Garden Re-Design (Landscaping)

jamesphillips1981

Good afternoon,

We have started a garden refresh but don’t really know where to go from here.  I am an engineer by trade (hence the poor spelling/grammar), so as long as somebody tells me what to do, I can normally find a way of doing it!  I do however lack a bit of creativity, so I am hoping somebody can take as fresh look at things and give me some guidance.  Here is what we have at the moment…

We are fairly happy with what we are doing on the south/east facing part.  We are going to have a little courtyard type section.  There will also be a raised border/bed to cover up some concrete fence stumps on the lower section of garden.  The plan is to plant some trees in those raised beds for screening purposes.  

The area that we need assistance on is the transition from the back of the house to the lower section of garden (shown about by the hatched lines).  The slope is making things difficult.  There is a large amount of decking there at the moment.  I think it makes sense to keep decking there as you need something to step out onto (because of the slope) and the sub-structure looks sound, but we are open to changing the shape of it. 

Does anybody have any ideas on what we can do?  

Some photos below showing the current mess.  The conifer tree will be chopped down and a fence is being put up along the South/East border this week.  

GardenerSuze

@jamesphillips1981 As you are an engineer would it be possible to actually create a lawn at a 45 degree angle or is the whole garden sloping away too much?  It does seem to be alot of squares if you could work into one of the corners maybe? Landscape is not my subject but my first thought was to be more creative in the middle of the garden. I hope you get alot of ideas on a different approach.

We talk gardens here I have worked as a gardener, no time for learning how to spell. Plants have always been more important.

GardenerSuze

@jamesphilips I have just been reading another thread from last year where a garden sloped away. Sadly no one had been able to offer advice. I think the problem is it can be both difficult to make suggestions as these sites can be expensive. This post should put your enquiry to the top and I do hope you get some members thoughts.

M33R4

GardenerSuze said:

@jamesphilips I have just been reading another thread from last year where a garden sloped away. Sadly no one had been able to offer advice. I think the problem is it can be both difficult to make suggestions as these sites can be expensive. This post should put your enquiry to the top and I do hope you get some members thoughts.

That post you mention was probably mine GardenerSuze. I didn't end up buying that house as my current home sale fell through. My plan was to have part decking acting as a balcony overlooking the garden as the slope was considerable. The decking would also act as a view point over the garden and where my garden furniture would live. 

Rest of the slope I would have cut terraces, retained by railway sleepers (placed vertically at different lengths) to use as my planting beds/borders. Having had more time to think about it, bordering the garden were really mature 100 foot trees and I have a feeling their rooting system may have caused havoc to my terrace plans 

The view over the River Teifi from that house was awesome and that is what drew us to put an offer in the first instance.

Fairygirl

Your photos aren't showing for me unfortunately.
We had raised decking in a previous house, with an awkward shape and slope in both directions. We planted it up along the edge of the deck - beyond the handrail, and had a small level area beyond that. I don't have many photos but this gives a general idea
This bit was 90 degrees from the deck [you can see the handrail]


This is the narrow section along the foot of the handrail


This the little level area in front of both those raised sections.

M33R4

jamesphillips1981 said:...Some photos below showing the current mess...  

The pics are not visible to me James 

Kathm

@jamesphillips1981.  Hello, I also have a sloping garden and just had work done last year - which makes it easier to navigate/cut grass etc.   

I can’t see your photos, but have attached my before and after.  Might give you some ideas.  Sweeping staircase leads down into sunken patio area.  All the wooden edges raised beds/decking was rotting - so went brick/paving in hope it lasts longer.  K

Kathm

This gives better idea of the slope I have. 

owd potter

With some imagination sloping sites can make for impressive gardens, in a sequence of terraced 'rooms' and are natural for creation of running water features.
It will invariably mean lots of work and expense in landscaping with lots of retaining walls and steps to build, also an additional effort to maintain, but worth it.
Mine slopes in the opposite direction, up away from the house.  

GardenerSuze

I agree that sloping gardens can become impressive gardens but they can also be very expensive to terrace. The price of wood alone has almost doubled in the last few years.
I don't live that far from a river and the fear of flooding is always in the back of your mind too.

GardenerSuze

@Kathm That is really beautiful. Lots of people have a garden with a  slope away from the house and that is one of the best designs I have seen.