Outdoors: 11 Inspiring Solutions for Sloping Gardens
Forget flat expanses and feel the love for a space on the slopes with these bright ideas for gardens that embrace the highs and lows
We are not all blessed with an open, flat garden. Many of us live in hilly towns or amid rolling countryside, with gardening on the slopes unavoidable. Terraces cut into the incline are a tried and trusted method for accessing a sloping plot, but beyond that, there are lots of ways to have fun with a landscape that is anything but level. From snaking paths to jutting decks and sunken seating areas, read on to discover how beautiful and exciting a sloping outdoor space can be.
Build a banked border
Most plants are just as happy growing on slopes as in level beds, so construct flowerbeds that rise up from a path, creating a green, enveloping corridor. Small steps cut into the bank will give you access for weeding and pruning.
Most plants are just as happy growing on slopes as in level beds, so construct flowerbeds that rise up from a path, creating a green, enveloping corridor. Small steps cut into the bank will give you access for weeding and pruning.
Theme the terraces
Terraces cut into a sloping garden gain extra style points when each is given a clear identity. Here, the lower level contains a water feature, above are structural plants that stand out against a white rendered wall, while beyond is more relaxed planting set against black stained wooden walls, reminiscent of the groynes on a beach.
Terraces cut into a sloping garden gain extra style points when each is given a clear identity. Here, the lower level contains a water feature, above are structural plants that stand out against a white rendered wall, while beyond is more relaxed planting set against black stained wooden walls, reminiscent of the groynes on a beach.
Plant a living mural
If your garden slopes upwards, the rear boundary will be clearly visible, rising up at the end of your garden. So make a feature of it by creating a fabulous planted wall, as here. Alternatively, grow trees in pots along the wall or train climbing plants up it, for a green backdrop to life in the garden. Here, strips of lawn and shallow steps with inset lights create a green carpet leading to this lush feature.
Be inspired by these beautiful living walls
If your garden slopes upwards, the rear boundary will be clearly visible, rising up at the end of your garden. So make a feature of it by creating a fabulous planted wall, as here. Alternatively, grow trees in pots along the wall or train climbing plants up it, for a green backdrop to life in the garden. Here, strips of lawn and shallow steps with inset lights create a green carpet leading to this lush feature.
Be inspired by these beautiful living walls
Walk on the wild side
Planting a slope with a relaxed mix of hardy, low-maintenance plants, rather than neatly lined-up specimens that require a lot of care, is a great way to make a garden slope attractive without the need to clamber around on it with the secateurs every weekend. This slope has wooden steps leading up it, with a small terrace halfway as a pause point from which to enjoy the planting.
Need help designing your garden? Find the best landscape architects and garden designers.
Planting a slope with a relaxed mix of hardy, low-maintenance plants, rather than neatly lined-up specimens that require a lot of care, is a great way to make a garden slope attractive without the need to clamber around on it with the secateurs every weekend. This slope has wooden steps leading up it, with a small terrace halfway as a pause point from which to enjoy the planting.
Need help designing your garden? Find the best landscape architects and garden designers.
Rail it off
Walls and terraces cut into a slope in order to build flowerbeds and paths can also create steep drops, which can be dangerous if small children use the garden. Consider installing railings along sections of wall for safety. Don’t worry about the aesthetics – a mix of stone and iron railings can look elegant and classic, as this garden proves.
Walls and terraces cut into a slope in order to build flowerbeds and paths can also create steep drops, which can be dangerous if small children use the garden. Consider installing railings along sections of wall for safety. Don’t worry about the aesthetics – a mix of stone and iron railings can look elegant and classic, as this garden proves.
Create zones
While an outdoor dining space is best positioned close to the house, an area devoted to reading or lounging can be located anywhere in the garden. Make the most of the more private, lower reaches of a downward sloping garden by building a small terrace here and adding garden furniture.
Check out other ways to create a garden chill-out zone
While an outdoor dining space is best positioned close to the house, an area devoted to reading or lounging can be located anywhere in the garden. Make the most of the more private, lower reaches of a downward sloping garden by building a small terrace here and adding garden furniture.
Check out other ways to create a garden chill-out zone
Lay a feature path
A garden that slopes up from a property is clearly visible from the house, so help to link it to your interior with a gorgeous, snaking path that’s fun to look at and walk on. This tiled path in beautiful blue tones draws the eye all the way to the upper reaches of this gently sloping garden, enticing you to explore to the end.
A garden that slopes up from a property is clearly visible from the house, so help to link it to your interior with a gorgeous, snaking path that’s fun to look at and walk on. This tiled path in beautiful blue tones draws the eye all the way to the upper reaches of this gently sloping garden, enticing you to explore to the end.
Squeeze in a seat
A cultivated sloping garden like this one is not best suited to entertaining or playing, but it is perfect for sitting and relaxing. The steep slope here has been walled to create beds, but a horizontal slither of lawn, just big enough for a bench, has been included in the design, providing a spot in which to sit and admire the planting.
A cultivated sloping garden like this one is not best suited to entertaining or playing, but it is perfect for sitting and relaxing. The steep slope here has been walled to create beds, but a horizontal slither of lawn, just big enough for a bench, has been included in the design, providing a spot in which to sit and admire the planting.
Max up the materials
In a sloping garden, you can make the materials you use to terrace the incline as eye-catching as the planting. Here, beds are backed by metal sheets, with huge boulders dotted around them and bordering the stone path. The planting itself is modest, featuring trees for height and neat, uniform, low-growing plants in the beds.
In a sloping garden, you can make the materials you use to terrace the incline as eye-catching as the planting. Here, beds are backed by metal sheets, with huge boulders dotted around them and bordering the stone path. The planting itself is modest, featuring trees for height and neat, uniform, low-growing plants in the beds.
Go green
Steps are a necessary ingredient of a sloping garden, but you can create a very naturalistic effect by growing grass on them. These stairs leading up are covered with Korean grass, which is tough and bright.
Liked this? Share photos of clever design solutions in your garden in the comments below.
Steps are a necessary ingredient of a sloping garden, but you can create a very naturalistic effect by growing grass on them. These stairs leading up are covered with Korean grass, which is tough and bright.
Liked this? Share photos of clever design solutions in your garden in the comments below.
Constructing a deck out over a steep downward slope bags you additional level space for entertaining, with views over the garden. Depending on the angle of your slope, the deck could also be raised on pillars to create storage or even a play space beneath.
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