A garden on a slope offers a variety of advantages that a horizontal surface cannot offer. There are natural models here that require complex garden design on flat terrain. This guide is full of tried-and-tested tips on how to creatively design an embankment as a slope garden.
How do you design a garden on a slope?
A slope garden can be optimally used through terracing, slope reinforcement and creative design elements such as a stream or slide. The planting should be adapted to the lighting conditions and soil conditions in order to create a harmonious overall picture.
Slope fastening sets the style - here's how it works
In professional garden design on a slope, slope stabilization is a key function. Only when the slope has been sufficiently stabilized can a planting plan and ideas for beautification be tackled. Terracing on several levels creates space for flower and perennial beds, the vegetable garden and a lawn as a play area for the children. Materials and design of the slope reinforcement determine the style:
- Retaining walls and stairs made of limestone create a Mediterranean flair
- Boulders along the embankment and natural stones as paving go well with the natural garden
- Slope attachment 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 attachment. The gravity wall is considered the queen of slope climbs, the base of which accounts for a third of the height. A dry stone wall made of natural stone is suitable for a small embankment less than 100 cm high. If you design a garden on a slope with gabions, ideally stack several metal baskets on top of each other with a slight inclination towards the slope.
Tips for creative garden design on a slope
A garden with a slope is predestined for a stream that flows into a pond on the lower level. For the family garden, installing a long slide for your children is a must. By planting each terrace individually along the embankment, you create a paradise of ornamental and useful plants. The following recommendations may serve as your inspiration:
- Create a vegetable and herb garden in the sunny, upper part of the slope near the house
- In addition to the terrace on the house, plan additional seating on the lower levels
- Plant robust trees and perennials with strong root systems in beds with a slight slope
- Plant a sunny embankment with ground cover roses, bluebells and bergenias
Cool, moist northern slopes are more problematic to plant because light is in short supply here. For such locations, we recommend planting with ivy, privet and autumn anemones. Numerous ornamental grasses show their most beautiful side even in low-light locations, such as mushroom-head sedges or white-colored flat-eared grass.
Tip
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 on all steps and possible tripping hazards. If supply lines and lighting fixtures can be installed in advance, this forethought significantly reduces costs.