Landscape Design
Bring New Levels of Interest to Your Flat Landscape
Sunken patios, mounded plantings and raised beds are a few of the elements that can add variety to your yard
Changes in level create a garden that’s visually interesting. New housing, however, is often built on flat lots, and this, combined with fenced boundaries, makes it quite challenging to change levels in any significant way.
However, even on a very flat site, it’s possible, with some tips and tricks, to create subtle but interesting level changes and to introduce features that can make all the difference to the look and feel of your garden.
However, even on a very flat site, it’s possible, with some tips and tricks, to create subtle but interesting level changes and to introduce features that can make all the difference to the look and feel of your garden.
Maximize curves. By contouring and mounding up the earth so that the ground rises gently, you can create height. Then plant grasses and perennials that not only add to the height, but also emphasize the contours.
You could further play with heights by planting low perennials to the front and grading gradually to taller plants toward the back.
You could further play with heights by planting low perennials to the front and grading gradually to taller plants toward the back.
Try raised beds. Well-designed raised beds offer the illusion of a garden on different levels. Once built, the areas beside them can also be raised or lowered to create a visually interesting space. Decking is particularly versatile in this regard since the nature of its construction on a base frame allows for stepping up or down.
Trick the eye. By digging down to construct this stream and then bridging across it, the designer created a garden on different levels. The tall plantings on both sides of the stream also enhance the feeling of depth.
Add reflection. Water can work in several ways to create interest and a sense of varied levels in a garden. Pools of still water have infinite depth, reflecting the sky and the surrounding trees.
If possible, create small slopes down to the pool, which will emphasize and add to this effect. Looking down into the water in this garden, the view goes on forever.
If possible, create small slopes down to the pool, which will emphasize and add to this effect. Looking down into the water in this garden, the view goes on forever.
Think big. This sweet house nestles in what is essentially an extremely large raised bed, built of stone. Because of the scale of the raised area, viewed from the house, the garden will look as if it’s on two levels. The bed also gives enclosure and privacy to a space that would otherwise be quite open.
Rock it. Well-placed boulders can visually lift your garden. Rocks placed at ascending heights, coupled with carefully arranged trees and plantings, give the impression of rising ground and can add a lot of depth.
Here, broad steps positioned as a man-made element within the rocks add to the effect, so the overall look is anything but flat.
Here, broad steps positioned as a man-made element within the rocks add to the effect, so the overall look is anything but flat.
Sculpt the earth. Though not the first thing that springs to mind, the earth beneath our feet has the potential for subtle or spectacular sculpting, from simple berms to tall mounts from which to view the garden.
A creative approach to the ground plane can add some fun and an original look to a flat area, as seen at the back of this garden, where the ground undulates between trees.
A creative approach to the ground plane can add some fun and an original look to a flat area, as seen at the back of this garden, where the ground undulates between trees.
Sit proud. It’s relatively easy to raise a circular seating area above the garden because of its geometry and lack of connection to other elements in the space. Once the planting here grows up and softens the edges, this will be a raised oasis from which to view the garden.
This works well on a small scale, but it could look good on a grander scale too.
This works well on a small scale, but it could look good on a grander scale too.
Protect what lies beneath. Soil isn’t dead; instead, it’s a living, breathing ecosystem with a complex structure. When changing levels, carry out the work in dry weather and try to keep traffic over the soil to a minimum.
Remove the surface layer — the topsoil — and store it carefully, then reshape the subsoil. Once the desired levels are achieved and any compaction remedied, replace the topsoil.
Also avoid tree roots, which are vital to a tree’s survival. Don’t damage or remove roots and don’t change the level of the soil around a tree, as this could kill it.
Your turn: How have you incorporated different levels into your garden? Share your tips and pictures in the Comments below.
More
How to Build a Raised Bed for Your Veggies and Plants
Garden Steps Can Take Your Landscape to a New Place
Remove the surface layer — the topsoil — and store it carefully, then reshape the subsoil. Once the desired levels are achieved and any compaction remedied, replace the topsoil.
Also avoid tree roots, which are vital to a tree’s survival. Don’t damage or remove roots and don’t change the level of the soil around a tree, as this could kill it.
Your turn: How have you incorporated different levels into your garden? Share your tips and pictures in the Comments below.
More
How to Build a Raised Bed for Your Veggies and Plants
Garden Steps Can Take Your Landscape to a New Place
If you’re building a lower level in the garden, though, it’s important to consider how it will drain, or you may end up with a pool rather than a sunken terrace!