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Garden Slope
v.walia9
Posts: 36
Hello,
I'm new to this forum and the gardening world and look forward to explore the endless options with a garden design. I've moved in to a new build house and in the process of designing the garden space. I'm planning to turf the garden but, as seen in the attached photo there is a gentle slope in the garden towards the house. The way I'm thinking of dealing with this slope is by creating a split level in the centre, giving us 2 flat garden areas. I was planning on using cinder blocks (hollow concrete blocks) for the retaining step of the split. Reason for using cinder blocks is that I like the idea of planting small flowers in the hollow parts of the block.
So, I wanted to know from the experts if this is a workable solution to have a flat garden? I'm not sure if it would be strong retainer for the upper part of the garden and also from drainage point of view. I would be very grateful for any help or guidance in dealing with this slope.
Thanks..
I'm new to this forum and the gardening world and look forward to explore the endless options with a garden design. I've moved in to a new build house and in the process of designing the garden space. I'm planning to turf the garden but, as seen in the attached photo there is a gentle slope in the garden towards the house. The way I'm thinking of dealing with this slope is by creating a split level in the centre, giving us 2 flat garden areas. I was planning on using cinder blocks (hollow concrete blocks) for the retaining step of the split. Reason for using cinder blocks is that I like the idea of planting small flowers in the hollow parts of the block.
So, I wanted to know from the experts if this is a workable solution to have a flat garden? I'm not sure if it would be strong retainer for the upper part of the garden and also from drainage point of view. I would be very grateful for any help or guidance in dealing with this slope.
Thanks..
0
Posts
If only 1 course of blocks then it should be fine. Lay a thin (50mm will suffice) concrete foundation strip as a good anchoring base to build up from.
@owd potter I was thinking of 1 course of blocks only as just need to create 1 step up from the lower part. Would drainage be an issue?
In my opinion, your thinking too small with the planting inside cinder bricks. You have so much potential planting space, why limit yourself to small holes in bricks. The type of plants they will accommodate will hardly be noticed from the house. I've had to learn this myself, whatever size planting space/border you make, triple it and it'll always look better.
Personally, I'd match the materials and use a second wall of oak sleepers.
But before all that, have a think about what type of garden your trying to design. Save similar designs on Pinterest/Google and decide what they all have in common, why you were drawn towards those gardens? What purpose will such a large lawn provide? How many 'picture perfect' gardens have large lawns? The perfect lawns we all have in our minds are hard work and even more so on a new build. I see you have what appear to be a drain cover half way up, so you'll have to get around that.
A lot of potential in this garden though. All the best.
Keep the landscaping materials to no more than three types too. Old trick, but it works. You get a uniformity which prevents the look being jarring. Planting can then be adapted to suit your likes and dislikes. The drain will have to be protected, so if you go for one big wall, keep it beyond that.
Ideally, you'd want a decent height of 'wall' to separate the spaces, but because of the fencing, that makes it a bit tricky. If you do two extra levels, rather than just one, that will make each tier flatter, and you can have lower walls.
Alternatively, use the gabions, to link with the back of the plot, and do one big wall, and create an inner wall [sleepers would be fine there] along the fence side, to contain whatever you're having on the top terrace.
If you want small planting, keep that down at the bottom where you'll see it from your patio/house. If you include some nice little evergreens and winter flowering plants, it gives you something to look at through winter.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Terraced - Agree with the others, use sleepers for a more consistent look. Cinder blocks are awful, and will be lost as @Greenbird says. If you use sleepers, make sure to add gravel behind them, and a membrane to reduce soil contact. Most importantly, do not let any of your plants cover the top of the sleepers, especially low, creeping plants. This will increase the likelihood of them rotting, which we experienced badly.
Our steeply sloping garden, just after installing the sleepers.
2 years later. Notice that the planting is quite big and bold, otherwise stuff gets lost.
Sloped - It's very common to assume that a slope is bad and must be terraced, but in your case I think you could get away with it. The danger with retaining walls is that they may eventually fail or rot, don't rule out keeping it as it is.If you opt to not terrace, then a meandering path which snakes up the garden would be more forgiving on your knees, and be more interesting to look at. Will be interested to see your progress.
My girls grew up with a sloping garden, and we had different levels on it, with a little area for their playhouse etc. Good fun for them, and it suited us too, but many people wouldn't have liked it.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...