Ideas for arranging a site with a slope. How to plant a flower garden on a slope: arranging a sloping flower meadow Layout of a site in a cascade

In such an area, contrary to popular belief, you can create incredible compositions. For example, by combining lowlands and hills with the help of beautiful terraces and a stone fence, you can recreate a beautiful castle. The recreation area created in this way, protected from the wind on all sides, will become a pleasant place for spending wonderful evenings with friends.

Possibilities uneven area :

Original elements. Here you can create unusual terraces and stairs that will attract attention with their originality.
Great prospect. The presence of an uneven area does not indicate the impossibility of creation - quite the opposite. Planting trees of different heights, shrubs and flowers that combine with each other, wisely used lighting - all this will allow you to create a harmonious ensemble. The most important thing is to correctly highlight and emphasize all the design elements used.
Thoughtful solutions. It is much easier to make such a site more comfortable with proper placement of all utilities and buildings - drainage of water from important structures, protection from wind and rain, and much more.

Landscape design on a slope and its key elements

To landscape design relief area was designed correctly, do not forget about its main elements. These are the ones that should be taken into account when developing a drawing.

Key elements:

Retaining walls are considered the most important element in the case of planning a site that has slopes and ravines. In addition to their practical function, they also allow you to add incredible charm to your garden. When planning landscape design on a slope, think in advance about what materials you will use and whether you will use climbing plants as additional decoration. Don't forget about garden paths, which should also look harmonious near the retaining walls.

Advice: if their height exceeds half a meter, retaining walls are best made of stone, concrete or brick.

. Thanks to this design element, the site will become more attractive for recreation. That is why, before planting, the soil should be prepared and the surface for planting should be leveled as much as possible.
Terracing is the formation of terraces (ledges) reinforced with retaining walls. They are used to design slopes, ponds, slopes and ravines; in addition, it is the terraces that help to zone the area, which is very important for further work in the garden. With their help, the landscape design of a sloping area becomes not only more attractive, but also more functional. Before starting work, assess the size of the territory, because the size and number of terraces will depend on this. On average, for small area a maximum of four terraces no more than five meters wide is enough. At the same time, you can decorate each of the terraces uniquely, using lighting or climbing types of plants.
Patio. Set aside the highest part of the site for a comfortable patio. From here you usually have a magnificent view of the site and the surrounding area. Choose your furniture and other elements carefully to ensure they match the style of your garden. Think about the practical aspects of the issue when selecting: how will your site be protected, will you have a lot of time for delicate things, where will you store it in the winter?

Uneven area - landscape design and its elements

To get a complete picture when developing landscape design, you should know several important rules for planting plants and their selection. So, if your house is located at the top of a slope, then you need to plant tall trees and shrubs. These include oak, poplar, thuja, spruce, linden, lilac, barberry and forsythia. The compositions made from them can even be asymmetrical, the main thing is that they do not cover the residential building. Going lower down the slope, pay attention to, create rockeries and flower beds.

Low-growing types of plants must be planted in low areas. Juniper, boxwood and mahonia look great. In early spring you can plant crocuses, hazel grouse, and hyacinths. In mid-summer you will be pleased with marigolds, decorative onions, rudbeckias, and the “queen of autumn” can be called the chrysanthemum. Undoubtedly, an important component of any design is the garden path. By laying it in the form of a serpentine, you will be able to emphasize the steepness of the slope. Registration can be done using stone slabs, wooden elements, brick and breccia. You can decorate and complement the path with the help of rockeries, for which it is better to choose sedum, saxifrage, juniper and young. If the house is located in a low area, then all design elements are placed differently.

Many owners of a plot on a slope do not understand their happiness. They only complain about the hassle associated with non-standard landscaping, not realizing that they have received a unique example of nature's mastery, which can be turned into something even more special.

The landscape design of a site on a slope looks unique, often fabulous. Winding paths, stone terraces, elevation changes - all this only decorates the uneven area

A plot on a slope requires some effort and expense, which also scares away unlucky amateurs who do not want to transform their summer cottage. This article will help give an idea of the methods and techniques landscape works in a similar area.

You can make fortifications with your own hands, but this requires a detailed study of the area.

The main technique in the design of a sloping area is terraces, which help to visually smooth out height differences and add sophistication to the overall appearance of the landscape.

Questions of primary importance:

What is the slope of the slope?
How close is the groundwater?
What are the features of the soil?
If there is a body of water nearby, is there a likely risk of the area being washed away?
What is the soil pressure on the slope?
What material for strengthening fits better Total?
Which areas are most in need of strengthening?

You can answer all these questions yourself, and also take the help of an expert who will conduct a professional analysis of the area and give recommendations.

As a result, on a problem area with a slope, you can organize a very impressive design, which cannot be achieved on land with a horizontal surface

Fortifications and decorations

So, if you have prepared well enough, then you need to choose best option strengthening a site on a slope.

To strengthen the soil, you can plant plants that have a fairly strong root system. This method ideal for slight slopes. For this purpose, special molds are purchased in which the plants are planted; the root system will intertwine with the forms of attachment and create a strong soil, preventing the danger of landslides or collapses. Plants with a strong root system are: juniper, Chinese blackberry, hawthorn, and lilac.
Natural strengthening of the slope is carried out by planting shrubs with powerful root systems
The construction of a fence is becoming an acceptable way to strengthen the soil, since it ensures a long service life, does not interfere with the prosperity of plants, and does not require careful maintenance. Materials from which fences are usually built on a slope: sandstone, concrete slabs, limestone, brick. When erecting a fence, it is important to take into account some nuances. You must be sure of the strength of the base, the height of the fence must be at least one meter, and the thickness must be 1/3 of the fence. It is important to eliminate the slightest possibility of washout by adding cascade design. Since the site is on a slope, it is necessary to provide the same slope for the fence.
A fence on a slope can be made in the form of gradually decreasing horizontal steps or in the form of inclined sections
Stones and logs will become the personification of simplicity and quality. Having previously examined the surface of the site, they dig into the ground to a sufficient depth. Classic drainage can ensure the aesthetics of the site.
Low retaining walls are laid out without a foundation
Geotextile products in rolls, which include polyester and polypropylene, can be a good choice. This option protects against water inflows, freezing, and accidental damage. One of the advantages is plasticity, which makes geotextile rolls easy to use.
Geotextiles allow water to pass through in a measured volume and hold various bulk materials on its surface.
Geomat materials form polypropylene grids, providing complete waterproofness. The grilles do not contain toxic substances, are resistant to damage from sunlight, are naturally aesthetic, resistant to heat, and do not require special skills for installation.
Slope strengthening summer cottage geogrid

The choice of material, in most cases, depends on the slope angle and soil analysis of the area on the slope. This issue needs to be considered with the utmost pedantry.

Never plant tall trees on a steep slope; strong winds can tear them out by the roots.

Floating Gardens and Nature Views

Landscape design of a site on a slope allows you to realize a lot of design solutions. Some costs will be required to create the aesthetic component of the site on a slope. The choice of design is made depending on the location of buildings, seating areas, terraces, stairs and even cardinal directions.

The construction of terraces creates a picturesque and bright picture on the summer cottage. Experts advise abandoning symmetry by arranging terraces randomly. Lack of consistency gives natural look landscape, completely likening it to a natural creation.

A site on a slope with a beautiful panoramic view will be ideal place for relax

A waterfall will decorate the slope of a garden plot, and if well decorated with stones and plants, it will create the impression of a natural source

The terrace can be placed on any soil. For the wet surface of the site, a drainage embankment made of crushed stone is used; it will add stability to the structure. The arrangement of the terraces is complemented by cut parts of the pipes, which will ensure the release of groundwater to the surface, preventing its accumulation under the structure.

The construction of terraces always implies the presence of paths and paths. In some places there are steps. Various materials are ordered for retaining walls of terraces:

brick;
tree;
concrete;
cement.

A small slope can be strengthened with wooden supports

Significant elevation changes will require concrete work

Materials for retaining walls can be combined

When designing a summer cottage, you can free up all the accumulated ideas. Create a unique image of the site using asymmetrical lines. Flowerbeds bordered by elements of unusual relief will be evidence of refined taste.

One step, two steps

It is impossible to imagine a summer cottage without the main attribute - steps. The main staircase can be part of a terrace or located somewhere on a slope. The steps must be of a certain width so that the leg muscles do not strain unnecessarily, and also fit into the general style of the summer cottage on a slope.

On steep slopes, stairs are equipped with railings

All kinds of paths are created from serpentine, and for movements that are too long, transitions are provided on which benches are installed. You can decorate rest areas from transitions with busts, statues, fountains or small ponds with exotic fish.

A straight path will smooth out sudden changes in terrain

Stairs are usually made from materials such as:

concrete;
brick;
stone;
tree.

The staircase can be stone, brick or wood

When creating a landscape design on a slope, it is recommended to choose the same, preferably light, material from which the terraces on the land were made. The aesthetics of the paths is maintained with the help of large decorative elements, as florists note, this gives more contrast with the green flora of the area.

Rules for landscaping a summer cottage on a slope

A harmonious combination of flower pots and shrubs develops into an amazing and unique corner where you can spend a pleasant time contemplating the beauty of plants. It is recommended to install a bench in such a place to achieve maximum comfort.

Thyme, sedum, soapwort and phlox grow well between the stones

Coniferous plants are ideal for the northern slope

Rockeries and flower beds will do well on the southern slope

The western side is suitable for flowers and shrubs that love mild conditions growth

Decorative arches and grasses, complementing each other, develop into a single landscape image on the slope, so you need to have a sophisticated sense of what is best suited for this area terrain. Among the plants that are most often recommended:

thyme;
cotoneaster;
bells;
feather grass;
geranium;
phlox;
roses;
rose hip.

The deep green or myrtle color of cotoneaster turns to a rich blue in low night light, while the cobalt blue color of phlox behaves like a false green. The red, full-blooded color of roses is filled with life only in sunlight, but dies, turning into dark scarlet in the moonlight. Conversely, the pale green color of thyme is driven out of the slight blueness during daylight hours, leaving only a cloudy aftertaste.

Select unpretentious ground cover plants that strengthen the soil and give aesthetic pleasure

Arranging a garden requires painstaking work with shades. Depending on your temperament, personal preferences and lighting, the desired combination of colors is selected. Choose a dominant color, and then decide on auxiliary shades.

Landing annual plants implies preliminary preparation soil. Great physical effort will be required.

For lovers natural style“wild” slope design is suitable

Southern slopes are chosen for planting garden plants because they have more sunlight, which warms the soil faster, increasing the yield. In the upper part of the plot, grapes, apple trees, apricot and peach trees. For plants that are afraid of the cold, the lower part of the site is best suited.

Beds of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and onions feel comfortable in areas with a slope. However, you should worry about possible drafts. A fairly high fence can protect the garden from strong winds.

Neat box-beds on the slope of the garden plot

More a budget option beds, moreover, suitable for steep slopes

Video: garden on a slope

Photo: the best ideas for using a slope in design

If you are the owner of a summer cottage on a slope, you can be sure - with a skillful approach to business and compassionate care your garden will differ most favorably from areas that are located in ordinary low-lying areas. The most important thing that you have to take care of when arranging a site on a slope is the construction of special terraces at height differences and the strengthening of plumbs with plants with a rapidly developing root system, which will help keep the soil from landslides.

Landscape compositions integrated into the existing complex terrain always produce unforgettable impression due to its versatility and unique character. A garden with height differences will always be unique.

On this page you will learn how to design a site on a slope to create a unique landscape look.

If your garden plot located on a slope, it will have to be formed with terraces and reinforced with retaining walls. If the terraces slope south, then all ornamental and fruit crops, including heat-loving ones, such as grapes, will grow well near the retaining walls.

When landscaping a site on a slope, keep in mind that in front of the bushes, along the edge of the terraces, there is an excellent place for planting vegetable plants, strawberries and flower beds. On the lowest terrace should be placed fruit trees. But if the terrace slopes to the north, then the choice of fruit and berry crops grown on it will have to be significantly limited winter-hardy varieties and views. And no grapes!

The landscape design of a summer cottage on a slope compares favorably with low-lying areas– such an area is perfect for creating a landscape garden consisting of a cascade of retaining walls, steps, winding paths, and secluded areas. Total romance! A site on a slope is good for young owners, but difficult for older people. Keep this in mind when you buy such a plot. Estimate how many years you have left between your current age and your old age.

As shown in the photo, when landscaping a site on a slope, the very first task, even before any buildings and plantings, is technical work to strengthen the plumb line:

If you do not strengthen the slope, then there will always be a threat not just of stones and soil falling onto the paths, but also of landslides, which can cause significant trouble, including the destruction of buildings. This is due to the fact that water flowing down the slope during snow melting or during heavy rain erodes the soil with furrows of varying depths, washes away the soil under buildings and plantings, and washes away the top fertile layer of soil. The steeper the slope, the stronger and faster it collapses. First of all, you need to direct the flow of water flowing down the slope not in the way that is convenient for it, but in the way that you need it. To do this, you should make a drainage system either by laying concrete gutters on top, or by digging under the soil layer drainage pipes and thus divert the water into a reservoir (or a ditch at the foot of the slope).

If the differences are more or less gentle, then to design a site on a slope and consolidate the soil, you just need to plant plants that quickly develop a root system, which will keep the soil from landslides.

Pay attention to the photo - you can sod the area on the slope with clover (preferably white, you don’t have to mow it), fescue or bluegrass:

But the grasses will have to be mowed before they sprout, because their many-thousand and also small and light seeds will scatter throughout your garden and germinate wherever they manage to land. Essentially, by sodding you create an artificial meadow on a slope. If you plant small-bulbed plants and botanical tulips in such a meadow, then in the spring these flowers will unusually decorate it. Since these are perennials, they can be dug up and replanted after 6–8 years.

The landscape design of a site on a slope involves planting other (in particular, coniferous) plants that can hold the soil on the slope; these are mainly creeping forms. But if you need a garden or vegetable garden, then first you need to cover the slope with black spunbond, which is easily strengthened on the slope slate nails. Garden shrubs, large-fruited garden strawberries(commonly called strawberries) or garden crops. Gradually, the plant roots will become well established in the soil, and the material will break down over the years. Black covering material in the first years (by the way, black spunbond, which is not removed from the soil, can last up to 7-8 years) will prevent the growth of weeds and retain moisture and heat.

These photos show the beautiful design of the site on a gentle slope:

Landscaping of a site on a steep slope (with photo)

If the site is located on a steep slope, then you cannot do without retaining walls or special geogrids. We must also keep in mind that the steeper the slope, the faster the water drains from it, and therefore drought-resistant plants should be planted at the top of the slope, and naturally more moisture-loving plants should be planted at the foot of the garden on the slope.

It will not be possible to create a traditional lawn on a steep slope (and not only on a sunny one). It should be replaced with thickets of herbs (hyssop, sage, wormwood, thyme, savory), cloves, chistets, jasper, and aubrieta are also suitable.

As you can see in the photo, the landscape design of a site on a slope involves planting plants such as jasmine, saxifrage and sedum:

If you need a vegetable garden or flower garden, as well as berries and ornamental shrubs, then on a steep slope you will have to make flat terraces reinforced with stone masonry. In the design of a site with a slope, the terraces should be connected to each other by steps - you should not make gentle paths from terrace to terrace, since in rainy weather or when there is ice, walking along such paths will become difficult.

It is on such terraces that you will have to place your garden and vegetable garden, providing an automated watering system. The easiest way is to install several plastic water barrels at the top, from the bottom of which water will flow through hoses with small holes. The hoses should be placed along the plantings, lightly digging them in. Water will have to be pumped into the barrels from time to time through other hoses using a pump. You can add mineral and organic fertilizer. Then the power problem will be solved. Barrels on landscape area with a slope, you can either paint it funny or decorate it with plantings so as not to spoil the landscape.

To construct retaining walls, you can use gabions - strong metal outer frames to which a small metal grid, filled with large pebbles, crushed stone and stones, which provides good drainage, and the frame itself prevents stones and pebbles from spreading. Complex slopes are usually strengthened in this way. It is these gabions that often hold road slopes.

It should be noted that a retaining wall in the landscape design of a site with a slope- this is a structure that will require certain engineering calculations and situation analysis during construction. In a number of areas where soils are mobile, incorrect calculations can lead to the destruction of terraces over time. Don’t save money, invite surveyors and specialists who know how to build terraces correctly. With the help of hydraulic engineers, you can immediately include water structures in the project: waterfalls, cascades, streams. Sites on a slope are usually not popular with amateur gardeners, since they require a lot of labor and money to develop. And life in such an area, with constant walking up and down, is more reminiscent of a sport than a country holiday. But if you still decide to plant a garden on a slope, you will get a garden that is unique and unique of its kind.

Look at the photo to see what summer cottages on steep slopes look like, decorated with retaining walls:

Decorating the slope on the site with plants

When you draw up a planting plan for the floral design of a summer cottage on a slope, Special attention Pay attention to analyzing the illumination of your plumb line. Naturally, on the southern slope it will be warmer and lighter, but much drier. Any herbaceous perennial flowers and herbs that thrive in partial shade (periwinkle, geranium, tenacious, loosestrife, heuchera, St. John's wort, lungwort, bergenia) will grow well under the trees planted on the southern terrace. An option for landscaping a summer cottage on a slope is to plant ferns, baths, lilies of the valley and peonies on the southern terrace. If planted coniferous trees, then rhododendrons feel especially good next to them. But we must remember that, although they cannot tolerate stagnant water (which does not threaten them on a slope), they are very moisture-loving. At least 12–15 liters of water should be poured under each adult flowering plant every other day in hot weather, and weekly in cloudy weather. Remember that even in rainy weather, water leaves the slope very quickly.

Roses, species and varieties of junipers will feel great on the southern plumb.

Pay attention to the photo - in an area with a slope you can plant ground cover vines, in particular clematis, climbing (petiolate) hydrangea, girl's grapes(the last two plants, by the way, can be planted not only on a sunny, but also on a northern slope):

Cotoneaster and barberries grow well among the shrubs on the slopes.

On the northern slope, almost all conifers feel great (junipers - Virginian, Cossack, prostrate, thuja occidentalis, microbiota). The low-growing and creeping forms of coniferous plants look impressive among their relatives with a columnar crown.

When designing a summer cottage on a slope with your own hands, when creating a retaining wall you should immediately leave pockets in the masonry - empty spaces, which are then filled with fertile soil for planting plants in them. In addition, a small layer of soil is also left between the layers of stones or bricks (this is not suitable for a steep slope, because during the spring flood such a layer will simply be washed away if hydraulic engineering work has not been carried out). Relatively drought-resistant plants with a shallow root system are planted in these pockets (as well as in the layers between the rows of masonry). These plantings will also strengthen the slope.

On the higher part of the retaining wall, it is necessary to plant the most drought-resistant plants (for example, chickweed, woolly hawkweed, interspersing these silvery plants with plantings of dark red tenacious). Unpretentious and drought-tolerant grass carnation is also suitable.

As shown in the photo, the design of a summer cottage on a slope involves planting awl-shaped phlox of different colors in the spaces between the rows of masonry:

But please note that after the lush spring flowering, in the middle of summer, it takes on a very unsightly appearance, so you need to sow annual seeds directly into its plantings in the spring, which will cover its withered greenery. Towards the end of summer, when the annuals begin to fade and can simply be removed, the phlox will again be covered with thick and bright greenery, although, of course, it will no longer bloom.

In the upper part of the wall for designing a site on a slope with your own hands, you can place plants that require good drainage: juniper-leaved armeria, periwinkle, liverwort (gentian), rhizome (alpine arabis), viola, pinnate carnation and many other plants.

In the lower pockets of the landscape of the site on the slope, you can plant more moisture-loving plants, for example, bergenia thick-leaved, saxifrage, toadflax, bells, dwarf ferns, which are also all shade-tolerant.

Pockets of perennials should be interspersed with annuals, sowing their seeds directly into place in early spring. Ageratum, iberis (the seeds of which can also be sown before winter), alyssum, low-growing marigolds, kermek (limonium) are suitable only for a well-lit wall, since they are very light-loving, as well as Carpathian bell, lobelia, Drummond phlox.

These photos show a beautiful design of a site on a slope, made by yourself:

Larger pockets can be provided for planting coniferous plants: mountain pine, microbiota (don’t let them grow too much), Cossack juniper, pea cypress, as well as creeping conifers or forming small bushes (for example, some varieties of horizontal juniper, recumbent juniper, dwarf cedar , juniper scaly).

When designing a slope on a site, you can grow shrubs on retaining walls: Thunberg barberry with bright red foliage, Japanese quince, horizontal cotoneaster, heather, dwarf species of rhododendrons (on shaded slopes), heather, Erica, and in the lower part of the retaining wall - holly mahonia (so that it is covered with snow). The rocky wall, completely overgrown with juveniles, looks very beautiful. To prevent it from looking monotonous, you should intersperse red or yellow varieties among the green plants.

In these photos of landscape design summer cottages The most beautiful options for arranging a plumb line are presented on the slope:

What to plant on a slope: garden design

Anyone who is developing an area with a difference in elevation is interested in what to plant on the slope of the site. There are a great many options here.

A beautiful composition for landscape design of a site on a slope with your own hands, made up of plants that will help strengthen the plumb line:

Rock juniper (Juniperus scopulorum ‘Blue Arrow’) - at 10 years of age the plant reaches 2–2.5 m in height and 0.5–0.7 m in diameter. The needles are bright blue, soft, scaly. The location is sunny. Does not tolerate stagnant waterlogging. It has high phytoncidity.

Wrinkled rose (Rosa Rugosa Scabrosa) - bush height - 1.5–2 m; flowers are large, fragrant, flat, fuchsia-pink in color with yellow stamens; The fruits are large, round, red. Blooms from spring to mid-autumn. This plant is ideal for garden design on a slope, as it perfectly secures plumb lines.

Silver oleaster (Elaeagnus commutata) is a small tree or shrub from the Elaeagnus family with a wide-spreading crown, 1–4 m high. The leaves are usually bright green with a silvery-metallic sheen characteristic only of oleaster. reverse side. It is best to plant sucker on elevated slopes facing south; it is light-loving, drought-resistant, undemanding to soil, and frost-resistant. Strengthens slopes.

Cossack juniper (Juniperus sabina) - grows in the sun, easily adapts; very resistant to high temperatures, winter-hardy and wind-resistant, holds the slope perfectly.

Cinquefoil (Potentilla fnuticosa) thrives in both full sun and partial shade. Potentilla blooms profusely and for a long time - for 3–5 months. Does not require ideal soils or planting sites. When laying out a garden on a slope with your own hands, keep in mind that drained fertile soil is optimal for shrubby cinquefoil, but it can also grow on clayey, rocky or slightly alkaline soils.

Hybrid sunflower (Helianthemum x hybridum ‘Attraction’) - light orange flowers with a dark center. Variety ‘Butter and Eggs’ - double orange with a salmon tint. Blooms in June.

Japanese spirea (Spiraea japonica).

Steller's wormwood (Artemisia stelleriana) - good for planting on rocky hills and retaining walls, excellent ground cover plant for gravel garden, rocky slopes. Perennial with more or less prostrate shoots, 20–30 cm long, with beautiful, split silver-gray leaves. Winter-hardy.

Olympic St. John's wort (Hypericum olimpicum) is a subshrub 15–35 cm high. Root system strong but shallow. The leaves are linear-elliptical, glaucous. The flowers are large (up to 5 cm in diameter), yellow, collected in apical semi-umbrellas. Blooms in July-August. It is undemanding to soil, but prefers loam. Requires a sunny location, does not bloom in shaded and cold places. Drought-resistant, does not tolerate waterlogging. Winter-hardy with good drainage.

Pinnate carnation (Dianthus plumarius ‘Maggie’) - height 25–30 cm, forms a dense bluish, very decorative pillow from narrow leaves, as if covered with a waxy coating. It blooms with large fragrant flowers, bright pink, double, with a burgundy eye. It is winter-hardy without shelter, but can get wet in winter and spring, so good drainage is required. Requires division every 3–5 years. It blooms from late May to early June for about a month. A sunny place does not tolerate stagnant water, so the planting site should be chosen on a hill. The plant is not very demanding on soil; it only does not tolerate acidic peat bogs.

Thunberg barberry (Berberis thunbergii ‘Green Carpet’) - height 80–100 cm, wide crown, bright red foliage in autumn.

And in conclusion, enjoy the beautiful views in another selection of photos, which shows the best design of a site with a slope:

Do not be upset, you are faced with opportunities that are not available to owners of ordinary plots. Your imagination and our advice will help you create an original and original example landscape design.

Positive and negative aspects of a site on a slope

To begin with, I would like to list all the advantages of the sloping location of the land:

competently and beautifully designed, such a territory can become an extraordinary and picturesque example of landscape art;

the plot on the slope is perfectly visible in its entirety, so from the windows of the house you can contemplate all the design elements in the garden;

such land is a great place to create an alpine slide, waterfall or cascade;

if the dacha is located on the south side of the hill, its territory will be illuminated by the sun as much as possible, and this is an excellent prerequisite for good growth green spaces and high crop yields.

However, in addition to the advantages, a cottage on a slope also has disadvantages:

on land with a fairly steep slope it is problematic to plant a lawn;

registration of such a site will require significantly higher costs than in the case of a flat location of the territory;

planted crops will need frequent watering, since water in the soil will not stay long, flowing down the hill;

plants on the northern slope can receive an insufficient amount heat and light, which will cause poor flowering and low yields;

the foundation of a house located in the middle or at the bottom of a hillock runs the risk of being flooded with water;

unstable areas of soil can lead to erosion and landslides;

daily movement on the slope is physically tiring;

Small children should not play on steep hills, so care must be taken to ensure their safety.

Features of designing sloping land plots

Dachas located on a slope are different from each other. All of them are distinguished by different elevation changes, which makes their landscape unique and original. In this regard, the design of each such site has its own planning solutions and decorative elements. There are certain features in the design of sloping lands:

It is considered optimal if the building on such a dacha is located on top of a hill. This arrangement greatly simplifies working with the terrain.
The layout of a site on a slope must necessarily take into account the characteristics of the soil and technical features water supply You also need to take into account the location of the slope relative to the cardinal directions and the wind rose.
First of all, you need to plan the location of utility structures and recreation areas, and only after that decide on the position of all other structures: terraces, stairs, retaining walls and other elements.
All measurements and calculations must be carried out with special attention and care - this will avoid unnecessary financial costs.
While studying landscape design on a slope, you should be careful with the lower layers of soil. They should not be moved or interchanged as this may lead to soil erosion, which in turn will create a hazard for garden buildings.

Plot on a slope, landscape design

The significant slope of the dacha area creates the preconditions for the designer’s flight of fancy. The height difference can be beautifully played up when designing a site, which will subsequently give an interesting, unusual and unique result.

Too steep a slope makes it difficult to move around the area and creates inconvenience in everyday life. In order to solve such problems and make living in the garden comfortable, terraces, retaining walls and stairs need to be built on the slope. Among other things, you should pay attention to soil moisture. In areas with a slope, the ground is usually drier and for good plant growth in such a garden it is worth paying special attention to irrigation systems. To avoid flooding of buildings with storm water, drainage must be laid on the site.

Let's take a closer look at the various landscape design activities:

Terracing the site

For landscaping with a slope of more than 15°, a technique such as terracing is perfect - creating special horizontal platforms reinforced with walls. The size of the plot and the degree of its steepness directly affect the number and height of terraces. The platforms communicate with each other using stairs that are harmonious in appearance with the retaining walls.

Creating terraces requires significant work, time and money, but the effort spent will not be in vain: over time, your dacha will become a model of beauty and comfort. Before zoning a site using terraces, it is better to consult with specialists, inviting them directly to the work site. Their advice should help you achieve these basic goals:

protecting the soil from soil erosion and creating an optimal system for removing unnecessary moisture;

ensuring convenient and safe movement of the owners of the dacha along the slope;

creation of recreation areas, gardens and vegetable gardens on the site;

construction of high-quality and reliable retaining walls;

arrangement of space for relaxation in a comfortable place.

Terracing of the site is carried out in several stages:

First, determine the degree of steepness of the slope. To do this, the height difference is divided by the horizontal base indicator.
After this, the locations of the terraces are marked on the site. The size of each site should be sufficient to accommodate a house, outbuilding, garden, flower bed or bed.
Then geoplastics is carried out - artificial creation or changes in terrain. In this case, the upper terraces are built first, gradually going down. The land cut from above is the basis for creating underlying platforms. The height of the terraces can reach 1.5 meters, but do not forget that creating high retaining walls will require considerable financial costs.

Building terraces is a creative endeavor. You can arrange them in one row, in a checkerboard pattern or asymmetrically - the choice depends on the desire of the land owner. The design of a site on a slope, the photo of which is presented below, is an example of asymmetrical terraces:

Creating retaining walls

Retaining walls are not only a way to strengthen terraces, but also a decorative element. What subtleties need to be taken into account when constructing these structures?

In order for the wall to look harmonious and fit into the overall design of the site on the slope, carefully select the materials for its creation and take into account the stylistic direction of the garden. For example, in country style Retaining walls made of beams or logs will fit perfectly. For a garden in an Art Nouveau style, a brick design with forged iron elements is suitable, and a plot with an emphasis on natural beauty It will look wonderful framed by natural stone.
Materials for creating retaining walls can be very diverse. Suitable for small structures sheet metal, wood, stone or reinforced concrete. Metal and wood must be treated with paint or varnish to protect them from moisture.
The stone wall can be laid dry or using cement mortar to secure it. In the first case, the height of the structure should not exceed 1 m; it is better to lay higher walls on the mortar.
Another material for creating retaining walls is concrete blocks. The structure made in this way must be protected from moisture in places of contact with the soil. You can also do exterior finishing walls using paint, tiling or natural stone.
So that the wall stands firmly and lasts for a long time, at the beginning of its creation, a reinforced concrete or rubble concrete foundation is laid.

Creation of a drainage system

Dacha plots with a slope are susceptible to soil washout due to spring floods or heavy rains. In order to avoid such a nuisance, drainage is laid on the territory. This is a system of pipes made of metal or asbestos cement, which are laid at the bottom of the wall. Sometimes pipes are replaced with filtration holes.

Use water from drainage system can be useful. For example, accumulate it in suitable containers and water plants or filter it for a pool, if there is one on the site.

Construction of stairs

As a rule, in areas with a large slope, terraces are connected to each other using stairs. They not only make movement around the dacha comfortable and convenient, but are also an element general design. In order for these structures to fit harmoniously into the overall picture of the garden, you need to pay special attention to their construction.

The dimensions of the steps do not necessarily have to meet accepted standards.
An affordable option could be a staircase made of wooden blocks or boards. In this case, the riser is made of a board mounted on an edge, secured on the sides with wooden pegs, and the tread is tightly compacted soil.
A more expensive, but also more beautiful option would be a staircase made of stone, brick or monolithic concrete. In the latter case, you need to additionally make wooden formwork.
If the stairs are too steep, a comfortable handrail should be installed on at least one of its sides.
If there are too many steps, it is better to divide them into flights of 8-10 pieces, between which there will be areas for rest during the ascent. For more comfort Benches can be placed between the spans.

The area on the slope, the photo of which can be seen below, shows an example of a staircase made of stone:

Creating a garden on a sloped plot

Since the sloping area provides an excellent viewing platform, a beautiful garden on it will look especially impressive. Alpine slide, various flower arrangements, artificial waterfalls and cascades - all these opportunities open up for the owner of a plot on a slope.

Often the soil of the hills contains a large number of stones and very thin layer fertile soil, but this problem is completely solvable. Stones can be used as natural material to design retaining walls, and cover the land plot itself on a slope with a layer of imported black soil.

Ideas for designing a relief area

You can grow a lawn in a relief dacha. If the slope of the terrain is too steep, this will be quite difficult to do, but on a sloping slope the grass and plants will be established quite well and will have a spectacular appearance. If the territory is designed in the form of terraces, then there will be no difficulty in growing a lawn. Stepped platforms covered with a terry green carpet will look impressive when viewed from above.
Sloping terrain is excellent soil for creating rock gardens - ornamental garden from stones. You can also place a rock garden or simply beautifully decorated flower beds here. All planted crops will grow wonderfully on a slope if horizontal holes are made under them, reinforced with sides. On the terraces, plants will feel even better, and elevation changes will provide a beautiful play of sun and colors.
An artificial pond is another trump card of a site on a slope. Waterfalls, cascades and streams will beautifully fall from the top of the hill, and a quiet, cozy lake can be located on the terrace area.
Paved platforms and stairs meandering like serpentines among the greenery are an important decorative element general composition.
To decorate the slope, you can use junipers and ground cover crops. They are able to grow over the territory like a motley carpet, and also successfully hide construction defects.

You can learn more about designing a cottage on a slope by watching the following video: