8 Design Moves That Can Give a Flat Garden More Depth or Height
Sunken patios, stacked beds, berms and other features are a great way to add interest to level outdoor spaces
Rises and dips in a landscape’s topography can draw the eye, creating a dramatic, dynamic view. Many of us, however, have an almost flat garden, since the typical urban or suburban space doesn’t feature much in the way of level changes.
If you’re keen to add interest to your plot, take a look at these eight ways designers on Houzz have built up or dug down (or just created that illusion) to give flat ground a new perspective.
If you’re keen to add interest to your plot, take a look at these eight ways designers on Houzz have built up or dug down (or just created that illusion) to give flat ground a new perspective.
2. Stack raised beds
This small garden has a series of raised beds at staggered heights to create level changes. The raised design adds drama and creativity to a classic planting of spring bulbs, box hedges and mixed edible greens.
Ready to revamp your outside space? Find garden designers and landscape architects in your area on Houzz.
This small garden has a series of raised beds at staggered heights to create level changes. The raised design adds drama and creativity to a classic planting of spring bulbs, box hedges and mixed edible greens.
Ready to revamp your outside space? Find garden designers and landscape architects in your area on Houzz.
3. Add berms
Building berms (raised mounds of soil or mixtures of sand and gravel topped with soil) can be an effective way to add subtle level changes to a flat flowerbed. For this planting, landscape designer Linda Bresler created low berms, ranging from 30cm to 45cm high, before planting to add modest height changes.
As well as adding interest to flat gardens, Linda says she uses berms to create an ideal growing environment for dry-garden plants. “Succulents don’t want wet feet, as they can rot,” she explains. Planting them on a slight mound of soil allows for proper drainage.
“Plus, smaller succulents are better showcased on a slight slope, where you can admire their beauty more thoroughly,” she says.
Building berms (raised mounds of soil or mixtures of sand and gravel topped with soil) can be an effective way to add subtle level changes to a flat flowerbed. For this planting, landscape designer Linda Bresler created low berms, ranging from 30cm to 45cm high, before planting to add modest height changes.
As well as adding interest to flat gardens, Linda says she uses berms to create an ideal growing environment for dry-garden plants. “Succulents don’t want wet feet, as they can rot,” she explains. Planting them on a slight mound of soil allows for proper drainage.
“Plus, smaller succulents are better showcased on a slight slope, where you can admire their beauty more thoroughly,” she says.
In this ‘before’ photo, you can see the berms created for the succulents. After planting them, Linda usually tops the soil with finely ground mulch, small stones or pea gravel. “This tends to discourage weeds and keeps some moisture for the plants in a hot, dry environment,” she says.
The shallow roots of the succulents hold the soil of the berm in place, but, over time, Linda says, the berm will soften and slightly flatten out.
Note: Adding berms or otherwise changing the topography of your landscape can affect drainage on your property. Hiring an experienced landscape professional to map out berms and redirect drainage into a swale, if needed, can prevent unwanted drainage issues down the line.
More: How to Start a Garden Redesign
The shallow roots of the succulents hold the soil of the berm in place, but, over time, Linda says, the berm will soften and slightly flatten out.
Note: Adding berms or otherwise changing the topography of your landscape can affect drainage on your property. Hiring an experienced landscape professional to map out berms and redirect drainage into a swale, if needed, can prevent unwanted drainage issues down the line.
More: How to Start a Garden Redesign
Berms also work well in traditional and cottage-style borders, where creating a layered look of foliage and flowers is desired. This side garden by Moynihan & Associates features alliums, geraniums and ornamental grasses.
4. Go vertical
Draw the eye upwards with vertical elements, such as climbing vines, narrow trees, arbours or other features that emphasise a height change.
In this single-level garden by Mackenzie Wheeler Architects & Designers, the eye is drawn up to steel beams draped in climbing roses, a dynamic contrast to the smooth surface of raked gravel below.
Draw the eye upwards with vertical elements, such as climbing vines, narrow trees, arbours or other features that emphasise a height change.
In this single-level garden by Mackenzie Wheeler Architects & Designers, the eye is drawn up to steel beams draped in climbing roses, a dynamic contrast to the smooth surface of raked gravel below.
5. Suggest a stream
Dry stream beds are made from a combination of raised berms and sunken areas lined with rocks and gravel. They create the illusion of a stream running through a garden while adding dynamic level changes within the space.
In this garden by Sage Ecological Landscapes, the designers suggest water with a dry stream bed that can be traversed via a small bridge.
Dry stream beds are made from a combination of raised berms and sunken areas lined with rocks and gravel. They create the illusion of a stream running through a garden while adding dynamic level changes within the space.
In this garden by Sage Ecological Landscapes, the designers suggest water with a dry stream bed that can be traversed via a small bridge.
6. Create curves
Winding pathways combined with layered plantings of varying heights can create the illusion of land rising and falling, as shown in this level garden by Annie Elliott Design.
Emphasise this trick of the eye even further with the addition of low berms in the planting beds and a few vertical elements, and a garden that started out as flat will feel more dynamic.
Winding pathways combined with layered plantings of varying heights can create the illusion of land rising and falling, as shown in this level garden by Annie Elliott Design.
Emphasise this trick of the eye even further with the addition of low berms in the planting beds and a few vertical elements, and a garden that started out as flat will feel more dynamic.
7. Invest in built-in planters
In a tight city space where there’s no room for berms, sunken patios or winding pathways, built-in planters may be your best bet for instant level changing.
When design-build firm Outhouse Design were asked to reimagine this patio, the space – measuring 3.5m x 6m with 3m-high walls – felt like a concrete box.
In a tight city space where there’s no room for berms, sunken patios or winding pathways, built-in planters may be your best bet for instant level changing.
When design-build firm Outhouse Design were asked to reimagine this patio, the space – measuring 3.5m x 6m with 3m-high walls – felt like a concrete box.
The addition of large built-in beds creates height variation for plants and an anchoring point for a space-saving bench. The plants themselves – dwarf magnolia trees on one side and climbing vines on the other – help draw the eye upwards, while a wood-panelled wall adds depth.
8. Play with landforms
If you’re willing to experiment more with your landscape, consider introducing landforms in shapes of your choosing. These can be created on a relatively grand scale, such as this raised, curved lawn edged with steel by Exterior Worlds, or in smaller configurations.
If you’re willing to experiment more with your landscape, consider introducing landforms in shapes of your choosing. These can be created on a relatively grand scale, such as this raised, curved lawn edged with steel by Exterior Worlds, or in smaller configurations.
In this whimsical garden, Sara Jane Rothwell of London Garden Designer used soil left over from the garden renovation plus topsoil and sand to create grassy mounds beneath a small grove of trees at the back of the garden.
Tell us…
What design solutions have you employed to add creative drama to a flat garden? Show us in the Comments.
Tell us…
What design solutions have you employed to add creative drama to a flat garden? Show us in the Comments.
Instead of building up, consider digging down to add level changes to a flat plot. This garden by E2 Homes features a sunken seating area around a fire pit. Dropping the height of the patio visually makes the garden appear larger, and the level change allows for casual seating around the fire in the evening.
Tip: Sunken seating areas require a solution for drainage. It’s best to work with an experienced landscape professional for design and installation.