Creating an inviting yard makes a home more enjoyable for you. It also adds curb appeal and increases the value of your property if you ever decide to sell. Landscaping can range from minimalistic to a highly structured and designed layout.
Landscape design is a challenge to get right, but the task really becomes difficult if your yard is uneven or features steep hills and slopes. How can you overcome this predicament?
We offer 10 fantastic sloped backyard landscaping ideas that will make your property the envy of the neighborhood.
1. Sloped Backyard Landscaping Ideas Start with Tiers
One of the easiest fixes for a sloped backyard is creating tiers. You can build as many as you want, depending on the size of your yard. Tiers look cool and they also help prevent soil erosion.
Each layer can have its own garden or theme. You can add different types and sizes of plants, from green ferns to flowering bushes that provide bursts of color.
Then tie all of the tiers together by adding paths made of brick or stone pavers.
2. Stairway Through the Garden
One of the most popular sloped backyard trends includes adding stairs that cut through the yard. Traditional stairs are made of wood or concrete. If you want a more natural vibe, try using stone slabs to create a stepped pathway.
There’s no need to have a straight path, either. Let the stairs meander a bit to create shape and draw the eyes (and feet) where you want them to go.
Then line the stairs with greenery, hedges, and flowering plants. Depending on your personal taste and the style of your home, the choice of plants can be very structured or more natural and wild looking.
3. Waterfall Your Way to Tranquility
One advantage of a sloped yard is that it’s easier to add a waterfall feature. You can have a meandering brook or a lush, tropical island feel. This feature is not only nice to look at, but the sound is so soothing after a long day.
A backyard waterfall requires two big design elements. First is the cascade structure that the water will follow. The second element is the pool at the bottom where the water collects.
You’ll need plenty of rocks for the “falls”. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, try pre-cast concrete that is designed to mimic the look of stone. They’re a little easier to stack and install.
You’ll also need a flexible liner for the falls, a rigid pond liner for the pool, a pump, and tubing or hoses.
4. Get Decked Out
A wooden deck can be built over a downward slope. It’s a great way to add a level space to a steeply pitched yard that would otherwise be unusable. It will give your home the illusion of added square footage, too.
A deck will also become an ideal spot to entertain guests. Add tables and chairs, a wet bar, or a grill, and you have a new party central.
5. Shore Up Your Borders
Some plants will grow fine on a slope, so all you need to do is add architectural elements. To give the illusion of flow and cohesion, add garden beds with retaining walls that rise up from the path.
The walls can be made of stone, cement, wood, fencing, brick, pavers, or whatever suits your taste and home style.
6. Put Some Life In a Wall
If your front or backyard slopes upward you have the opportunity to create a breathtaking natural wall that will leave everyone in awe. A living wall is not made from stone or bricks, but out of plants.
You can add potted trees along the pathway and train climbing plants or ivy to go up the wall.
7. Create Separate “Living” Areas
One creative way to make use of a tiered yard is to create different spaces or zones. The zone closest to the house can be for outdoor entertaining, with table and chairs for eating. Put in a grill if you like to barbecue.
Another zone can become a secret reading nook with comfy chairs and a flowering pagoda or tent to provide shade. Still another tier can have a fire pit with lounge cozy lawn chairs.
8. Add a Retaining Wall
If you don’t want to give up your whole yard to gardens, a retaining wall is a smart way to go. Place the wall near the bottom of the downward slope. You’ll have to cut away a portion of the hill and then you can install the retaining wall to hold in the soil and prevent erosion.
To add to the structure of your retaining wall, ensure you’re utilizing 50mpa concrete sleepers or other types of concrete sleepers to help keep everything together and withstand years of pressure from the land it’s keeping in.
Put a garden behind the wall, with greenery, flowers, and trees or shrubs. The portion beyond the wall (on the level part) can then be reclaimed as play space for the kids or for entertaining.
9. Rock the Garden
Not all plants like living on a slope. Soil erosion and poor drainage can be problematic, too. One way to get around this problem is by creating a rock or stone garden. Arrange rocks of different sizes and shapes all along the slope.
You can add plants that naturally grow on or around rocks, such as stonecrop, ornamental grasses, and creeping vines or clovers. The effect is not only eye-catching, but the rocks help keep the soil in place to prevent erosion.
You can really customize and make this rock garden your own by incorporating different styles, designs, and rocks, like a more southern Florida decorative rock with light colors that pair well with a darker wood, or a more beachy, mixed-color stone choice out of New England that matches the more cape-style homes you might see on the coast.
You can really have fun with this idea and make it personal! The world is your oyster!”
10. Add or Expand Your Patio
A patio is another way to add square footage to your home. You can either have an open space or an enclosed patio with a roof or some other type of covering to protect from the elements. If you have space, you may even be able to put in a pool, which your family will love.
There are many different patio ideas so do a little research to see what you like.
Create the Yard of Your Dreams (Even If It’s Sloped)
A lawn with a steep pitch or drop doesn’t have to mean you must forgo a beautiful yard. There are plenty of sloped backyard landscaping ideas that will make creative use of the land and its unique features.
If you are looking to buy or rent a home or condo, or you need ideas about landscaping, home design, or renovations, explore our site for useful information.
