Sloped front yards present a unique but challenging landscape design opportunity. You want to plant some of your favorite shrubs and flowers but are worried they’ll slide off the slope. And even if you plant nothing but grass, someone still has to push the mower up and down the hill.
To be clear, you want a sloped yard. Properly sloped and graded yards direct water away from your house, which keeps your foundation and basement dry and in good shape.
Fortunately, several landscape design tips can help you design a front yard that takes advantage of the slope and ensures your plants stay in place.
Before You Begin
The first step is to evaluate your slope. The slope you’re working with and your goals will impact what you can do and how you’ll get it done.
How Steep Is the Slope?
When you look at your front yard, you can probably tell if you have a mild slope, a steep slope, or somewhere in between. But even when you know what you’re dealing with, you may want to call a professional landscape designer for an opinion. No matter how shallow or steep, landscaping any slope presents challenges a pro can help you plan for.
For example, soil erodes when it rains. But when you combine a steep slope with heavy rain, erosion may turn into sliding. A landscaping pro will give you the best options to anchor the plants and dirt for your situation.
A professional can also help you think about accessibility. No matter who’s in charge of landscaping, you want to make sure that people can get to it to prune the bushes or trim the grass easily and safely.
Hydration and Drainage
Slopes direct water away from your house using gravity, which is also what makes some slopes harder to irrigate. Rain may wash away from the top before it soaks into the ground. An irrigation system may be the best solution.
You also need to see where water from the slope currently drains. Does it flow into a drainage system, like a trench drain? Is the runoff directed toward other plants, or does it pool against a wall or onto a driveway? Even if the slope drains just fine under normal conditions, heavy rains may overburden it, creating drainage issues. You may need to add something like a French drain to ensure proper runoff.
Your Landscape Design Goals
Finally, you should consider what you want your front yard to look like. Do you want lots of flowers and plants, or would you prefer something more understated, like grass? A sloped front yard can include all kinds of design elements, so feel free to be creative.
Hold Everything Together
All sloped landscapes experience soil erosion. It doesn’t matter how minor the slope, gravity, the weather, and time make it inevitable.
On a small slope, erosion isn’t cause for alarm. You can add some more dirt, and that’s that. On steeper slopes, though, erosion is a concern. Fortunately, a combination of landscaping tools can help you hold everything in place.
Rocks
A line of large rocks or boulders can prevent erosion. Choose rocks that are more squared off than round to anchor them into the ground and prevent them from rolling away.
Retaining Walls
Retaining walls also stop dirt from sliding down steep slopes. These strong structures are anchored into the ground and designed to carry heavy loads, like holding back your yard landscape. However, the most effective retaining walls are often built into the slope. Some of the land is excavated and the retaining wall is built along the newly created “wall.”
Depending on how steep your slope is and your landscape design goals, you may be able to use a garden wall instead of a retaining wall. Garden walls are shorter than retaining walls and aren’t as strong as retaining walls, making them a budget-friendly option if your yard landscape can support them.
Terraces
Terraces are similar to retaining walls in that they use a strong wall to hold back the slope. However, terraces incorporate a flat area behind and on top of the wall, similar to a step, and can be used as a seating area, a garden bed for plants, or plain grass.
Landscape Design Ideas for Sloped Front Yard
Here are a few ideas to help inspire your front yard landscape design.
Retaining Wall
This simple rock retaining wall holds the slope back and added stairs make it easy to get to the front door. This simple design creates two flat surfaces that are easy to access and maintain.
Rock Walls
This rock wall takes advantage of the natural slope and curve of the yard landscape. The front area is the perfect location for plants that love sun, and the top area is a mix of in-ground plants and potted plants to create an area with visual appeal.
Terraces
This ornate example of a terraced front yard illustrates the multiple ways you can use the levels. One level is flat and contains grass, while other levels are planting areas for various flowers and plants. Some people even plant vegetable gardens in their terrace.
Landscape Design and Build for Any Yard
Slopes are a landscape design challenge, but with the right plan, you can create a front yard that’s beautiful, functional, and protects your home from water damage.
Dig’Um Dirtworks is your Olympic Peninsula and Port Angeles landscape design partner. We can help you tackle the steepest slopes and create the landscape of your dreams. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
