Hillside Landscaping Ideas

Just because your yard is uneven doesn't mean it can't be beautiful. Landscaping on a slope is simply an opportunity for creativity, and we've got plenty of hillside landscaping ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

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By: Kamron Sanders

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1. Split Large Hillside Beds in Two

Landscaping on a slope can be one of the most challenging parts of planning out your property. From figuring out how to divert water to preventing soil erosion to thinking up a hillside landscape solution that's maintainable, there are many factors to consider. One of the most effective ways to make future maintenance of a hillside bed manageable is to split the bed in two with a set of stairs or a path that affords access to the middle area. Pro Tip: Always choose low-maintenance plants for hillside beds.

ALSO SEE: 30 Low-Maintenance Plants for Easy Landscaping

From: Seoane Landscape Design

2. Install Terraces to Garden On a Slope

Whether you're looking to splurge or you're after hillside landscaping ideas on a budget, a terraced garden is an excellent way to take advantage of an underutilized hillside. While stone will yield a classic look that will last ages if done properly, you can save serious money by opting for terraces made of timber.

ALSO SEE: Terrace Landscaping Ideas

From: Mom's Design Build

3. Break Up the Slope With Paths of Grass

Breaking up hillside garden beds on a sloped yard with lateral paths of grass can be beneficial in more ways than one. The grass visually breaks up the landscape, which gives rest to the eyes with the stunning floral display, while the physical break offers a prime pathway for a garden stroll.

ALSO SEE: Waterside Retreat: Serene Lake House and Garden

From: Spring Lake Garden Design Incorporated

4. Plant a Low-Lying Groundcover

A low-lying, trailing groundcover will beautify a hillside while shoring up the dirt with its roots. Plus, this is a great place to start if you're looking for budget-friendly hillside landscaping ideas, as you can spread out your spending and add in taller, contrasting plants in the future. To find the right hillside groundcover for your area, start by identifying which garden zone you're in and then researching trailing groundcovers that thrive in your location. Don't forget to consider the amount of sun and shade your hill is exposed to before planting.

ALSO SEE: 18 Tough Groundcovers

From: CommonGround Landscape Architecture

5. Anchor Hillsides With Big Boulders

When it comes to low-maintenance hillside landscaping, boulders are your best bet. Within a landscape, boulders are like plants that require zero maintenance or watering, while offering nice visual contrast. To break up a hillside landscape, place large boulders throughout. Boulders will add interest and height to hillsides carpeted with low-lying groundcovers. Plus, the more rocks you add, the more they'll anchor the soil.

ALSO SEE: 30 Gorgeous Rock Gardens

From: Seoane Landscape Design

6. Layer Rocks to Combat Erosions

To keep mulch where it belongs on a hillside bed, all you need are some rounded rocks like fieldstones. Build up a couple of feet of a single layer of stone lying on the natural curvature of the hillside to prevent washout and add visual interest to the slope.

ALSO SEE: How to Use Rocks in Your Landscape

From: CommonGround Landscape Architecture

7. Work With Nature On a Water Feature

Sometimes, the best way to tackle landscaping a sloped backyard is to work with nature instead of against it. It goes without saying that water flows downhill, meaning a sloped backyard is a prime opportunity for a water feature. Since you already have a slope, you can save serious money on dirt work to create a standout water feature.

ALSO SEE: 15 Waterfall Designs

From: Paradise Restored Landscaping

8. Mix Up the Plants

Think of your hillside as a blank canvas and plants as paint. Sure, you could coat the canvas in one paint color, but it would look a lot better if you ushered in color with multiple paints. The same goes for plants. Opt for variation in color, height and even leaf size. The bonus perk here is that should a disease come through and plague an individual plant, you won't lose the whole hillside.

ALSO SEE: Combining Plants

From: Zeterre Landscape Architecture

9. Tame Steep Slopes With Retaining Walls

Big or small, abrupt changes in grade usually call for a retaining wall. Luckily, retaining walls can add significant beauty to a property if done properly. Check out our favorite sturdy retaining wall ideas, below.

See More: 35 Sturdy Retaining Wall Ideas for a Sloped Yard

From: Southern Walker Landscape Design

10. Plant Grass On a Slope

Just because your yard is sloped doesn't mean that grass is out of the question. The main thing to consider is whether the hillside is mowable, based on the grade of the slope. Most riding lawnmower manufacturers recommend not mowing on hills with more than a 15-degree slope. To help establish grass on a hillside, choose a grass seed that specifies use on slopes or opt for sod.

Get the How-To: How to Lay Sod Over an Existing Lawn

From: Craig Reynolds Landscape Architecture

11. Integrate a Garden Shed

For tall retaining walls, get creative and integrate a garden shed directly into the hillside. By doing so, you'll essentially pull square footage out of thin air.

ALSO SEE: Gorgeous Gardens: Flower Fields by the Water

From: Glen Gate

12. Use Stone Slabs as Steps

Long, subtle slopes come with a choice: Do you install a sloped path or build a set of stairs? Or, you could forgo both options and opt instead for stacked stone slabs. Stone slabs create luxurious, deep steps that will give your garden a bespoke, naturalistic aesthetic.

ALSO SEE: How to Use Rocks in Your Landscape

From: Designscapes Colorado

13. Or, Install a Switchback Path

If you prefer a path rather than stairs, consider a switchback path. Switchbacks allow the grade of the path to be much more walkable by effectively dividing the grade of the overall slope. The more curves you have, the softer the slope of the path.

ALSO SEE: 40 Ideas for Creating the Perfect Pathway in Your Yard

14. Work In Levels

If your yard has a massive, steep slope, fear not — massive slopes come with massive design opportunities. The key to unlocking the design potential of a steep hillside is to work in zones. Here, a long set of stairs leads to a destination sitting area up top, flanked by beautiful botanicals. Below, two more levels of prime entertainment real estate occupy what would otherwise be an unmanageable backyard hillside.

ALSO SEE: Hillside Hermosa Beach Property With Contemporary Coastal Style

From: Ecocentrix Landscape Architecture

15. Glue Down Your Mulch

If you're anything like us, you love the look of a freshly mulched garden bed. You may have thought this was a no-can-do for a hillside bed, but you probably just haven't heard of mulch glue. Yes, you read that right — you can glue your mulch down so it stays put on the steepest slopes.

ALSO SEE: 13 Fall Mulch Tips