Hillside Solutions...Landscaping on the Slant
When spring arrives, it’s hard to pull me back inside. My thoughts are continually drawn to the outdoors on these beautiful spring afternoons. All those landscaping projects I’ve put off all winter call loudly when the days are long and the temps are warm.
Lately, I’ve been stewing over a problem area in my back yard. It’s very sloped and when it rains, the rain rushes down the driveway and down through this area of my yard, eroding the ground underneath. Well, whenever I have a decorating or landscaping dilemma, I know right where to head. I know when I visit Houzz, I’m going to find a plethora of answers to solve whatever project has me stymied at the time.
Do you have a sloped area in your yard that has been impossible to manage? Are you in need of some ideas for navigating a hilly area in your landscape? Take a look at all the fabulous ways you could landscape that challenging terrain.
Lately, I’ve been stewing over a problem area in my back yard. It’s very sloped and when it rains, the rain rushes down the driveway and down through this area of my yard, eroding the ground underneath. Well, whenever I have a decorating or landscaping dilemma, I know right where to head. I know when I visit Houzz, I’m going to find a plethora of answers to solve whatever project has me stymied at the time.
Do you have a sloped area in your yard that has been impossible to manage? Are you in need of some ideas for navigating a hilly area in your landscape? Take a look at all the fabulous ways you could landscape that challenging terrain.
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| Love this design! This sloped area has been outfitted with stairs that are wide and easy to navigate. The variety of color and texture in the plant material surrounding them makes a beautiful statement. |
Here's a modern take on landscaping a sloped area. It even has an artistic feel.
Do you think these are meant to function as steps? They look as if they could.
I love a hillside planted with flowers. Who wouldn't relish a walk down or even up these steps! The surrounding beauty would make you forget the effort of climbing the steps. :-)
Isn't this breathtaking? It's been beautifully designed to guide you down the hillside, with little destination points along the way. The flowers planted between the steps add to the magic of this delightful space.
| If you're concerned about the maintenance involved on a hillside where flowers are planted along the sides of a path or set of stairs, consider a rock garden. It will accomplish the task of preventing soil erosion while keeping maintenance to a minimum. |
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| When landscaping a sloped area, consider adding a special feature like a lantern. In the evenings, it will do double duty as it creates a lovely ambiance while lighting the pathway for safety. |
Make the entrance to your landscaped path or hillside stairs feel extra special with a rose-covered arbor.
Be creative when landscaping a hillside. It's much more interesting to have several sets of steps with a landing in between than one long stairway...safer, too.
You can vary the material of which your steps are made, matching the color to the area surrounding them. Here, the landscaper chose a darker color for the area surround by earth and a completely different look for the lower area surrounded by stone.
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| This is a different take on landscaping a hillside. Instead of the typical set of steps, the steps flare out into a landing with steps leading off in either direction. |
If your area is sloped just ever so gently, consider a beautifully landscaped path instead of steps. This would be much easier to navigate than lots and lots of short steps. What a fabulous design...very unique.
You could even create a boardwalk to navigate your hillside. Just make sure to use a pressure treated wood or something insect and rot resistant.
I love to see hillside steps designed with natural materials like rock or stone. They fit so beautifully into the garden, as if they have always been there. Tuck a few flowers into the little nooks and crannies created by the natural rock steps. They will slow you down and remind you to enjoy the journey. The destination will take care of itself.
Comments
Rough Linen I once made rough steps with rebar and railway ties, filled with earth and planted with robust alchemilla, anemones and hellebore, and it became a favourite spot (instead of a mudslide). And, um...cost-effective. I miss that garden!
3 years ago · Like
Between Naps on the Porch Tricia...great idea! I will keep that in mind...have to do something with my area soon!
3 years ago · Like
xinex Susan, the subject matter drew me here because my whole yard is a slope since we live on top of a hill. We have solved some of the problems by adding railroad ties, stepping stones, etc and planting continuously since there is never enough, the yard eats it all up whenever I shop for plants. I am attaching a few pics here. I wish I could duplicate the pic with steps going down with a sitting place on a circlular plateau. I love it!....Christine 
3 years ago · Like
Pinky S. Our side yards are very sloping and on one side we created steps, a laning and more steps and planted on both sides. The othere side of the house had a "perennial garden with a path and some steps but it all died out:(:( Not enough sun.... so now we have to redo that, hopefully THIS YEAR!!!!
3 years ago · Like
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Between Naps on the Porch Christine...love what you've done with your yard! I do see some very sloped areas...not easy to landscape those, but you've done a great job. Thanks for sharing these pics!
3 years ago · Like
Landscapers Las Vegas Thanks for posting this. i really had good time reading this Landscapers Las Vegas
3 years ago · Like
Between Naps on the Porch Thanks for visiting and commenting, Landscaperslasvegas!
3 years ago · Like
Ideabook updated on June 10, 2010.
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