Today, the landscape design of the site on the slope may look unusual and even fabulous. Differences in elevations, stone, winding paths, terraces - all this only decorates an uneven plot. Creating a personal landscape on such a land, it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of the terrain.
The site with elevation differences to equip is much more expensive than its analog with a flat surface. But such lands in the end look more interesting and harmonious than the standard land allotments.
If you are planning to engage in garden work, choose on the site the place where the slope is highest, and make terraces. This will be the best solution to the problem of light and shadow for cultivated plants.
Terracing is the main technique in the design of this site. It is the terraces that help visually smooth out the height differences, give the overall appearance of the landscape of sophistication.
Strengthening the slopes with your own hands
Did you inherit the villa on the slope? Do not despair, but just properly strengthen the slopes. And your site will be transformed. To strengthen the inclined earthen surfaces with your own hands, you can use the following instruction:
- Clear the slope from the plants;
- Remove the top layer with a shovel or similar tools;
- Choose the material to strengthen. Biomats, geonet, stones, logs, gabions are good options for creating side supports;
- Place the reinforcing material on the sides of the slope;
- Fill the gaps between the strengthening material with earth and small pebbles;
- Plant plants with a branched and deep root system, which is suitable for stony soil.
Ready to strengthen the slope can be planted with small fruit trees and shrubs, thus breaking the garden where space saving is required.
Never plant tall trees on an unstable slope, with a strong wind they can be turned out of the ground with roots.
If the percentage of incline of uneven space exceeds 8-10 degrees, dig in the base of the reinforcing material as far as possible. For large slopes, the deepening under the fortifications can reach one meter.
See also: Roses in landscape design: types and variants of decoration 
Preparation
Preparation к ландшафтному преобразованию участка начинается с замера расположения подземных вод. Еще необходимо знать общий угол наклона земли, потребуется выяснить состав грунта. При планировке работ нужно учитывать светоориентированность склона. Принять во внимание направление сточных вод. Когда все параметры будут замерены, можно начинать готовить место для встраивания укрепляющих материалов. Производить планировку расположения террас, арок и других элементов уличного декора.
Methods for strengthening the slopes
The choice of how to strengthen the slope depends on the degree of inclination of the selected location. If the degree of slope does not exceed 10%, then the hilly terrain can be strengthened with the help of plants and trees. When the degree of slope approaches 45%, in the course are lawn grids, grids, gabions and logs. Slope exceeds 45%? Then you should use stones, concrete blocks, metal props.
Small irregularities are strengthened by steps and wooden decking. In the event that a country house is on the bank of a river or other body of water, its border will have to be covered with earth. And on the slope, plant as many trees and plants as possible to prevent landslides.
Mountains form a fairly stable natural landscape. Therefore, the strengthening of such a site is reduced to simple decoration. Here the designer can advise the layout according to the natural curves of the site. Since the rock is difficult to process.
A ladder made of slabs or boards, usually, extends through the whole section to the house in case of a large degree of slope. When the slope is small, it is interspersed with even areas where you can place gazebos or a children's corner.
The inclined section is always treated with the use of drainage systems. Since without them on it will be formed zones of flooding below, and arid islands at the top.
A good idea is to strengthen the slope with the help of pallets. This option is budgetary, and the way to install them is fairly simple. In addition, the pallets are easy to replace, if necessary.
Drainage systems for slopes
The creation of a drainage system is an important step in the development of the site on the slope. Due to the drainage layer, water causes much less damage to the soil, and many substances useful to plants remain in their places. Let's consider ways of drainage more:
| Method of drainage | Description |
| Open system | The water here drains over the gutters on the surface. With the help of such a system, you can arrange ponds, small waterfalls and fountains. This method has aesthetic value. |
| Closed system | It is a tube with slots, which lay under the ground. The system saves space, better preserves the integrity of the upper layers of the soil. |
The choice of the system depends on the preferences of the site owners, as well as on the composition of the soil and its density. Internal drainage is required for light sandy layers, while the outer drainage is ideal for rocky terrain.
For any type of drainage system, plastic, metal and rubber gutters can be used. Metal will become a long-playing project, which will last a long time. Rubber has a shorter service life, but its flexibility allows to save on additional materials for the arrangement. Plastic is considered the least durable, but it is quite affordable.
Drainage pipes during wiring lay not only in the ground, but also through the material that strengthens the slopes. So water is guaranteed to accumulate where its location will be most appropriate.
Paths and steps
The tracks on the slope are designed to emphasize or reduce the slope of the slope. The serpentine path will enhance the visual effect of elevations. A line of linear type will smooth sharp changes and roughness of the earth.
Steps in the design of the sloping plot make a radius or tortuous. On the sites between them level the ground to accommodate there a brazier, swings or other recreational facilities.
For a harmonious appearance of the slope, it is better to make all steps and paths uniform in width. So the prospect of the site will look much better.
When the slope of the slope is strong and steep, the stairs are equipped with handrails, as well as lanterns. This technique increases the overall safety of the sloping section. Materials for stairs and tracks should not be slippery or uneven.
Features of plant selection
Most plants on the slope experience shortages of sun and moisture. But the following representatives not only strengthen the inclined surface, but also perfectly adapt to the difficult external conditions:
- Verbainik is a plant with long and branched roots. Is not afraid of blackouts, quickly occupies the area given to it;
- Roses ground cover - flowers, having magnificent buds, and creeping on the surface. For their landing, choose the southern slopes;
- Rhododendron - an option for the northern side of the site. Easily tolerates a small swamping. He sits down in the lowlands. The rhizomes of the plant perfectly bind the soil;
- Veronica is a grass that creates a turf of the Inca. It has several varieties, it is not whimsical in nursing;
- Phlox is an option that will enhance the aesthetics of any site. Does not like excessive moisture, requires landing on the sunny side;
- Rose wrinkled - a plant that can go back by 2.5 meters. This kind of rose perfectly spreads in width.
Picking up plants for this type of site, it is worthwhile to choose the ground-cover perennials, which grow quite aggressively, forming offspring and offshoots. Trees on the slope can be planted any. In the lowland, the tallest trees are placed, and the undersized ones are placed on top.
The northern slope of the land is ideal for planting coniferous trees that do not need much sun, but moisture and shadow will come in handy.
The southern slope is the site where the rockeries and flower beds will feel right in their place. There it is necessary to have sun-loving and drought tolerant plants.
The western side is suitable for bulbous primroses. There it is necessary to place plants and shrubs that need soft environmental conditions.
The East will shelter on its slopes bahran, aquilegia and astilba. Still there it is possible to arrange similar plants, as well as trees: linden, oak, lilac, acacia.
The rules of landscape design on a site with a slope
When the house is at the top of the plot, all the major groups of trees are planted there. The bottom is decorated with decorative shrubs, rockeries, stunted trees.
For rockaria juniper, saxifrage and perennial flowers are perfect. All the tracks laid out on the site, it is worth doing with narrow sides.
All high buildings, trees and shrubs should not visually overlap the view of the house in the middle or at the top of the site. A smooth transition from large plants to low analogues will help to smooth out the impression of the steepness of the slope. The abundance of tracks arranged like a serpentine, on the contrary, will emphasize a greater slope even more.
For admiring the views, a terrace for relaxation is best done at the top of the site. If you are supposed to rest in the shade, then the lowland and the northern slope are an excellent option for accommodation.
All waterfalls, small lakes and ponds are placed below. Usually, such a reservoir is occupied by a standard summer garden. Sometimes it is made narrow, but, more often, attached to a rounded shape. A courtyard is done where the entrance to the site is located. From the courtyard, small paths are lowered to improve the overall landscape of the slope.
Landscape design on the slope is a business that is best entrusted to professionals, since this option is considered the most difficult among other types of garden design. An inclined site can outshine all the most interesting variations of the landscape on a flat surface, it is only worthwhile to put a little effort into it.
