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Steep Back Garden Sloping Towards House

ThornyHedgesThornyHedges Posts: 14
in Garden design

imageimageimage

The pictures show the East Facing Border.  I've started planting the top border with shrubs & climbing roses. image However, I would like to make the sloping area more accessible, starting with a raised bed at the bottom and continuing up the slope.  However, I'm not sure whether to build a brick wall or use sleepers instead.  Also, can someone help me with the details of how much digging into the slope I'll need to do to complete the side supports.  I really would like to get it started so that I can get my plants in next year.  Soil is appalling...developers took a bulldozer to the field and stripped away the first 2m (!) of soil, so we're down to the bare bones of subsoil.  The turf was laid on top of fine pea netting to stop it from sliding....yup, quality new builds image  Any advice appreciated.  Thanks 

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  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391

    It's a bit difficult to visualise the extent of the slope in order to advise, Souperwoman.  Could you perhaps take a few photos from further back or an upstairs window etc., to show as much of the garden as you can?

    Last edited: 18 December 2016 15:35:31

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • ThornyHedgesThornyHedges Posts: 14

    image This is what the garden looked like soon early this year after I had planted a few bulbs to break up the grass.  Still a long way to go, but if anyone has also got a similar garden that they've terraced or landscaped, I'd love to see them.  Thanks again.

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391

    I would say your best bet would be to terrace it, with either steps at one end, both ends or in the middle, with a horizontal path running along the entire length of the slope, half way up.  That would give you complete access and the path would soon be hidden from view by plantings.  Cutting the path into the slope would create the top terrace automatically and retaining 'walls' of sleepers (2 or 3 high) would be enough to hold the soil back, especially if you drill vertical holes through the sleepers and hammer reinforcing bar (rebar), easliy available from a builders merchant, a couple of feet into the soil below.

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • ThornyHedgesThornyHedges Posts: 14
    BobTheGardener says:

    I would say your best bet would be to terrace it, with either steps at one end, both ends or in the middle, with a horizontal path running along the entire length of the slope, half way up.  That would give you complete access and the path would soon be hidden from view by plantings.  Cutting the path into the slope would create the top terrace automatically and retaining 'walls' of sleepers (2 or 3 high) would be enough to hold the soil back, especially if you drill vertical holes through the sleepers and hammer reinforcing bar (rebar), easliy available from a builders merchant, a couple of feet into the soil below.

    See original post

     Thanks for those ideas.  The horizontal path half way up makes total sense. (Shame it's going dark or I'd be outside with my boots on starting the work!)  Thanks again.

  • Kitty 2Kitty 2 Posts: 5,150

    I don't have a slope but remember seeing this project on the forum this summer.

    http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/garden-design/before-and-after/985708.html/

    Laura did a fantastic job, the next link shows how it all started.

    http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/garden-design/imagination-required/943532.html

    Hope the photos give you some inspirationimage

  • ThornyHedgesThornyHedges Posts: 14

    Thank you Kitty 2.  image

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391

    Probably best to build the retaining wall at the bottom first, then you can just fill the bottom terrace with the soil dug from creating the path. image

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Kitty 2Kitty 2 Posts: 5,150

    You're welcome souperwomanimage.

    I've just spotted your Q for Tetley on the other thread. Will flag it up if she doesn't spot it, she might pop in for the quiz later tonight.

  • ThornyHedgesThornyHedges Posts: 14

    Thanks Kitty 2 image

  • ThornyHedgesThornyHedges Posts: 14
    BobTheGardener says:

    Probably best to build the retaining wall at the bottom first, then you can just fill the bottom terrace with the soil dug from creating the path. image

    See original post

     Thanks BobTheGardner.  Looking forward to getting started image

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