rock garden ideas on a slope

How do you make a rock garden on a slope?

Arrange the large rocks in your garden first, then pepper the area with smaller rocks. Go with the grain of the rock when setting each piece on the slope, and bury at least one-third of each rock to avoid rocks rolling down the slope during bad weather or otherwise becoming loose.

What to do with a garden that slopes?

Sloping garden ideas: 15 clever solutions for tricky plots

Add statement steps. ...
Mix smart steps and sloping beds. ...
Use gabions as a retaining wall. ...
Make room for sunken seating. ...
Build in steps and borders. ...
Go for tiered planters. ...
Divide with sweeping curves. ...
Use slopes to showcase planting.

How do you landscape a steep slope?

Here are 10 solid ideas for landscaping a sloping, or even a downright hilly, backyard.

Break Out in Tiers. 1/11. ...
Build Some Stairs. 2/11. ...
Make a Natural Staircase. 3/11. ...
Design a Waterfall. 4/11. ...
Lay a Winding Path. 5/11. ...
Erect a Retaining Wall. 6/11. ...
Cultivate a Rock Garden. 7/11. ...
Devise a Destination Fire Pit. 8/11.

What to plant on a steep slope?

Some plants that work well on slopes include:

Burning Bush.
Fragrant Sumac.
Japanese Yew.
California Lilac.
Creeping Juniper.
Dwarf Forsythia.
Snowberry.
Siberian Carpet Cypress.

How do rocks on a slope stop erosion?

Types Of Rocks To Help Stop Erosion

1) Cobblestones. ...
2) Gravel. ...
3) Non-Absorbent Stone. ...
4) Riprap. ...
1) Using Retaining Walls. ...
2) Anchoring Plant Beds With Boulders. ...
3) Creating A Rock Toe For Shorelines. ...
4) Rock Terraces.

How do you secure soil on a slope?

To guard against these slow but sure soil eroders, you can use a combination of these five techniques.

1) Build A Garden Terrace. Preventing soil erosion on a hillside is a steep challenge. ...
3) Use Sandbags As Diversions. ...
5) Use Geotextiles Or Erosion Control Blankets.

How do you keep a garden sloping?

How to level a sloping garden

Make sure you have permission. This is an important first step that's easily missed. ...
Measure the rise and run of the slope. ...
Water the ground you'll be digging. ...
Build the retaining wall. ...
Pile up soil behind the retaining wall. ...
Ensure the new lawn is level. ...
Compact the soil. ...
Plant a new lawn.

How can I hide my sloping garden?

Planting is vital in a terraced garden to soften all the hard landscaping. It can also be used to disguise any shallow sloping areas and gives the advantage of plants looking taller than they really are at the back of the border. Grasses are an ideal solution for sloping gardens.

How do you landscape a steep slope on a budget?

4 Cost-Effective Landscape Design Ideas for a Slope

Install Groundcover Plants.
Build a Tiered Retaining Wall.
Create a Natural Rock Garden.
Build Stairs or a Pathway.
Tackle Your Slope in Sections.

How do you stabilize steep slopes?

Slopes over 50% will require structures or special techniques for stabilization. Techniques for steep slopes include wood retaining walls, interlocking concrete blocks, rock retaining walls, riprap (loose rock) areas, and terracing.

How do you make a slope step by step?

Divide the height of your slope by 7 ¾ inches (or however many inches tall you've decided to make the rise of your steps). If, for instance, your slope is 77.5 inches tall and you plan to build steps of 7 ¾ inches, you will need 10 steps.

What can you plant on a slope to prevent erosion?

Cover crops, such as vetch, rye and clover, are excellent plants for erosion control. These hardy easy to grow plants send out nets of roots that help hold topsoil in place while also reducing competitive weeds. When tilled back into the soil, they increase the nutrient density as they compost.

What is the easiest ground cover to grow?

The Best Low-Maintenance Ground Covers for Your Garden

Heuchera. 1/11. An evergreen perennial, heuchera is known for its vibrant foliage, which ranges in color from silver to green to brown. ...
Honeysuckle. 2/11. ...
Brass Buttons. 3/11. ...
Creeping Phlox. 4/11. ...
Creeping Jenny. 5/11. ...
Stonecrop. 6/11. ...
Vinca Minor. 7/11. ...
Lamium. 8/11.

How do you keep mulch on a steep slope?

Ideally, steep slopes should be terraced to create smaller, flatter areas that will hold soil and mulch in place. Terraces help create more garden space, too. Another option is to cover the mulch with bird netting, then use landscape fabric staples to hold the netting in place and keep the mulch from sliding downhill.

Will rocks stop erosion?

Rocks are typically used to prevent erosion by water, not wind. Rounded stones are not as effective as rocks that are jagged or angular in shape that tend to “knit” or lock together. Rocks should be less than one-third as wide as they are long.

What is good to plant on a hillside?

Deep-rooted plants, such as prairie plants, hold their own on even the steepest slope. Ornamental grasses, ground cover roses and shrubs (including shrub roses with a sprawling growth habit) work well in hillside and slope planting. Native plants are nearly always an excellent choice.

Does River Rock stop erosion?

Rip rap & river rocks are effective in erosion prevention because they prevent the soil or sand from being cut away by the sweeping action of the water. Rip rap differs from river rock in size and material, although their end purpose of erosion prevention is the same.

What is the best ground cover for hillsides?

Steep, sunny slopes are perfect for perennials such as daylilies, creeping phlox, lamb's ears, stonecrop and a variety of ornamental grasses. A number of woody plants can also serve as good groundcovers, especially creeping juniper, fragrant sumac, bearberry, and Russian arborvitae.

How do you fill a hillside?

Rocks and boulders can really help to fill in a sloped yard. Artistically placed at the bottom of the hill or scattered down the slope, boulders provide a natural backfill area behind them. You can fill in and flatten out the soil in these areas, providing a planting area for shrubs and plants.

Can you level out a sloped backyard?

Sloped ground in your backyard may cause water runoff, soil erosion, uneven moisture retention and difficulty when mowing your grass or tilling your flowerbeds. ... Leveling the yard to decrease the slope will remedy many of these problems, allowing your backyard to become an inviting space.

How do you fix a sloping yard?

11 Design Solutions for Sloping Backyards

Add a Deck. Constructing a deck over a steep downward slope affords level space for entertaining and great views of a garden. ...
Build a Banked Border. ...
Design Terraces Around Different Themes. ...
Plant a Living Mural. ...
Keep Plantings Loose and Low-Maintenance. ...
Install a Rail. ...
Create Zones. ...
Lay a Feature Path.

How do I know if my ground is level?

Measure a distance 100 feet away from your house and drive another 3-foot-long stake 1 foot into the ground. Attach a string at ground level on the stake near the house, run the string out to the other stake, and attach it there so that the string is level.