Sloping land plot. Landscaping of a suburban area on a slope

Let's be honest: most of us would not like to have a plot of land with a lot of land. This is understandable - the unknown is scary. Let's put everything on the shelves together, and only then draw conclusions.

Possibilities and disadvantages of a plot with a slope

First of all, let's consider the possible troubles:

the choice of the location of both the house itself and the buildings is noticeably limited;
there are problems with watering, as the water in the soil will linger for a short time;
movement around the territory is complicated, especially in ice;
it is difficult to organize a sufficient area for games and entertainment;
the need to combat landslides and soil erosion;
a steep slope is a source of increased danger for children;
unsuccessful orientation of the slope of the site relative to the sun can lead either to excessive or insufficient illumination of the earth's surface;
the movement of air masses along the slope can lead to drying up of the soil at the top and frosts in the lower part of the slope;
landscaping a site with a large slope requires increased costs;
possible difficulties with access roads;
providing water can be difficult.

Free land for building a house

Now about the positive aspects of placing a house on a slope:

you will get a building plot at a lower price, and the increased costs of its arrangement can be partially compensated by your own creative work;
problems of water disposal are easily solved: the territory of the yard will be dry, it will be possible to equip the basement in the house or the cellar;
groundwater problems on such lands are rare;
the hillside always protects the house from the wind from one direction;
the cost of building the basement floor of the building is noticeably reduced, since all the excess land is easily used for partial leveling of the relief;
from the windows of a house located high, a wide view opens;
when placing the site on the south side of the slope, it is possible to increase the insolation of the courtyard, on the contrary, if the site is located on the north side, solar activity will be weakened;
a site located on the eastern or western slope will have an average illumination;
apparently the most important thing: the use of a huge list of landscape design techniques (retaining walls, terraces on the slope of the site, alpine slides, winding paths, a reservoir, a dry stream, special ornamental plants, etc.) will allow you to get a natural, organic and unique design of the allotment of land.

As you can see, the pros and cons gradually flow into tastes and preferences. The following video examines some of the features of the layout of the site with a slope.

Thus, by spending more effort and money on the development of a site with a slope, you get a more interesting and unusual result.

Of course, the degree of significance of the above circumstances is directly related to the magnitude of the ground level difference. To calculate it, it is necessary to divide the difference in heights of the extreme points of the site by the distance between them and convert the result into a percentage. For example, if the maximum height difference is 3.6m, and the distance between the points of the difference is 20m, then the slope will be 3.6: 20 = 0.19, i.e. 19%.
It is believed that a slope of up to 3% is flat terrain, but a site on a steep slope of more than 20% is not suitable for construction.

Features of the placement of buildings on a slope

Site plan on a slope

Firstly, it should be noted that the underground and basement parts of the house on the site with a slope will inevitably have characteristic features. This also applies to other buildings. Usually the house is located on the highest and driest place. Thus, the issue of water disposal from the most important object is solved. Toilet, compost pit, shower should be located below the house and no closer than 15-20m. Recreation area - gazebo, barbecue, etc. it is better to do it on the same level with the house. Buildings, between which the most frequent movement is expected, are best placed on different sides of the site. In this case, the length of the tracks increases, but the slope to be overcome decreases. In the idealistic version, the buildings are placed in a checkerboard pattern. The garage is conveniently identified at the bottom of the allotment. In this case, the garage building can be used as a means of compensating for the steepness of the slope.

Strengthening terraces on a site with a slope

There are two fundamentally different methods for planning an uneven allotment: without changing the landscape or with maximum leveling of the earth's surface. In my opinion, a compromise should be used for all possible methods of leveling the territory, as well as masking ground level differences.

In this case, there is no point in achieving complete alignment of the site.

When planning an inclined surface, several tasks are set: prevention of soil slippage; convenience of using the surface of the earth for recreation and cultivation of fruit crops; ease of movement around the courtyard. First of all, the maximum possible leveling of the relief is carried out by moving the soil. It is quite possible that it will be beneficial to remove part of the land from the allotment or, on the contrary, to bring the missing soil. A reasonable technique is the use of land mined when digging a pit for a basement or cellar.

Creating terraces with stones

The second, most common method is terracing, that is, the creation of flat areas located at different heights. The more terraces, the lower their height, which means that the arrangement of the slope is easier. With a terrace height of up to 70 cm, it is possible to create retaining walls. The best material is natural stone. For such a design, it is necessary to make a substrate of crushed stone 10-20 cm high. With a low terrace height, the stone can be laid without a binder. However, in such a situation, there is a danger of washing out the soil with water during rain or irrigation. It is more reliable to lay the retaining wall on cement mortar. The use of brick to create terraces is considered inappropriate, since repeated exposure to moisture and low temperatures leads to its rather rapid destruction.

With a terrace height of up to 2 meters, reinforced concrete structures are suitable: foundation blocks, slabs and monolithic concrete. Often it makes sense to create concrete retaining walls with some slope, with the expectation of the extrusion effect of the soil. In difficult situations, you can not do without a reliable and complete foundation. It makes no sense to additionally finish the retaining walls with decorative tiles or stone on an adhesive or cement basis. Frost and water will quickly spoil your work.

concrete retaining wall

Structurally, "ventilated facades" are suitable here. However, in a decorative sense, such a technique is hardly appropriate. It is much easier and more efficient to lay a corrugated surface with a special pattern in the concrete formwork. Subsequently, you can decorate the concrete with durable water-based paints.

It is very effective to use a French invention - gabions - to strengthen the terraces. Gabions are rectangular mesh structures filled with natural stone. Ready-made modules from special durable wire can be purchased or made by yourself. Gabions are not afraid of soil erosion, as they do not have absolute rigidity. They are also resistant to water, as they do not retain it in themselves. When filling gabions with stone and rubble, you can add a certain amount of earth, in this case, greenery will soon sprout, which will disguise the wire and give the retaining wall a natural look.
The simplest method of strengthening a slope is a sloping embankment. It is better to strengthen the embankment from shedding with a plastic mesh and a geogrid. Being planted with a lawn, special grass and shrubs, such an embankment surface will be quite reliable and aesthetic.

Gabion retaining wall

Wastewater - two sides of the coin

It’s good that in a territory with a slope, water will quickly run away both in rain and in flood: it will be dry underfoot. However, rapidly leaving water can take a noticeable part of the soil with it and destroy something. The conclusion is unequivocal: we need to think about how to properly drain on a sloped area.
The scheme seems to be optimal when water is collected from different areas by separate conduits that go beyond the yard. Moreover, each terrace should ideally be equipped with a drainage system.

The simplest solution is laying open concrete trays. The trays are laid on a pre-prepared base: a layer of crushed stone is about 10 cm, a cement-sand mixture (in a ratio of 1 to 10) is about 5 cm. The trays are easily cut and fitted to each other with the help of an angle grinder. Relatively cheap trays have disadvantages: they interfere with footpaths and their cross section is not enough when placed on common drains in the lower part of the site. The last obstacle can be overcome by making the drainage channels yourself from concrete. For the formation of channels, you can use pipe segments of a suitable diameter. There are also options for closed-type storm drains that are manufactured by industry. The upper part of such drains is closed with special grates for receiving water. Such designs look aesthetically pleasing, do not create obstacles for the movement of people. However, they are noticeably more expensive and more difficult to install. In addition, the problem of insufficient section in the lower part of the steep section remains relevant.

Drainage with trays

Another option for drainage is drainage channels. The system is closed and saves space. To organize drainage, trenches with a depth of 0.3-1m are torn off. The bottom of the trench is filled with sand, a layer of 10 cm is enough, it must be rammed. The sand is covered with geofabric, on top of which crushed stone of medium size is poured. The thickness of the crushed stone layer is up to 20 cm. If a small flow of water is expected in this area, then it is enough to cover the crushed stone with geotextile again, and then successively fill it with sand and soil. With a large flow of water in the channel, a perforated plastic pipe is additionally laid. The rules for laying pipes are the same as for the arrangement of sewers: a slope of at least 3%; fewer turns and sudden level changes to prevent debris from accumulating in problem areas; secure pipe connection.

Paths and stairs - decoration of the site

It goes without saying that navigating uneven terrain can be difficult and even dangerous. Hence the requirements - to approach the arrangement of all ways of movement of people with special care. Please note that even a relatively flat track with a slope of about 5% can become an insurmountable obstacle during ice. This means that the coating of all paths and stairs should be as rough and ribbed as possible. The steps of the stairs should correspond as much as possible to the optimal dimensions: the width of the tread is 29 cm, the height of the riser is 17 cm. The slope of the stairs cannot exceed 45%. It is better to avoid spans of more than 18 steps and provide rest areas.

stone staircase

It is very convenient if the height of the steps of all stairs is the same. It's quite real. For example, when building our own house with our own hands, we managed to ensure the same parameters of steps on both floors of the house, including the basement, as well as on the porch and in the garage. The arrangement of handrails on steep slopes is absolutely necessary, and even on quite gentle sections, handrails will be quite justified.
Materials for arranging paths and stairs can be very different: crushed stone, stone, concrete, wood, artificial turf and plastic gratings. Stairs, separate steps, winding paths - all these attributes should be considered as elements of decoration and individualization of the courtyard area. At the same time, I consider it necessary to recall the general requirements: the paths of movement should not become slippery and dangerous in inclement weather. It may be necessary to provide special handrails for children.

Wonderful landscaping and landscaping opportunities

Alpine landscaping on a site with a slope can be called a pleasant necessity. It is based on natural stones, flowers and other plants. All this in combination and various applications serves to counteract the erosion of the earth on the slope and at the same time is an ornament. Since water does not retain well on a slope, plants may need frequent watering. Thus, for garden beds and fruit trees, it is necessary to allocate the best areas: well-lit, protected from the wind. Sloping garden beds located at the base of a slope may be exposed to cumulative cold air.

Strengthening the slope with plants

Ideally, the entire area should be planted with various plants. On the slopes, unpretentious creeping plants are used that do not require much moisture and have an extensive root system. Different climatic regions may have their own preferences. As for central Russia, the use of shrubs is appropriate here: ivy, barberry, lilac, Japanese quince, elderberry, derain, etc. Coniferous plants will wonderfully decorate the site: juniper, spruce, cedar, pine. Deciduous trees are well suited: birch, hazel, willow (in wet places). For arranging rockeries, tenacious, stonecrop, cinquefoil, bells, alpine carnation, sedum, etc. are well suited. The arrangement of lawn areas is quite appropriate.

In order to visually level the terrain, tall plants are planted at the bottom of the slope. Sometimes it becomes necessary to close buildings located on the top of the slope from view, and then the strategy for placing tall and short varieties changes.
A low fence along the retaining wall will cover ugly surfaces and beautify the landscape. It is extremely appropriate to create on a site with a rockery slope. To do this, stones of different sizes and in random order are laid out on the slope. It is interesting to use stones of different composition and texture. Free areas are filled with crushed stone, marble chips, etc. The gaps between the stones are planted with the plants described above. Thus, with your own hands you can create the most unusual and amazing creative compositions. Of course, plants will grow only on soil that is quite suitable for this.
You can decorate a mountain garden with figurines made by yourself, or purchased in a store for summer residents.

Stream bed made of stones

The landscape composition "dry stream" was invented in Japan almost specifically for sloping surfaces. The idea is to simulate water with small stones and/or plants. At the site of the future channel, it is necessary to dig a shallow trench of the intended form of the stream. The bottom of the groove is covered with geotextile to protect against weeds. Then drainage is laid in the form of fine gravel, and the channel is covered with soil from above. "Creek" is planted with blue and blue flowers or covered with any rubble, preferably blue. Then along the "shores" you can plant flowers. A "dry stream" can exist on its own, or originate from an earthenware jug partially buried in the ground. It is interesting if the path passing nearby will “throw” a small bridge over the “stream”.

On a site with a slope, it is very interesting to use the following technique: a channel for draining water is made in the form of a “dry stream” made of stones. When it rains, the stream will fill with water, which will fall into a small pond at the bottom of the slope. Quite functional and beautiful!
Arches on a site with a slope will be very functional in combination with a bridge and stairs. Of course, the arch should be decorated with climbing plants.
After reviewing the above material, you probably already understood: there are a lot of opportunities for decorating a site on a slope! In one of the articles we will talk about a specific example. We wish you creative success in the implementation of your plans. Perhaps the following video will help you.

A plot with a slight slope for many novice gardeners is a real stumbling block when arranging landscape design. But more experienced garden designers, on the contrary, consider sloping land plots more interesting for creating picturesque landscapes: arranging sloping flower fields, decorating cascades and alpine slides, and placing terraces. We will also try to figure out what tricks they use to turn an empty hillock into an extraordinary flowering slope.

In order to create an elegant flower bed that will delight with its attractive appearance and not require special care, it is necessary to take into account a number of points. The main features of sloping sections:

Washing out of the soil by streams running down the slope and jets of rainwater;
The need to equip retaining walls and terraces;
Differences in the microclimate depending on the orientation of the slope in relation to the cardinal points.

In areas with an inclination angle of 5-7 °, small grooves help prevent soil washout. They are dug up in several corners of the flower garden, strengthen the walls, and then make out in the form of small reservoirs. The water flowing into the "pockets" is convenient to use for watering plants and moistening the soil.

The best solution for arranging plots at 7-15 ° will be planting a lawn, the emerald grass of which, in addition to its decorative function, will hold back the soil from being washed out by water flows with its roots.

When making less flat areas with an inclination angle of 20 ° or more, the only solution to the problem will be the arrangement of terraces - horizontal sections reinforced with retaining walls.

Flower gardens on the slopes always look unusually impressive and picturesque, resembling colorful carpets smoothly descending to the foot of the hills.

The main problem of arranging flower beds on a slope is the threat of soil being washed out by rain and melt water. The arrangement of the drainage system helps to successfully solve this problem.

Rock garden - a picturesque composition of plants and stones. Such a flower garden is a popular element of landscape design and adorns many suburban areas.

When decorating rocky flower beds on the southern slopes, you can’t do without sun-loving ground cover perennials: solstice, myrrh-leaved milkweed, escholcia, iberis, carnations

The slope, turned to the east and southeast, is no less illuminated by the sun's rays. But the soil on it can retain moisture longer. These seemingly comfortable conditions can have a detrimental effect on plants awakened in early spring: the aerial part of the flowers is baked under the scorching sun, while the root area is still drying up under the snow that has not melted. On the northeastern and eastern slopes will grow well: astilba, aquilegia, and.

The western slope is more exposed to the wind. The soil on it quickly weathers and dries up. To design such a slope, it is better to choose drought-resistant plants that are not afraid of winds and drafts. Ground covers take root well here: saxifrage, loosestrife, yasnotka, wallenstein, periwinkle.

Green spaces on the northern slope, receiving an insufficient amount of heat, do not differ in particular splendor of flowering. On the northern slope, moisture does not evaporate so quickly. This creates ideal conditions for growing moisture-loving flowers. Shade-loving and shade-tolerant plants will also feel comfortable here.

Picturesque islands in the penumbra will be created by delicate lilies of the valley and anemones, expressive hydrangea and geranium, St. John's wort and lungwort. And the openwork foliage of the fern, as well as the airy bushes of kupena and bergenia, will help to add volume to the composition.

In addition to the orientation of the slope relative to the cardinal points, it is also important to take into account that in the upper part of the flower garden the earth will always be drier than in the lower one. Therefore, plants in a flower bed are arranged according to the principle: drought-resistant flowers are planted on a hill, moisture-loving - at the foot.

Material on the selection of plants for an alpine hill will also be useful:

Slope protection from floods

Rain water and spring floods are the main problem of slope areas.

The water flowing in jets along the sloping surface of the flower garden leaves its mark on the ground in the form of deep ditches, which over time can turn into steep ravines.

Along with the flow of water, the fertile layers of the soil are also washed away. Therefore, one of the first tasks that the owner of a sloping site must solve when planning to “break” a picturesque landscape is to establish a drainage system. To arrange it, you can use one of two methods.

The first way is to dig drainage grooves along the slope. Shallow "strips" are laid at a distance of 2-3 meters from each other. The role of drains can be performed by both ordinary shallow pits, the bottom of which is lined with a waterproof film, and small storage tanks, the liquid from which is convenient to use for watering plantations.

The second way is to equip a "protective" drain, placing it above the flower garden. Such a drainage system is more suitable if the quality of wastewater leaves much to be desired, for example: when a highway passes over the site. Ditches are laid along the perimeter of the site, placing them just above the beds so that wastewater does not enter the site, but accumulates in storage reservoirs equipped along the edges.

When arranging the drainage system, it is important to take care of the appearance of the storage tanks by decorating them along the outer edge with moisture-loving flowers or decorative foliage bushes.

Strengthening the soil in the flower garden

The sloping terrain is a stunning observation deck, where a beautifully designed flower garden always looks unusually picturesque and spectacular. But the soil on the hills often has a thin layer of fertile soil, which is also washed out by rains. Strengthening the soil by installing retaining walls and arranging terraces helps to solve problems. It is possible to enrich the soil composition at the site of the arrangement of the future flower garden by pouring the brought black soil.

An overview of the 5 most effective ways to strengthen slopes and slopes:

Creating terraces is an exciting and creative process. They can be arranged in a row, placed asymmetrically or in a checkerboard pattern. The number and height of terraces depends on the size of the plot and the degree of its steepness.

All natural and building materials are great for soil containment and decking: stones, bricks, concrete blocks, sheet metal and logs.

To create the effect of a natural landscape, retaining walls are placed somewhat randomly during their arrangement. Retaining walls can either appear from the ground, or smoothly merge with the terrain

For a garden flower bed, a brick design with forging elements is ideal. When decorating a site in a rustic style, terraces look very picturesque, reinforced with props, designed in the form. Such supporting walls are attractive and easy to manufacture.

To strengthen the slope wall, it is only necessary to drive in a few strong stakes, placing them at a distance of half a meter from each other. Between vertically installed stakes, it remains only to twist the flexible young shoots left after seasonal pruning of trees in the garden.

Sloping terrain is an excellent basis for creating flower beds. On improvised terraces, plants feel very comfortable, and the height differences provide a spectacular play of sun and color.

If your site is located on a slope - do not worry. Many landscape designers do not prefer flat terrain, but hilly terrain. On the slope, you can create spectacular compositions by focusing on stones, water, and small architectural forms.

Slope site design options

When choosing a landscape style for your site, you need to take into account a large number of factors, think through all the details, because the garden, like a mirror, will reflect all your preferences.

Terraced slope: a cascade of steps and ledges

One of the ways to change the appearance of the slopes is terracing - the formation of terraces, reinforced with retaining walls. The height and number of terraces depends on the size of the site itself and the height difference. The terraces are interconnected by steps, which are made of the same materials as the retaining walls.

Retaining walls on a slope

Retaining walls, designed in accordance with the style of the site, are a striking decorative element. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to the details, techniques and materials that are characteristic of each particular style. Retaining walls made of wooden logs are suitable for a rustic style, in a modern garden, retaining walls and steps can be built of brick, complementing them with forged railings, and in a natural style garden, a retaining wall made of natural stone will play the first violin. Very nice terraces with retaining walls will complement multi-level flower beds.

Observation deck on the terrace

On one of the terraces, you can equip viewing platforms, where you and your guests can admire the beauty of the surrounding nature and the landscape of the site.

Decorative pond with a gazebo on the shore

In some cases, when the relief of the site has a more complex structure - a ravine, a bank of a river or a pond, it is rather difficult to create a beautiful landscape picture. But all these seemingly shortcomings, with a skillful approach, can be turned into a highlight of the site, creating its unique flavor.

The ravine can be turned into a decorative pond with a gazebo on the shore. Plant shrubs and weeping willows on the banks. They will not only give the pond a romantic look, they will strengthen the shore with their roots, they will prevent them from creeping.

A collection of moisture-loving and aquatic plants will complete the composition. A wooden or forged bridge connecting the banks of the ravine-pond will beautifully fit into the overall picture.

The river bank can be decorated in exactly the same way. You can build a small pier, if the size of the river allows. From everything we can conclude: although the relief adds trouble and work, but it is he who will make the image of the site unique.

Rules for landscaping a summer cottage on a slope

If the house is built on the top of the slope, we plant tall trees here. It can be: pyramidal poplar, oak, linden, spruce, thuja. Ornamental shrubs will look good on the slopes - barberry, forsythia, lilac. We create compositions from shrubs and trees symmetrical or asymmetrical, but only so that they do not cover the house. Below the slope, you can plant low-growing shrubs in groups, create small flower beds, rockeries.

We plant the lowest plants at the bottom of the slope. Evergreen boxwood, juniper, mahonia will look good. In the spring, as soon as the snow melts, bulbous ones will be the first to please the eyes - hyacinths, crocuses, tulips, hazel grouse. They will be replaced by decorative bows, Californian esholzia, marigolds, rudbeckia. In autumn, the reign of chrysanthemums will come.

An important element of the site on the slope is the path. If it is laid in the form of a serpentine, it will emphasize the steepness of the slope. A variety of materials are perfect for decorating the path: stone slabs, breccia, brick, wood.

Complement and decorate the winding path with a composition of stone and plants - rockeries. For rockeries, we choose Cossack juniper, saxifrage, young, stonecrop.

If the site is a slope that goes down to the house, that is, the house is below, we place the plants differently. We plant tall trees at the top, near the entrance to the estate, and surround the house with several thick clumps of shrubs or low ornamental trees - cypress, lilac, viburnum, mountain ash.

The crowns of tall trees, if they are in front of the house, we form to the height of human growth. In this case, the trees will not cover the exposure from other, lower plants.

The slopes are perfect for creating streams with waterfalls and cascades. Moving water will enliven the site, give the landscape naturalness, create a feeling of complete harmony.

Do not be upset, you are faced with opportunities that are not available to the owners of ordinary plots. Your imagination and our advice will help you create an original and original example of landscape design.

Positive and negative sides of the site on the slope

To begin with, I would like to list all the advantages of the sloping location of the earth:

competently and beautifully designed, such a territory can become an extraordinary and picturesque example of landscape art;

the site on the slope is perfectly visible as a whole, so from the windows of the house you can contemplate all the design elements in the garden;

such land is a great place to create an alpine slide, waterfall or cascade;

if the cottage is located on the south side of the hill, its territory will be as much as possible illuminated by the sun, and this is an excellent prerequisite for good growth of green spaces and high crop yields.

However, in addition to the pros, a cottage on a slope also has disadvantages:

on land with a fairly steep slope, it is problematic to plant a lawn;

the design of such a site will require significantly higher costs than in the case of a gently sloping location of the territory;

planted crops will need frequent watering, as the water in the soil will not linger for long, flowing down the hill;

plants on the northern slope may receive insufficient heat and light, which will cause poor flowering and low yields;

the foundation of a house located in the middle or at the bottom of a hillock runs the risk of being flooded with water;

unstable areas of soil can lead to erosion and landslides;

daily movement on the slope is physically tiring;

small children should not play on a steep hill, so you need to take care of their safety.

Features of the design of sloping land plots

The dachas located on the slope are unlike each other. All of them differ in different height differences, which makes their landscape unique and original. In this regard, the design of each such site has its own planning solutions and decorative elements. There are certain features in the design of sloping lands:

It is considered optimal if the building in such a country house is located on top of a hill. This arrangement greatly simplifies the work with the terrain.
The layout of the site on the slope must necessarily take into account the characteristics of the soil and the technical features of the water supply. You also need to take into account the location of the slope relative to the cardinal points and the wind rose.
First of all, you need to plan the location of utility structures and recreation areas, and after that, determine the position of all other structures: terraces, stairs, retaining walls and other elements.
All measurements and calculations must be carried out with special attention and care - this will avoid unnecessary financial costs.
When landscaping on a slope, you should be careful with the lower layers of the soil. They must not be moved or interchanged, as this can lead to soil erosion, which in turn will create a danger to garden buildings.

Plot on a slope, landscaping

A significant slope of the summer cottage area creates the prerequisites for the flight of the designer's imagination. The height difference can be beautifully beaten when decorating the site, which will subsequently give an interesting, unusual and unique result.

Too steep slope of the soil makes it problematic to move around the territory and creates inconvenience in everyday life. In order to solve such problems and make living in the garden comfortable, it is necessary to build terraces, retaining walls and stairs on the slope. Among other things, you should pay attention to soil moisture. In areas with a slope, the land is usually drier, and for good plant growth in such a garden, special attention should be paid to irrigation systems. To prevent flooding of buildings with storm water, drainage should be laid on the site.

Let's take a closer look at the various landscape design activities:

Land terracing

For the design of lands with a slope of more than 15 °, such a technique as terracing is perfect - the creation of special horizontal platforms reinforced with walls. The size of the site and the degree of its steepness directly affect the number and height of the terraces. The sites are connected with each other by means of stairs, which are in harmony with the appearance of the retaining walls.

The creation of terraces requires considerable work, time and money, but the efforts expended will not be in vain: after a while, your dacha will become a model of beauty and comfort. Before zoning a site using terraces, it is better to consult with specialists by inviting them directly to the place of work. Their advice should help you achieve these key goals:

soil protection from soil erosion and the creation of an optimal system for removing unwanted moisture;

ensuring convenient and safe movement of the owners of the cottage on the slope;

creation of recreation areas, gardens and orchards on the site;

construction of high-quality and reliable retaining walls;

arrangement of space for relaxation in a comfortable place.

Terracing the site is carried out in several stages:

To begin with, determine the degree of steepness of the slope. To do this, the height difference is divided by the indicator of the horizontal base.
After that, the location of the terraces is marked on the site. The size of each site should be sufficient to accommodate a house, an outbuilding, a garden, a flower bed or a garden bed.
Then geoplastics are carried out - the artificial creation or change in the terrain. At the same time, the upper terraces are first built, gradually sinking down. The land cut from above is the basis for creating the underlying sites. The height of the terraces can reach 1.5 meters, but do not forget that the creation of high retaining walls will require considerable financial costs.

The construction of terraces is a creative business. You can arrange them in one row, in a checkerboard pattern or asymmetrically - the choice depends on the desire of the owner of the land. The design of the site on the slope, the photo of which is presented below, is an example of asymmetric terraces:

Creating retaining walls

Retaining walls are not only a way to strengthen the terraces, but also a decorative element. What subtleties should be taken into account when building these structures?

In order for the wall to look harmonious and fit into the overall design of the site on the slope, carefully select the materials for its creation and take into account the stylistic orientation of the garden. For example, retaining walls made of beams or logs will fit perfectly into the rustic style. For a garden in the Art Nouveau style, a brick design with wrought iron elements is suitable, and a site with an emphasis on natural beauty will look wonderful framed by natural stone.
Materials for creating retaining walls can be very diverse. For small structures, sheet metal, wood, stone or reinforced concrete is suitable. Metal and wood must be treated with paint or varnish to protect against moisture.
The stone wall can be folded dry or a cement mortar can be used to fix it. In the first case, the height of the structure should not exceed 1 m, it is better to lay out higher walls on the mortar.
Another material for creating retaining walls are concrete blocks. The structure made in this way must be protected from moisture at the points of contact with the soil. You can also make an exterior wall finish with paint, tile or natural stone.
In order for the wall to stand firmly and last for a long time, at the beginning of its creation, a reinforced concrete or rubble concrete foundation is laid.

Creation of a drainage system

Summer cottages with a slope are subject to soil erosion due to spring floods or heavy rains. In order to avoid such a nuisance, drainage is laid on the territory. This is a system of pipes made of metal or asbestos cement, which are laid at the bottom of the wall. Sometimes pipes are replaced with filtration holes.

You can use the water from the drainage system to good use. For example, accumulate it in suitable containers and water the plants or filter for the pool, if there is one on the site.

Construction of stairs

As a rule, in areas with a large slope, the terraces are interconnected using stairs. They not only make moving around the cottage comfortable and convenient, but are also an element of the overall design. In order for these structures to harmoniously fit into the overall picture of the garden, special attention must be paid to their construction.

The dimensions of the steps do not have to comply with accepted standards.
An affordable option can be a staircase made of wooden blocks or boards. In this case, the riser is made from a board mounted on the edge, fixed on the sides with wooden pegs, and densely packed soil serves as a tread.
A more expensive, but also more beautiful option would be a staircase made of stone, brick or monolithic concrete. In the latter case, you need to additionally make a wooden formwork.
If the staircase turns out to be too steep, a convenient handrail should be installed on at least one of its sides.
It is better to break too many steps into spans of 8-10 pieces, between which there will be platforms for rest during the ascent. For greater comfort, benches can be placed between the spans.

The site on the slope, the photo of which can be seen below, shows an example of a staircase made of stone:

Creating a garden on a plot with a slope

Since the sloping terrain is an excellent viewing platform, a beautiful garden on it will look especially impressive. Alpine slide, various flower arrangements, artificial waterfalls and cascades - all these opportunities open up to the owner of the site on the slope.

Often the soil of the hills contains a large number of stones and a very thin layer of fertile soil, but this problem is quite solvable. Stones can be used as a natural material for the design of retaining walls, and the land on the slope itself can be covered with a layer of imported black soil.

Ideas for designing a relief area

In a relief cottage, you can grow a lawn. If the terrain is too steep, it will be quite difficult to do this, but on a sloping slope, the grass and plants will take root well enough and still look spectacular. If the territory is designed in the form of terraces, then there will be no difficulty in growing a lawn. Stepped platforms covered with a terry green carpet will look impressive when viewed from above.
The sloping terrain is excellent soil for creating a rockery - an ornamental rock garden. You can also place a rock garden or simply beautifully decorated flower beds. All planted crops will grow remarkably on a slope if horizontal holes are made under them, reinforced with boards. On the terraces, the plants will feel even better, and the height differences will provide a beautiful play of the sun and colors.
An artificial reservoir is another trump card of the site on the slope. Waterfalls, cascades and streams will fall beautifully from the top of the hill, and a quiet cozy lake can be placed on the terrace area.
Paved platforms and stairs meandering in serpentine among greenery are an important decorative element of the overall composition.
Junipers and ground cover crops can be used to decorate the slope. They are able to grow across the territory with a motley carpet, and also successfully hide construction flaws.

Basically, in such articles they write how cool and beautiful it is, then they add that you are very lucky, because you have a plot with drops, create, everything is in your hands. All these parting words are abundantly “fertilized” with a huge number of ideas and a bunch of beautiful photographs from all over the world, and at the end of the article, some masochists definitely recommend smearing stones with kefir to root moss in retaining walls. But that doesn't make it any easier for us, though :)

And here we can safely state that we are part of society. In such dense urban, suburban and cottage areas, we feel like in an aquarium!

Then our main task is to create an isolated island for the rest of the family, through a gradual transition to a separate zone-an oasis of calm. I call it the third dimension. The first dimension is the official entrance in front of the house. The second dimension is the area behind the house, and the third is the most hidden, the most intimate for rest and reflection. Wind, noise, vanity is somewhere higher………
In this case, the site with a slope is very beneficial to us, since the descent is always identified with shelter and protection. And with proper zoning of the site, we can develop and enhance this feature and in the end get a chamber patio, a small lawn or a gazebo by the pond, hidden from prying eyes, that is, our main requirement create isolation.

Here is a good example.
Small lot all around densely populated by neighbors. I, while planning and designing a garden in Raubichi, Minsk region, isolated the most remote corner even more, and strengthened the feeling of intimacy by a general decrease. Moreover, he revealed and enhanced the characteristic natural features of the site with a slope, equipping from top to bottom a stream that flows into a pond under the terrace in the patio. The dimensions of this cozy patio repeat the dimensions of the terrace near the house. Everything is made from natural materials. Everything is focused on solitude and relaxation after a week of work.

Important. In the city and the suburbs, natural materials - wood, earth, plants, water - become even more important than in a distant village, where we are surrounded by all these textures in the literal sense. Therefore, make the most of natural materials to enhance your ecological island.

Let's look at a common planning error
Look, we can do it traditionally, just order the construction of a retaining wall made of concrete in Minsk, thoughtlessly pour it and we will get a lower terrace, or just 2 pencil cases crushing the most important area of the garden.

It looks very disharmonious, but most importantly, these pencil cases subsequently determine the structure of landscape design.

In this example, we organized a retaining wall in the most active movement zone in the form of a closed courtyard near the bathhouse, and designed the second part, where there is much less traffic, in the form of a descending slope that can be formed in the form of another volume. Such an arrangement will strengthen the relationship with the house and the bathhouse, create a much more harmonious development of landscape design, and in the future your stay will be much more comfortable. It turns out and saved and strengthened.

Important. Use the golden ratio. If you decide to combine a retaining wall with a natural slope, stick to the one-third rule. That is, either the slope occupies 2/3, and 1/3 is a support with a ladder, or vice versa. Use the laws of similarity and identity. Use the dimensions of the house and materials for facade decoration in the dimensions of retaining walls, patios, terraces. Let's say you have a house with a width of 11 meters. If this size is used in the dimensions of the retaining wall, patio, gazebos, then such a direct interaction unites disparate volumes. Your main task is to avoid fragmentation of unrelated elements.

Island example. I designed and built this zone in the form of a semicircle, which forms the lower island where there will be a gazebo and around the lake. Please note that on the side of the retaining wall there is a bridge for connecting two ponds, and the composition will be completed by a waterfall falling into the lake from the retaining wall.

This example demonstrates a fragmentary retaining wall with a staircase leading to the bath complex, I organized the rest of the area in the form of a natural slope.

Practice shows that many individual developers do not consider one of the better and more logical options placing stairs, retaining walls and leveling the height difference on your site, on the side of the house, let's look at this option.

Each house has passages between the wall of the house and the fence on both sides, usually narrow.
These passages are ideal for stairs and retaining walls.
1) With this arrangement, a staircase with a retaining wall will be located in narrow, little-used areas, as a result of which it gives us the opportunity to use the most important area behind the house without drops and heaps of concrete walls, for example, for .
2) There are many more options here to technologically link the landscape design with the design of the stairs, retaining wall or a group of stairs, terraces, since there are two verticals, a fence and a wall of the house. In which runs of stairs can rest. In addition, it is easy to use structures for vertical gardening.

And here is a good example of a difference of 1.5 meters, equipped on the sides of the house.

When designing the space of your site, always try to perceive retaining walls as an important element that must form some kind of isolated zone. That is, retaining walls are always more harmonious when they predetermine or highlight the neighboring volume with their shape.