1 day Ago By BBC Gardeners' World Magazine
Sloping gardens may seem challenging, but there are plenty of ways to transform even the steepest inclines into split-level spaces to provide areas for relaxation, entertaining and planting. How you design your tiered garden will depend on the size of the space, the steepness of the slope and your budget. Some tiered garden designs may need planning permission.
To find out about planning and check for safety concerning issues such as retaining walls and drainage, it's advisable to consult an expert. Simple tiered garden ideas Tiers made from sleepers In areas with fairly shallow slopes, sleepers often offer a cheaper way to create a natural aesthetic in a tiered garden than using other materials such as bricks. Pressure treated softwood sleepers should be long-lasting, but avoid reusing railway sleepers are these are likely to have been treated with creosote and can cause health issues.
Tiers with steps Add steps between tiers to allow for easy movement between levels and create a focal point in your garden. Aim to use the same or complementary materials for steps and retaining walls to provide continuity. Above, the colour of the bricks blends with the stones used for the gabion retaining walls.
Make sure any bricks used are durable enough for the situation. Steep tiered garden ideas Sunken patio Use tiers to mark out zones in the garden with different functions. A sunken patio surrounded by retaining walls provides a secluded space where you can relax, eat and enjoy the planting.
Here the lush foliage creates a vibrant, intimate atmosphere as if you were in the middle of a rainforest. Hidden tiers In an informal garden, hide tiers beneath plants to create a cascade of foliage and flowers down the slope. Grasses and ground cover plants are particularly useful in this situation.
Small tiered garden ideas Feature Wall Turn a retaining wall into a feature by adding wood to make an insect habitat or building a gabion wall. This creates style and interest in a structure that might otherwise be imposing and unattractive. Don't collect dead wood from local woodland or nature reserves as this damages wild habitats and belongs to the owner of the woodland.
Modern rendered tiers Create a modern, minimalist look with walls made of rendered concrete. This is long-lasting, but any structure built with concrete has a significant environmental impact. More environmentally-friendly options include wood and reclaimed materials.
Frequently asked questions What to do with a split-level garden? Split-level gardens offer lots of opportunities for creating different zones, planting in raised beds and providing an interesting journey through the space. How do you make a multi-level garden? Designing a multi-level garden involves consideration of important issues such as drainage and retaining walls, alongside the style you’d like to create and the amount of planting required. In most cases, it is advisable to seek help from experts in the planning and building stages.
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