How to Make the Most of Your Sloped Yard
In the Chattanooga area, it is common to have uneven land. Being situated in or near the mountains is a perk, but sometimes the sloped terrain can present issues. However, the concerns are not insurmountable when you consider solutions through appropriate garden and landscape design. Your sloped yard can become a place to enjoy outdoor living, to feature natural beauty, or to create stunning visual appeal.
Raised paver patio with stone veneer retaining wall and fire pit in Cleveland, Tennessee
Sloped Yard Challenges
Hard to Walk On and Work On
It may seem that your area would be nearly impossible to maintain due to its steep incline, but there are ways to get around safely if you plan accordingly. With solutions discussed below such as steps and terraces, your slope can become a place where you actually want to spend time.
Rain Runoff
Growing can be difficult in areas where water runoff goes downhill and it can become an unsightly mess. With the right plants and landscaping, you can make the most of an uneven yard.
Erosion and Poor Soil
Because of the afore-mentioned runoff challenges, and since many sloped areas tend to be rocky, they may have poor soil conditions and be subjected to erosion. With water eroding the topsoil, you may consider rocks, boulders, or other hardscapes to replace or supplement planting in the area.
Sloped Yard Solutions
Terraced Garden
One way to beautify your hillside or sloping yard is with terracing. You can create varied levels of visual interest and practical uses with vegetable gardens or flower beds. Terraces help with erosion, as they break up a long slope prone to runoff into shorter, level steps or landings that will instead soak up the water.
Retaining Walls
Creating an outdoor living space with a sloped yard is easy when you implement retaining walls, and they can be made from a wide variety of materials. Adding stone, brick, or wooden walls to your uneven landscape can serve both practical and aesthetic purposes. The wall protects the soil on one side, while allowing you to create another space on the other. You can add a great-looking retaining wall with plantings on one side, for example, and a patio on the other.
Patio or Deck
You can take advantage of a downward slope by adding a raised deck or patio to the area. In turn, you can create a level space that’s perfect for outdoor living. Whether it’s a floating deck in an otherwise unusable space or a patio in the back or side yard, it can become the perfect place to unwind, entertain, and become an outdoor extension of your home.
Plantings and Paths
A bank of eroded dirt and grass can become an area of natural beauty when you create a slope filled with plants. Add a winding path or stepping stones to add visual interest and make it easier to navigate your slope. The key is to choose plants that can withstand the less-than-stellar soil on your slope or hillside. If your slope is on the steeper side, picking hardy plants, trees, and shrubs that require little care will help prevent you from having to maneuver the slope to maintain them.
When it comes to undertaking your sloped yard, Full Circle Land Design can provide a plan to best use the space. They can also perform all the building, landscaping, and hardscaping needed to turn it into an enjoyable and appealing part of your property. The experienced team serves customers in Chattanooga and the surrounding areas: Cleveland, Ooltewah, Apison, Harrison, East Brainerd, Red Bank, and Soddy Daisy. Email, call 423-385-4955, or visit online to get started with a consultation.