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How To Landscape A Sloping Garden: Sloping Garden Ideas

We all know that a sloping garden space can be difficult to work with. Plenty of muscle power is also needed just getting stuff up and down, such as your BillyOh Windsor table, from your garden shed.

We’ve compiled some of our favourite inspiration from around the web for you to get started on designing your slope. Are you ready to have the most breathtaking and unique outdoor space in town?

Let’s dive in!

1. Ivory stairs

Ivory stone stairs with white flower beds create the feeling of extra space. 

Ivory stairs on a sloped garden
Image Credit: Public Domain Pictures

2. Three-level garden

Make the most of your sloped garden by creating levels with different uses; add raised beds, a lawned area and a patio with seating.

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Three-level garden with retaining wall planters
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

3. Retaining wall

Is your garden on an incline? Slice it in half with a retaining wall and create a two-level backyard.

Stone retaining wall and stairs on a sloped garden
Image Credit: Geograph UK

4. Bench and fire pit

A relaxing spot in your garden for some stargazing. Decorate it with your favourite garden fire pit ideas so you can enjoy the outdoors into the late evening!

Brick bench and fire pit seating area
Image Credit: Pexels

5. Two-level wood finish

A relaxing wooden finish to the furniture on the first level, and some comfy chairs and pure grass on the second.

6. Ample backyard

Beautiful stone steps and tiered raised beds are a great way to make the most of a sloped garden. 

Tiered garden with steps and planters
Image Credit: Metro Trekker

7. Black tile backyard

Slates paving stones make a stunning patio and steps.

8. Wooden three-level backyard

Make the most of a small but steep sloped garden by adding stairs and tiered planters to improve the space.

9. Pebble steps

Shallow, pebble-filled steps are a simple, budget-friendly solution for sloping garden ideas

Pebble garden steps
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

10. Grass-covered steps

Keep your steps looking natural but building them into your lawn. 

11. Wooden stairs and planters

There’s no wasted space with this design – build planters into the sides of your steps.

12. Split level family garden

The perfect patio for a family dinner outside and plenty of lawn space for the kids to stretch their legs.

13. Small garden with steep slope

A very steep backyard, solved with some gabion stone planters and modern steps.

14. Wooden planters and picnic table

A very sloped hill transformed into a cosy backyard by using tiered wooden planters, a picnic area and a lawn at the top. 

Picnic table in the garden
Image Credit: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service

15. Round table

By building a round retaining wall into the hillside, they’ve created the perfect space for a dining area.  

Teak Folding Table
Teak Folding Table

16. Sectioned backyard

Sectioning off a long, narrow garden gives the feeling of more space. There’s room for planters, a seating area and plenty of lawn.

17. Backyard with tree

If you’re lucky enough to have a full-size tree in your backyard, build your garden around it and make the most of the natural shade it provides. 

Japanese sloped garden with tree landscapes
Image Credit: Flickr, Mary Harrsch

18. Modern-looking wood planters

Use sleepers to add tiered flower beds to your sloped garden.

19. Modern lighting

Add some floor and wall lighting to your steps and garden edges so you can still enjoy your backyard after dark. 

Modern garden stairs with LED lights
Image Credit: Pxhere

20. Small garden with flamingos

The retaining wall also serves as a comfy sofa, just by adding some cushions. 

21. Modern oriental garden

Plenty of natural wood and Japanese paper lanterns give this garden an oriental feel. 

Oriental garden with pond and wooden bridge
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

22. Backyard with slide

If you’re clever with your space, you can even fit a slide in for the kids! The red slide makes a great children’s garden design idea, too!

Giant slide on a sloped backyard
Image Credit: Geograph UK

23. Oak sleepers as retaining wall

Once a messy sloped hill, now it’s a leveled garden with a strong retaining wall.

Sleepers retaining wall
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

24. Wooden terrace garden

When creating the steps to reach the top of your garden, make good use of the space to the sides.

25. Multi level deck

Why settle for one deck, when you can have several? It’s a truly unique way to create steps in your garden.

26. All grass

Keep it super simple with some stone steps fitted into the grass.

West Dean Gardens, Sussex
Image Credit: Flickr, Mark

27. Contemporary chic garden

If grass is not your thing, keep it contemporary with decking and pale-coloured paving stones.

28. Railway sleepers

No natural grass? You can always use a little artificial grass and railway sleepers for a chic, modern garden.

Garden sleepers-like stone steps
Image Credit: Flickr, Yortw

29. Stone stairs

If you have a hill in your garden, why not build some stone steps into the hillside to go exploring anytime you like?

30. Tall walls

If you’ve got a very steep garden,  build high retaining walls and decorate them with lighting and a seating area.

31. Plank steps

A budget-friendly option to get to the top of the hill.

Terracing a sloping garden
Image Credit: Pxhere

32. Small greenhouses

With a few garden beds and mini poly tunnels, you can create your own greenhouses in your backyard.

 33. Intermediate level sloped garden

This sloped garden involves an intermediate level that can be reached via a set of stairs. The whole space looks like it’s covered with a moss-coloured carpet.

Tip: Set up an outdoor sitting area with a fireplace to maximise the space.

Terracing a sloping garden
Image Credit: hardworkinghippy : La Ferme de Sourrou

34. Borders decorated with planters

Maximise the retaining walls bordered by stairs and decorate them with large outdoor planters. This is a great way to create an appealing transition between the sloped areas.

35. Sloping garden divided into tiers

Take a look at this sloped garden divided into tiers. The landscape design provides you with each section that you can dedicate for your plants or something specific.

You can have large planter beds for veggies, herbs, and flowers organised on different levels.

36. Terracing

This technique creates different levels within the garden, generating a variety of ‘zones’ to your space. Plan a seating area on the most stable portion of your garden and frame plants around it.

It will make your garden space more welcoming!

37. Edging

Always leave an edge around your garden. It will help you properly border your space and avoid destabilising your fences.

Hawaiian taro (kalo) ponds (lo‘i), Kepaniwai Heritage Park, ‘Iao Valley, Maui
Image Credit: Flickr, Joel Abroad

38. Planting trees

If you haven’t established a solid foundation on your sloping space, planting well-rooted trees will do the job. This will help keep the soil sturdy and prevent wind and rain from easily eroding your garden.

39. Foundation

You can seek professional help or do it yourself (if you’re experienced) when levelling your garden and building its foundation. Opt for railway sleepers, breeze blocks, and natural stone as safe materials to keep your garden soil in place.

40. Levelling

If you wish to level some parts of your sloped garden, one obvious technique is to level it out. Levelling out your garden will depend on how steep the slope is.

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Sloping gardens are often seen as a challenge and less appealing than their ‘flat’ alternatives, but I think we’ve proven that with a little imagination, you can make your sloping garden into a stunning place to relax and entertain.

For more creative inspirations, might as well check out our ultimate list of garden design ideas .From adding garden furniture, water features to privacy and shade tips and landscaping – we’ve got everything you need!

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