In all but the smallest borders, the retaining walls will be holding back considerable weight, requiring professional construction and consultation with a structural engineer. The structural and drainage requirements will often dictate the most suitable material to use and often be reinforced with steel rebar if required. Terracing usually includes one or more new levels of varying height as needed for the slope in question and can be made from brick, concrete block, wooden sleepers or rock-filled gabions. When it comes to the actual planting it is generally recognised that a 1:3 (33%) slope is the maximum allowable to give the plants a good chance.Ī slope of 1:3 (33%) can be successfully planted with certain plants, shrubs and trees, but if you are dealing with a steeper incline a more structural approach would be needed.īefore you start, take a look at what is already there and make a note of what is doing well and what is struggling.ĭoes the rain simply run off down the slope eroding the soil as it goes or are there any trees and shrubs that are helping bind the slope together or creating shade and dry areas? 3) Use Terracing Wooden poles used as palisades Southern Tier Central Regional Planning & Development. 2 Water Runs Downhill: Managing Runoff on Steep Slopes. This gradient will help determine your options for planting, access and for maintenance.įor example, water will run off on an incline of 50% and not be able to penetrate down to the plants’ roots and most domestic mowers will advise against use on a slope of more than 10-20%. It is possible to work out the gradient of the slope with a tape measure and some relatively simple math, or alternatively a professional gardener or landscaper would be able to work this out for you. Maybe it is just one border that slopes a little or the whole of your property and garden.Įither way, it is important to work out the gradient of the slope in order to understand what you are working with and the potential solutions available. Irrigation is key and a well thought through drainage plan, irrigation system or tap placements can make all the difference to the planting scheme and the garden as a whole. Safety must be considered, especially where children and pets are present – along with the safe use of any garden machinery on a slope. Shallow meandering paths are far easier on the legs, especially with a wheelbarrow in hand and offer the chance to take in hidden parts of the garden. Lower maintenance areas can be placed furthest from the house and more intensive areas such as vegetable patches nearest, lessening trips up and down. Gardening on a large slope has the potential to exhaust even the fittest of us, but with careful thought this can be minimised. The site’s gradient, aspect and drainage will have a huge deciding factor on what can be grown and how.įrom a small border that can be levelled by a wooden sleeper to a garden requiring heavily engineered retaining walls, assessing the requirements and planning accordingly could not only help avoid costly pitfalls, but help you create wonderful and usable space. It is so worth taking the time to assess the site and plan, before getting the spade out or hiring a landscaper. Whether you have a small sloping border or an acre or two of sloping garden, planning is essential. Whether your plants struggle to thrive or the gradient is such that water runs down the slope, don’t worry – we’ll cover how these challenges can be overcome and how your garden on a slope can thrive. Sloping gardens can provide great vantage points which would not be possible on a level garden and views either from or towards the house. 1 The UK’s most-loved garden, and finest restoration project. Some of the most beautiful and creative gardens are built on slopes, including the Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall. Gardening on a slope doesn’t have to be the nightmare it is sometimes envisaged as being.Īn incline can certainly bring some challenges, but these are not insurmountable and also provides some creative opportunities that you wouldn’t have compared to a flat area.
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