If your garden has a steeper slope you may want to create terraces. In fact, this can be a great way to divide the garden into themed areas. For example, you could create a seating area for entertaining at the top, overlooking an ornamental lawn, with a separate play area, and a kitchen garden. Get creative – your only limitation is your imagination!
The easiest way to create terraces is by using a “cut and fill” technique. This is where you dig earth out to level the first terrace, and then use that earth to level the next layer, and so on. It can be used on both uphill and downhill slopes. Keep each terrace in place with a retaining wall –brick-built walls, concrete blocks (that you can paint, if you wish), rocks, stones and railways sleepers all work well. Don’t use wooden planks, as these will rot and cause problems in future.
Link each terrace with steps. These should, ideally, be wide and shallow, but if you end up with narrow or steep steps, consider adding handrails for safety. These could be incorporated into a rose-covered pergola, which would also be an attractive garden feature.
The biggest problem you may have with a garden that slopes uphill away from the house is drainage. The last thing you want is a flooded patio every time it rains, and water draining down towards the house can ultimately cause structural damage. Whatever design you choose, make sure you install adequate drainage. This may require taking the advice of experts, but it will be worth the expense.
It’s also worth spending extra time designing the far end of the garden. This may be the steepest part, and you may not visit it often, especially in winter, but it is the part of the garden that is most visible from the house. One idea is to create a “living mural” using an array of plants that will provide interesting foliage and changing colour all year round.
If your garden has a steeper slope you may want to create terraces. In fact, this can be a great way to divide the garden into themed areas. For example, you could create a seating area for entertaining at the top, overlooking an ornamental lawn, with a separate play area, and a kitchen garden. Get creative – your only limitation is your imagination!
The easiest way to create terraces is by using a “cut and fill” technique. This is where you dig earth out to level the first terrace, and then use that earth to level the next layer, and so on. It can be used on both uphill and downhill slopes. Keep each terrace in place with a retaining wall –brick-built walls, concrete blocks (that you can paint, if you wish), rocks, stones and railways sleepers all work well. Don’t use wooden planks, as these will rot and cause problems in future.
Link each terrace with steps. These should, ideally, be wide and shallow, but if you end up with narrow or steep steps, consider adding handrails for safety. These could be incorporated into a rose-covered pergola, which would also be an attractive garden feature.
