a lot of interest.
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tamp75
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks Emily. We have 2 tree ferns like that which we brought with us. I just plonked it in the border when we moved in but it will probably go in our front garden with the other one & some other woodland plants (that’s another project)! The garden faces west so we get a fair amount of sun during the day. I’m happy to have different levels but it don’t want to dig out too much near the greenhouse as we’ll need loads of steps down from our patio doors. I do use the greenhouse in the summer, mostly for tomatoes & cucumbers but wondering if I could do without it.
PRO
V.I.P Walls Interior Specialist
8 years ago
Hi please don't take any offence to the following but we would move all sheds and greenhouses to the back of the garden and potentially fence them off. It keeps your garden clutter free and clean and tidy. Extending a decked area or patio area full width of the house would look great and build a three sided retaining and fill to tackle the slope.

This is my taste to have a flat clutter free garden . We had this dilemma few years back and removed 80tonnes of soil on a steep hill to level a garden . Was a bit costly but the outlook was a clean ,flat and safe garden.
tamp75
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you - no offence taken! That’s the problem with a boring, rectangular garden - there’s nowhere to ‘hide’ things out of sight. I had considered screening off the shed but might need to lose the greenhouse altogether as there isn’t really anywhere else to move it to.
Sven
8 years ago
That is not really a sloping garden...my old garden I could stand at the bottom and not be seen from the top!

I like the idea of screening off the shed and playhouse though yours are both good looking - not like those horrid orange ones too many have.

For a design, have a look at the Lucy Willcox garden, which is family and parent orientated. Lots of ideas to use and make your garden less boring.

http://www.lucywillcoxgardendesign.com/LWGD/Projects/Pages/Highgate_-_Love_Your_Garden.html
rachelmidlands
8 years ago
I’ve been looking at your dilemma for some time and tbh I was at a loss for ideas... but I have some now but it all leads to the same conclusion and that is leave the green house where it is or lose it altogether. Anyway not sure if you like cottage style gardens but I think it could really look lovely in your space even with the existing greenhouse. Had some spare time this morning and did a little sketch (pics below, click to enlarge). Since it’s a fairly gentle slope I don’t think it would take much to create two separate level areas. So I’ve done steps down from patio doors leading to cottage style gravel patio. You could have some raised planters by the fence for veg or flowers or keep the apple tree. Slightly raised border with lots of plants and steps leading up to lawn area. On the other side I’ve done a pathway leading to the summerhouse. Trellis screen with climbers should disguise some of the greenhouse when looking from the window. Rabbit? hutch by the side of the shed. All in all tho I would keep the rest as it is including the greenhouse as I think this’ll be great for starting off new plants from seed. Here’s my idea (excuse the roughness) plus some inspo pics. Hope all goes well.
Jonathan
8 years ago
I think part of your plan also depends what is behind the doors..... for instance if one of them is the kitchen presumably you want any outside dining to be close.
Also what is the end window by the greenhouse? Is it a rarely used bedroom in which case the outlook is less important than a principal room.
tamp75
Original Author
8 years ago
@rachelmidlands - thank you so, so much for taking the time to think about our dilemma & put your fantastic ideas down on paper - it is amazingly kind of you & it has started to get me excited about the space. I love the way you’ve created the two levels & can see how we can develop a kind of ‘sunken’ seating area, perhaps with fire pit. I hadn’t thought about a gravel patio but that would be easy & work well with keeping the greenhouse in situ if necessary. I’m almost decided that it should go but it was given to us by my mother in law & it was her father’s before that so it would be difficult to just discard it. We have slightly more space in our front garden but don’t think the greenhouse would fit in there either.
Sven, I agree that many wouldn’t consider this a slope & we have certainly had a much steeper garden previously which we terraced. However, the slope is more obvious in real life than in the photos and the key difficulty with the slope is that it slopes sideways across the back of the house rather than up or down from the house.
Rachel - you’re right that a cottage garden would work here. Originally, I wanted more modern, structural plants but we need to work with what we’ve got in terms of hedging & old stone walls so I’m happy with the cottage garden idea. Thanks again for your input - my idea of two levels would have been one straight wall from house to the other side of the garden - not very exciting at all!
tamp75
Original Author
8 years ago
Hi Jonathan, very valid points. The whole back of the house is living space - mostly open plan. The window overlooking the greenhouse is our dining area at the back with kitchen at the front of the house. By the patio doors that end, we have a seating area. The patio doors at the other end lead out from our snug.
Because of the slope, looking out from the dining area, the view is of the greenhouse roof which really isn’t very exciting!
Jonathan
8 years ago
Personally I would try to have a fairly level circular lawn and sloping boarders.
I think the greenhouse probably has the sunniest position and and I would put a level deck here for outside dining.
I would surround this dining area with trellis so that the shed and woodstore are screened from view.
tamp75
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you Jonathan for also taking the time to put some ideas down for us - I really appreciate it. I also wanted a deck so that we could step out from the doors straight onto it. Unfortunately, because of the slope thus would mean that the decking would reach halfway up our border fence so that we would really overlook our neighbours which we don’t feel would be fair. However, your idea for a dining area in that corner is brilliant as it does get the last of the sun. We would need to remove the greenhouse but think we’re now agreed that it will have to go. Thanks again.
Carolina
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
You might find these photos inspirational. I like Rachel's idea to create a sunken seating area.

Frensham Garden · More Info

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Jonathan
8 years ago
Because any raised deck would need planning permission it might not be possible to have it level with the doors. However I think you should still consider it. You could add trellis to your side so that they don’t feel over looked. If your deck is level with the doors this is safer and more convenient for furniture placement plus you would gain a little storage underneath for the wood and a wheelbarrow.
Carolina
8 years ago
Or wide steps. I would do the first one, when you step outside, larger than the one in the pic so you can comfortably step outside before you have to step down, but to give you an idea...

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tamp75
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks Carolina - some lovely inspiration ideas.
E D
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
@Jonathan, I had never realised you always need planning permission for a raised deck.

We have a garden that slopes up away from the house. We've had some slightly raised decking installed including a path that follows the slope with raised 'terraces' and had not even considered we would need planning permission to do that. And we're in a conservation area...
Jonathan
8 years ago
Decking below 30cm in height normally falls into permitted development.
tamp75
Original Author
8 years ago
We’ve made a start and are going with two levels with a circular lawn & lower level of gravel / patio. We’ve removed the long bed on the left where the tree fern was & removed the playhouse to build a curved corner bed. It gets the first of the morning sun so I’d like to have a space for a bistro set in the corner of the raised bed. I’d thought about a stone patio circle surrounded by plants but wondered if gravel might be better? Only concern is that there will be a gravel path in front of the border - you can just make out the white lines to show the edge of the path. The corner space doesn’t look very big but measures about 3m from the top of the slate step to the corner where the wall & fence meet.
Any thoughts / ideas greatly appreciated!
tamp75
Original Author
8 years ago
Thought I’d post an update! It’s not complete yet so I’m only posting photos of the finished parts!
Bistro set in small patio in raised border where the playhouse used to be. Circular lawn (not as level as I’d like) & still needs topsoil & reseeding in areas.
Lower gravel area with circular patio & steps up to path that will go around the edge of the circular lawn.
Lots more planting needed, particularly along the fence & around the steps & gravel to soften it but will probably wait until spring now. New garden furniture required ( next year) & will decide after the winter whether or not to paint the raised beds by the fence.
Thanks to those of you who provided plans, ideas & inspiration!
Emily
8 years ago
Wow! That’s so fab Tamp! I really love different levels in a garden and you’ve done so much and done it so well. Love the stone especially.
E D
8 years ago
Proper landscaping. Nice one.

It's starting to look great!
PRO
Bassets Builders
8 years ago
Some Inspiration. Can give free consultation & design board.

https://www.facebook.com/DServices2015/
rachelmidlands
8 years ago
It looks fantastic! I love the stone walls especially. Will look even better when planting is done. Pop in a few spring bulbs in November so you’ll have something to enjoy in spring while you decide what plants to put in. Well done, I love it! :-)
Sonia
8 years ago
Beautiful. It looks very welcoming for you and new plants! Well done.
Ribena Drinker
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
That looks absolutely stunning, I'd be totally delighted with that result. It looks beautiful.

Once the planting is completed that is going to be beautiful. Congrats.

I'm quite green with envy.
Carolina
8 years ago
It looks awesome!
tamp75
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks for your comments - we are really pleased with how it’s working out although it’s taken a lot of hard work! Just frustrating waiting for things to grow! Yes, planning on getting some bulbs in for some spring colour then I can get some more planting done ready for next summer.
Emily
8 years ago
Where’s your tree ferns Tamp?
Ps, yesterday I nearly broke my back in the garden inspired by your hard work!
tamp75
Original Author
8 years ago
Emily - we have our two tree ferns in our front garden. Nearly gave up on moving the one from the back as it was soooo heavy!
I agree with it being back- breaking - fortunately my husband did most of the digging out for our patio area. I did some but it wasn’t easy during the hot weather!
E D
8 years ago
Woh, you actually moved trees!

Are their chances for survival good? I'm no expert so it's a genuine question :)
Emily
8 years ago
I’m always moving and things ED, often big stuff but wouldn’t do it in the heatwave. Plants won’t like it but it would probs do me in! But hopefully Tamp has kept the ferns really damp.
tamp75
Original Author
8 years ago
Moved the tree fern way back at Easter when it was still really wet, soaking underfoot & no sign of s heatwave. Was doing fine but we currently have a bees nest in one which I hope won’t cause too much damage!
tamp75
Original Author
6 years ago
It’s two years now since I first posted about ideas for redesigning our garden and now that it’s really looking ‘established’, I thought I’d post an update. I also wanted to say a huge ‘thank you’ to those who responded with ideas & inspiration, particularly @rachelmidlands & @jonathan for their plans which I incorporated into our design. We love our ‘new’ garden and feel especially grateful & fortunate at the moment to have our outdoor space.
tamp75
Original Author
6 years ago
A few more shots.
Sonia
6 years ago
Beautiful garden. Well done! 👍😊🌸
lspendl 828
6 years ago
Stunning garden! I love your circular patio pictured in your thread. I want one even more now!! 😁
tamp75
Original Author
6 years ago
@sonia - thank you! Sunny weather helps!
tamp75
Original Author
6 years ago
@ispendl - thank you! I’d forgotten about that little patio in our border when I was responding to your post. It’s a very small patio but in a great spot for breakfast / morning coffee in the sun. Our main patio is also a circle - bit of a theme for this garden!
Carolina
6 years ago
It's beautiful!