3 Creatively Designed Sloping Gardens Before and After
Step it up? Level it out? See how designers, including one hired on Houzz, handled slopes on these tricky plots
An uneven garden is often an underused garden. A hill might be hard to climb, a steep pitch hinders playing, and who would set a dining table on a slope? Not to mention the potential issues with safety, soil erosion and rainwater runoff.
But working out how to handle a level change gracefully can be difficult, which is why we’re sharing these three skilful designs. Each is distinct, but all solve uneven ground problems while enhancing the natural beauty of the landscape. Would any work for your own garden? Let us know in the Comments.
But working out how to handle a level change gracefully can be difficult, which is why we’re sharing these three skilful designs. Each is distinct, but all solve uneven ground problems while enhancing the natural beauty of the landscape. Would any work for your own garden? Let us know in the Comments.
Before Photo
Martin tackled the trek up and down the hill with bluestone slab steps, winding them around for a gentle ascent and descent. Newly planted grapevines turn the south side of the slope into a miniature vineyard, with clover planted between to help with water runoff and slope erosion. A dry stone wall adds interest and aids in soil retention as well.
The team kept the existing deck and mature redwood and oak trees, which offer a lovely canopy for the deck when in leaf. Homeowner Karen Jacobs, who is an interior designer, selected many of the new plants and hardscape materials, plus all of the furnishings.
The new pool at the base of the hill has the feel of a watering hole waiting to be discovered.
The team kept the existing deck and mature redwood and oak trees, which offer a lovely canopy for the deck when in leaf. Homeowner Karen Jacobs, who is an interior designer, selected many of the new plants and hardscape materials, plus all of the furnishings.
The new pool at the base of the hill has the feel of a watering hole waiting to be discovered.
Stone steps on the far side of the hill wind down gracefully to a new seating area with a spark-minimising gas-burning fire pit. Boulders encircling the fire keep the natural vibe going and create a fun camping feel.
Need some garden advice? Easily find and hire garden designers on Houzz.
Need some garden advice? Easily find and hire garden designers on Houzz.
Before Photo
2. Tiered terraces
Garden at a Glance
Who lives here? A couple with two children
Location Austin, Texas, USA
Size 279 sq m
Landscape architect Brian Baughman of Double B Design
“After” photos by Leonid Furmansky
Before, this Texas garden – empty save for a hot tub, some trees and an upward-sloping lawn – wasn’t ideal for hosting the parties and school functions the homeowners were envisioning. Landscape architect Brian Baughman came onboard to create an amenity-filled space with enhanced natural beauty.
Garden at a Glance
Who lives here? A couple with two children
Location Austin, Texas, USA
Size 279 sq m
Landscape architect Brian Baughman of Double B Design
“After” photos by Leonid Furmansky
Before, this Texas garden – empty save for a hot tub, some trees and an upward-sloping lawn – wasn’t ideal for hosting the parties and school functions the homeowners were envisioning. Landscape architect Brian Baughman came onboard to create an amenity-filled space with enhanced natural beauty.
Brian regraded the base of the slope and added pavers to extend the patio. The hillside now has a bench with two tiers above it – a long steel planter backed by a retaining wall, and a stretch of lawn.
Removing the original wall and pushing the patio out into the garden made room for a dining area and, tucked into a planted alcove across from it, a fire pit area with built-in benches.
Removing the original wall and pushing the patio out into the garden made room for a dining area and, tucked into a planted alcove across from it, a fire pit area with built-in benches.
This zoomed-out shot shows how regrading the grassy hillside made way for a generously appointed entertaining space. And the garden still has plenty of natural appeal, thanks to all the new planting, including grass between the concrete patio pavers, as well as the preserved trees.
3. A levelled out patio
Garden at a Glance
Who lives here? A retired couple with grown-up children
Location Harpenden, Hertfordshire
Size A 250 sq m side garden on a 1,200 sq m plot
Landscape designer Henry Scott of Pehrsson Scott
“After” photos by Henry Scott
With a drop of almost 2m from end to end, this part of a couple’s garden in Hertfordshire simply wasn’t usable. In addition, a gap beneath the newly added studio highlighted the unevenness of the terrain and made for an awkward entry.
The couple tasked landscape designer Henry Scott, whom they found on Houzz, with turning the slope into an area where they could relax and entertain, as well as better incorporating the studio.
Garden at a Glance
Who lives here? A retired couple with grown-up children
Location Harpenden, Hertfordshire
Size A 250 sq m side garden on a 1,200 sq m plot
Landscape designer Henry Scott of Pehrsson Scott
“After” photos by Henry Scott
With a drop of almost 2m from end to end, this part of a couple’s garden in Hertfordshire simply wasn’t usable. In addition, a gap beneath the newly added studio highlighted the unevenness of the terrain and made for an awkward entry.
The couple tasked landscape designer Henry Scott, whom they found on Houzz, with turning the slope into an area where they could relax and entertain, as well as better incorporating the studio.
Henry’s team excavated and raised the lower section of the garden to level things out and added long steps in front of the studio to eliminate the gap. The steps are clad in the same light grey porcelain tiles used on the new patio for an expansive feel.
This part of the garden gets lots of sun, so Henry went with a loosely Mediterranean look, bringing in olive and cypress trees, as well as Verbena bonariensis and Agapanthus, among other plants.
This part of the garden gets lots of sun, so Henry went with a loosely Mediterranean look, bringing in olive and cypress trees, as well as Verbena bonariensis and Agapanthus, among other plants.
The new studio is perpendicular to the house. This photo was taken from behind the right side of the sofa in the previous photo and shows the kitchen. Sliding glass doors and a nearby table and chairs make dining alfresco convenient.
You can also catch a glimpse here of the grassy area at the side of the house, reached via a stepping stone path.
Read more about this project.
Tell us…
Which of these clever redesigns caught your eye? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
You can also catch a glimpse here of the grassy area at the side of the house, reached via a stepping stone path.
Read more about this project.
Tell us…
Which of these clever redesigns caught your eye? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Garden at a Glance
Who lives here? Jamey and Karen Jacobs
Location Danville, California, USA
Size Part of a 2,023 sq m plot
Landscape architect Martin Hoffmann
Garden designer Tracey Blume
“After” photos by Mitchell Shenker and Martin Hoffmann
Perched on a hillside in Northern California, the original deck, seen here, offered a beautiful vista of native oak trees, the house down below, and open nature stretching towards the hills. But the hillside itself wasn’t much to look at, and the climb up to the deck felt like a trek rather than a thoughtful journey.
The homeowners wanted to overhaul the garden with a pool, planting and steps while keeping the focus on the dramatic natural backdrop. They found landscape architect Martin Hoffmann for the project.