How to do terracing of a site with your own hands. Site on a slope: planning, strengthening the slope and organizing drainage (85 photos). Design options

At all times, people have strived to cultivate and improve land plots, and this led to the emergence of terracing. If you are the happy owner of a country house or have a private house in which you live, and you have your own piece of land, then most likely you want to improve it. Terracing a site with your own hands is quite a labor-intensive task. In addition to a great desire, you need to have skillful hands, tools, and a lot of patience. Our article is aimed at enabling you to become familiar with the principles of terracing and its basics. You will also receive proper recommendations and interesting ideas.

Terracing a site with a slope

Any owner of a house with a plot in the private sector dreams of a flat terrain, but in most cases we are faced with natural unevenness and slopes. In order for such a relief to become your advantage, you can terracing the area, which consists of creating wide covered areas where it will be convenient for the whole family or friends to spend time on a hill. Artificially created steps and areas look impeccable; they can be located simply along the slopes or decorate the approaches to reservoirs and areas with vineyards. Properly made terraces will become a feature, not a disadvantage, of your site. Along the edges of the platforms and steps you can plant fruit trees or simply ornamental plants. If the slope is large, the ideal solution would be to create several areas. If it is not so steep and high, then it is quite possible to create one terrace. In any case, you will only benefit by improving your territory.

Principles of creating terraces

Terracing of a site is the creation of a land mass, which consists of a canvas, embankment and excavation slopes (vertical or inclined), berms - untouched parts of the slope located between the terraces.

Many people create terraces in steps, where the excavated lower slope becomes a fill for the upper one. Terrace areas must be fenced with rollers to protect them from soil erosion. Terracing the site allows you to increase usable space and improve the functionality of the soil.

To create a striking design, you need to use a variety of supports and ladders, so first assess the ground conditions and type of terrain.

Analysis of the surface and quality of the soil is carried out using visual surveys, and it is necessary to visualize the terracing. Once you have an idea of ​​what your site will look like, take measurements to determine how many terraces you can create. Consider every little detail, including the size of the supports.

Why do you need an analysis of the state of the relief?

Terraces can be up to six meters wide, and the height can reach eighty centimeters. After analyzing the terrain and soil, you can:

1. Assess the functionality of the territory.
2. Create a vertical layout according to all the rules.
3. Create the ideal composition of platforms and stairs.
4. Choose suitable plants to decorate your terraces.

Once you have assessed all the parameters and come up with a design, it will be easier to create a work plan.

Layout plan, vertical layout and dimensional reference

Vertical planning is the artificial change in terrain to create terraces. These activities include adding soil or cutting it off. Terracing a summer cottage using this method means that the area must be divided into separate fragments that will meet the rules of marking.

If you plan to create such complex objects as a pond, rock garden, alpine slides, flower beds and mixborders, then you will need to create a layout plan that needs to be drawn to an approximate scale.

Stages

“How to terracing a site on your own?” - many owners of land plots are interested. To create a magical land on your own territory, you should stick to the basic plan. So, what stages will precede the appearance of terraces in your garden?

• Creating a marking of the treated area. It must be fenced by pulling threads onto driven pegs.
• You need to add soil at the bottom and cut off at the top. This will reduce the angle of the platform.
• Creation of drainage systems and, if necessary, laying pipes for water supply.
• Concrete preparation of steps and retaining wall.
• Installation of waterfalls, slides and mixborders.
• Decorating steps and retaining walls with cladding.
• Paving paths and paths with tiles or stones.
• Preparing sites for planting plants.
• Installation and placement of architectural elements.
• Planting plants, filling reservoirs.

First peg

In order for the terraces to have a clear horizontal line, it is necessary to create conventional horizontal lines, which are cultivated using pegs and ropes. First, a peg is driven into the slope, then the area is divided into segments equal to one and a half width of the terrace being created. Subsequent points for driving in pegs are located using a level. This will form the first horizontal line, followed by the rest. After this, you can begin adding bedding to create level areas. It is recommended to create them not strictly horizontal, but with a slight slope so that rainwater can drain from them without forming a puddle. It is necessary to strengthen the bedding with retaining walls.

Retaining walls

It is necessary to prepare a wooden container, lay turf in it, and secure it with pegs on top. After this, large stones are laid out, followed by smaller ones. Next you need to attach a fine, strong mesh. After this, apply the mortar and decorate the wall with bricks, stones or tiles.

If the slope is too steep and high, specialist calculations and concreting are required. The same walls must be created as a foundation.

Strengthening walls

To strengthen straight walls, buttresses or pilasters are used, which, among other things, can serve as steps or ramps.

The construction of supporting walls is possible using concrete, stone, brick, wood or gabion with different fillers.

Conclusion

In this simple way, you can create beautiful decorations on your site that will decorate and add comfort. In reality, everything may be more complicated than it seems after reading the article, but it’s definitely worth it!

Terracing the site allows you to strengthen the slopes and improve the quality of living on the slope. Depending on the topography, construction budget and owner preferences, various materials and technologies can be used to create retaining walls and inter-level communications (steps, flights of stairs).

Terracing of slopes is carried out with vertical walls that prevent the soil from sliding and withstand its lateral movements. Due to significant horizontal forces, calculations of the penetration of walls into the soil, the thickness of the structure, and the necessary reinforcement are necessary.

The basic principles for designing retaining walls are:

• overturning and shifting are compensated by vertical forces from the structure’s own weight or by additional structure;
• part of the soil of the upper terrace is used so that its weight serves the same purpose;
• the plate is held by rods;

In the first case, a widening of the base of the wall is created, in the second, the structure resembles a corner, one shelf of which stands vertically, the second is turned towards the upper terrace. The soil of the upper terrace puts more pressure on the lower shelf of the corner than on the vertical one, which prevents it from tipping over.

In the latter version, the cable or reinforcement is stretched at an angle, stabilizing the spatial position of the slab.

Making terraces on slopes

The main task of terracing slopes is to create multi-level platforms, the surface of each of which is leveled horizontally. In other words, the developer receives several large steps, which are more convenient to use than one slope.

Concrete retaining walls

Concrete is traditionally considered the most reliable and durable structural material. Therefore, the landscape of slopes is most often corrected by pouring massive retaining walls made of ready-mixed concrete with your own hands. The technology of thin-walled structures made of industrially cast reinforced concrete products is used less frequently.

Calculation of a massive wall.

Important! Concrete retaining walls are always calculated according to the standards SP 43.13330 (for external networks/structures) for shear, overturning and destruction at abutment points.

When using a massive wall for terracing a summer cottage, there are nuances:

• the design balances horizontal soil movements with its own weight;
• usually has a wedge shape to distribute loads to the lower level;

Thin-walled structures are used when the developer has the opportunity to purchase cheap slabs (most often used) or cast them in the building area. They are characterized by:

• these elements involve the adjacent soils of the lower terrace in creating overturn control efforts.

In any case, drainage holes are created in the retaining walls, and storm drain trays are placed in the wall/lower terrace junction to drain the drainage.

Massive

Regardless of the size of the slopes, the landscape can be corrected with massive reinforced concrete walls in compliance with the following rules:

• the width of the base of the structure is 1/4 of the height of the wall on clay, 1/3 on loam, ½ on sandy loam or sand;
• thickness of the upper edge – 10 cm minimum;
• penetration into the soil of the lower terrace 0.7 m minimum at a height of 1.5 - 2 m, 1/3 for walls 40 - 150 cm high;
• It is better to install the formwork with your own hands along a broken contour, create corners and stiffeners inside the structure.

Radial and curved contours of the terraces of a summer cottage increase the quality of landscape design, in contrast to straight retaining walls.

Thin-walled

Creating thin-walled retaining walls with your own hands allows you to reduce the consumption of structural material, but dramatically increases the labor intensity of the process:

• the width of the trench on the lower terrace increases (equal to or greater than the width of the horizontal slab);
• the excavation depth is 40 - 60 cm, half of which must be filled with crushed stone and this non-metallic material compacted with a tamper or vibrating plate;
• the interface between the horizontal console and the vertical slab must be reinforced, since it bears the maximum load.

Cantilever wall design.

Less labor-intensive is to improve the landscape of slopes with thin-walled anchor walls:

• a slab is mounted vertically inside the 40 cm trench or poured in place (the thickness of the structure is at least 10 cm);
• Mortgage loops are installed 40 cm from its upper edge;
• a ground anchor (a driven pipe or a screwed-in screw pile) is located inside the soil of the upper terrace;
• The upper edge of the anchor and the loops on the back side of the vertical plate are tied with wire or cable.

Anchor retaining wall.

This strand compensates for horizontal movements of the soil on the upper terrace. The anchors are buried in increments of 0.5 - 1 m, the vertical slab by ¼ - ½ of its height.

Thin-walled buttress structures are considered the most reliable, in which the center of gravity is shifted to the upper terrace due to this stiffening rib.

Stone retaining walls

Natural stone or brick are most appropriate in the landscape of the site. Therefore, slope terracing is often done with these materials yourself. Classical masonry is practiced with displacement of elements in adjacent rows (ligation) and a mortarless method of laying inside form-forming meshes (gabions), which reduces the labor costs of the home craftsman.

Gabions

Gabions can be used to create a slope landscape of high artistic value. The main advantages of the technology are:

• from mesh frames filled with stone, you can create walls of any configuration;
• It is easy to integrate architectural elements, garden furniture, flower beds, stairs made using the same technology into gabions;
• retaining walls remain mobile throughout the entire operational period; they can be dismantled and modified at any stage of use.

Gabion structure for terracing.

The technology for assembling wire frames is not difficult. Construction waste can be placed inside each gabion in cellophane or geotextile (under the outer layer of stones), reducing the cost of its disposal. Flower beds can be laid along the top of the terraced walls or at any level. Any stone is suitable for filling structures; other materials can also be used.

Stone/brick masonry

Retaining walls made of brick or natural stone using traditional technology improve the landscape. The main nuances of the technology are:

• masonry of half a brick is allowed for walls with a maximum height of 8 rows, with buttresses up to 1.5 m;
• when using a slab to widen the base, it is enough to deepen the masonry by 20 cm;
• high walls are reinforced with pilasters, the thickness increases to 2 - 2.5 bricks;
• for reinforcement, masonry mesh is used in 3 – 5 rows;
• It is convenient to lay drainage pipes between small-format elements.

Important! Natural stone can also be used to make steps for inter-level communications between terraces to ensure unity of style.

Wooden retaining walls

When using lumber in retaining walls, the landscape of the site benefits, but the service life of these structures is reduced (for example, in comparison with gabions or concrete structures). A wooden structure is usually erected using two methods:

Advice! In any case, after mechanical processing of timber, it must be impregnated with fire protection or a fire retardant and antiseptic to increase the resource, ensure fire safety and prevent wood from rotting.

Using scrap materials

Most often, developers use used car tires that have exhausted their service life. They are fastened to each other with ordinary self-tapping screws, laid in a similar way to bricks (half-tied in adjacent rows), and filled with existing soil, less often with crushed stone or sand.

Support structure made from old tires.

A budget option for terracing is existing turf. There are no full-fledged walls in this method; the developer does not invest a penny in landscaping the territory. The technology looks like:

• the turf is removed across the slope 0.6 - 0.8 m wide and laid on the lower terrace;
• the topsoil layer is removed from the trench and placed on the upper terrace;
• soil from the top of the trench is moved to its lower level (cut and fill, respectively);
• a fertile layer is laid on top of the changed topography, then turf;

Important! The grass root system within the turf is not sufficient to prevent erosion, so shrubs and trees are usually planted on the ridge.

Interlevel communications

When making retaining walls, do not forget about flights of stairs and steps. They are necessary for climbing to the upper terraces and descending to the lower level. The steps can be poured from ready-mixed concrete, decorated with porcelain stoneware, ceramic, rubber or PVC tiles, seamless rubber coating, decking boards or any other materials.

To save the construction budget, you can do without wet technologies and lay paving slabs over a sand layer or gartzovka (PCS sand-cement mixture) directly on the ground.

In the first case, the technology is used:

• a gap of 0.8 m wide is created in the retaining wall (convenient when walking with buckets, hoses, fertilizers);
• side parapets are made of brick or stone masonry or formwork panels are installed;
• boards are placed inside the resulting structure, the height of which is equal to the size of the staircase risers;
• reinforcement cages are laid (2 vertical levels for each step);
• Concrete is poured and compacted with an internal vibrator.

After gaining 75% strength, the reinforced concrete structure is waterproofed with bitumen mastic, a penetrating composition after stripping the steps. Any frost-resistant cladding with a non-slip outer layer is suitable for decoration.

For the second option, the following method is used:

• a ramp compacted with a vibrating plate is created from soil or non-metallic material, the slope of which is convenient for a flight of stairs - 15 - 25 degrees, taking into account the size of the treads and risers of the stairs, the format of paving slabs (usually 30 x 30 cm);
• parapets are formed in a manner similar to the previous version (brickwork) to form a rigid “trough”;
• risers from garden borders are installed inside the resulting structure (depth into the soil of at least 10 - 15 cm, respectively);
• the treads are covered with crushed stone, the material is compacted with a vibrating plate;
• paving slabs are laid on a surface or on clean sand;
• the seams are filled with quartz sand or sand-cement mixture.

Flights of stairs can have a radial or curved shape for the highest quality integration into the landscape design of the site.

Thus, areas with complex landscapes can be terraced on your own using different materials using the specified technologies, taking into account the required design and the available budget.

Types of terraces and their features. Design and order of work execution. Vertical planning, strengthening of slopes and decorative design.

The content of the article:

Terracing a site is a set of measures aimed at creating horizontal platforms in the presence of uneven terrain with a predominance of hills and slopes. They prevent the top layers of soil from being washed away and are used for planting ornamental plants. Our material today is about how to terracing a site.

Types and features of terraces

The functions and design features of terraces that are created on slopes depend on the slope of the soil surface and the thickness of its fertile layer.

There are four main types of terraces:

• Comb. They are created on terrain with a slope of no more than 0.12. Their construction involves constructing earthen ramparts across the slope, up to 40 cm in height. Such terraces are used for planting grapes and fruit plants and do not exceed 50 cm in width.
• Stepped. They are the most reliable, attractive in appearance and therefore the most popular. Such terraces are built on ground slopes up to 0.25, have a width of 3 m and are reinforced with stone masonry, which makes them strong and stable. Stepped terraces are suitable for planting fruit and forest crops, grapes and vegetables.
• Trench. Such terracing is carried out when the terrain slope is up to 0.18 or more. The fertile soil layer in this case is very thin. During the work, the subsoil layer is removed from the trenches, then they are filled with soil and shafts are poured. Trench terraces are good for growing citrus or tea.
• Ditch terraces. They are installed on site slopes up to 1 with a thin fertile layer of soil. During the work process, soil is taken from ditches to collect or drain water and shafts are poured. This terracing allows you to plant fruit plants.

To independently terrace a site with a slope and turn it into a magical land, you need to consistently carry out a number of activities, while showing patience, hard work and accuracy:

1. Mark the area to be processed; it should be fenced off with a cord stretched over driven stakes;
2. Cut off the soil at the top of the slope and add it to the bottom, thereby reducing the slope of the site;
3. Make a drainage system and, if necessary, lay water supply pipes;
4. Install retaining walls and make steps;
5. Construct waterfalls, mixborders or alpine slides;
6. Perform wall cladding;
7. Pave the paths of the site with stones or cover with tiles;
8. Prepare terraces for planting;
9. Install architectural elements;
10. Fill artificial reservoirs.

Advantages of landscape terracing

The result of proper terracing of a land plot is not only a neat surface of its relief, but also a decorative arrangement of the territory.

The advantages of vertical and horizontal planning of a personal plot include:

• Preventing soil erosion;
• Possibility of simple drainage;
• Convenient division of the territory into management zones;
• Huge design possibilities;
• Uniqueness of the work result;
• Long service life of terraces;
• The ability to transform the disadvantages of natural relief into the advantages of an artificial landscape.

The stepped areas created by terracing look impeccable. They can be placed on slopes or used to form approaches to artificial or natural reservoirs, vineyards, etc. Ornamental plants can be planted along the edges of such areas. In any case, such design of the territory only leads to a positive result.

How to terrace a site with a slope

The construction of terraces involves excavating soil from the upper part of the slope and dumping it into its lower part until a flat plane is formed.

Preparatory work before terracing the site

Before terracing a summer cottage, it is important to take into account several nuances that affect the design of the sites:

• The level of soil water in the wettest seasons of the year - autumn and spring;
• The magnitude of the slope of the site;
• Soil composition and its features;
• Changes in relief height, as well as changes in its slopes in the horizontal and vertical directions.

Having determined these parameters, you can calculate the number of sites, their sizes, method of work and the height of their slopes. In addition, a preliminary study of the land plot will help resolve the issue of the need to construct drainage or drainage communications. After analyzing the soil and local topography, it will be possible to determine the functionality of the site, create the correct composition of platforms and steps, select plants for decorating terraces and, finally, draw up a work plan.

Before terracing, the area should be divided into fragments that meet all dimensional rules. When planning complex objects, for example, a pond, flower garden or alpine slides, you will need to draw up a breakdown plan.

Creating Contours

In order for the platforms to be within the horizontal line, you need to create conditional lines for them using cords and pegs. First, you need to drive a peg into the slope, and then divide the area into parts corresponding to one and a half width of the planned terrace.

The remaining points for placing the pegs must be determined using a level. After forming the first horizontal line, you can do the rest. Then soil should be added, creating sites according to the design. They should have a slight slope necessary for rainwater drainage.

Strengthening inclined slopes

There are three main methods of such strengthening to protect terraces from soil washout:

• Planting ornamental shrubs or trees along the edges of areas. This is the simplest method of preventing soil erosion from terraces. Plants to be planted must be able to create a dense network with their root system, located in the upper layers of the soil. Usually it is lilac, juniper or hawthorn. This method is used to strengthen inclined slopes.
• Installation of mesh or geogrid. It is used for the same purpose and can be combined with planting. At the same time, the branched roots of the bushes, intertwined with the mesh deployed on the slope, form a very strong reinforcing structure.
• Laying concrete slabs. They are also used to strengthen inclined slopes and need to be firmly fixed to the ground to prevent slipping during rainstorms. In addition to concrete slabs, paving slabs can be used.

Strengthening vertical slopes

The construction of retaining walls is the most practical and most common method of strengthening vertical slopes when terracing a site. Such buildings can be light and capital. Lightweight structures have a height of up to 1 m; a foundation is not required for their construction. For permanent retaining walls up to 3 m high, cushions made of gravel or concrete blocks buried in the ground are required. Particular attention should be paid to laying the blocks - they must support a large mass of soil. The thickness of such a foundation should be 60-70 cm, and the width should be at least 25 cm.

To construct retaining walls, you can use logs, concrete blocks, brick and stone, as well as cast-in-place concrete. The most suitable of these materials is natural stone - limestone, rubble, etc. Facing or ordinary clay bricks look good on the wall. However, it is inferior in resistance to weather conditions to natural stone. If the terrace has a slight slope, retaining walls for it can be constructed from short logs with dense wood, such as larch.

In terms of decorative design, retaining walls provide great opportunities for artistic creativity. With their help, you can create beautiful compositions in different styles, from medieval to modern. Such structures can be decorated with lanterns, wooden and stone stairs and other attributes of garden architecture.

Among the advantages of retaining walls are their long service life and easy maintenance. Despite this, it is important to know that such a design is a complex engineering structure. If it is not built correctly, it can collapse and become dangerous for the owners and guests of the house.

Therefore, when constructing it, you should be guided by the following rules:

1. The buried foundation must be strong.
2. The ratio of the height of the wall to its width should be 3:1.
3. A water conduit must be made in front of the top of the supporting wall to prevent its base from being washed away by irrigation or rainwater.
4. To increase stability, the supporting wall should be built with a slight slope towards the top of the terrace.
5. The construction of the structure must begin from the bottom of the site.

Construction of stairs

When terracing a site on a slope, all platforms must be connected to each other by stairs. Their appearance and location should be considered at the design stage. Moreover, the issue of their installation must be approached from a practical standpoint.

If stairs must lead to those objects that are used year-round, it is recommended to make them convenient for walking and clearing ice and snow. The steps of such stairs must be non-slippery. Steep stairs need railings and lighting.

Standard garden stairs are usually flat, the width of their steps is about 30 cm, and the height is no more than 10 cm. If the structure does not carry a large load, it can be made of natural stone or wood.

Decorating the terrace

It can be performed when the terraces are completely ready. When decorating, it is difficult to do without beautiful flowers. Thanks to them, you can create unique compositions from different varieties of these plants. You can safely plant fruit trees on the slopes. Herbaceous plants - nasturtiums or petunias - can give the terrace an excellent look. You can use juniper bushes or Japanese spirea for decoration.

In addition, terraces are convenient for organizing drains, which can have mini-waterfalls imitating forest streams, or a cascade consisting of several small reservoirs located on adjacent terraces. It looks especially beautiful if a large area has been allocated for terracing.

When designing retaining walls, it is useful to plant ivy near their head. This evergreen plant will eventually transform any structure into a green carpet or a chic hedge.

When planning the construction of a terrace for planting any plants, it should be taken into account that just one degree of slope of the site is enough to shift it by 8 km in the direction of the slope due to climatic factors. In practice, it looks like this: if the plot has a slope of 20 in the direction of the north, this means that it is recommended to plant plants on the terrace similar to those in the area located about 180 km north of your garden.

How to terracing a site - watch the video:

Based on the foregoing, we can conclude that all terracing options make it possible to implement many design solutions, giving the area on the slope individuality and a beautiful appearance. Compliance with the requirements when performing these difficult works will allow you to do the terracing of the site yourself, completely eliminating the need for financial costs to attract hired workers.

Quite often, owners of plots on a slope encounter difficulties in arranging it. The main question is how to competently organize construction and landscape design on your property so that it is reliable, functional, and, of course, beautiful. This article will offer the best options for solving the problem.

Layout

The first thing you need to do is draw up a construction plan. When drawing up a project, the following points should be taken into account:

• slope of the site;
• location of outbuildings;
• rest zone;
• plantings;
• locating storm drains.

The next point in the arrangement will be the maximum allowable leveling of the slope. The most suitable method for this would be terracing, the use of which involves removing soil in one place and moving it to another. On particularly steep slopes, buttress walls may be needed.

Slope strengthening

An important condition for this type of site is the strengthening of the slopes. To prevent soil sliding, several types of fortification structures are used:

Natural strengthening. Creeping shrubs and root systems are planted along the entire slope, which will be created by a natural frame. The most popular plants are rose hips, willow and lilac.

Geomaterial. The material, coated with a special protective layer, is not subject to various harmful external influences. Placed under fertile soil layer.

Embankment. Suitable only for areas with a large area, as it significantly conceals space. One of the main disadvantages is the periodic addition of soil.

Retaining walls. An ideal solution if you are planning to design a site in the form of terracing. You can use natural materials - stone or wood.

Gabions. Modular structures filled with large crushed stone, stone or pebbles.

Organization of the drainage system

To prevent landslides, washouts and slope destruction, it is very important to consider the location of the drainage system.

The installation of a drainage system is carried out after the location of all buildings on the site is known, all the necessary excavation work has been carried out, supporting walls have been installed and a water supply system has been installed.

Basic rules for installing a drainage system:

• trenches are laid along the slope throughout the entire area to the receiving collector;
• a layer of sand (about 10 cm) is laid at the bottom of the trench, from 30 cm to a meter deep;
• geotextiles are spread over the sand, covering the canal walls with a reserve;
• the next step is to pour gravel (about 20 cm);
• next – install and connect the pipes;
• another layer of gravel;
• covered with geotextile;
• covered with infertile soil;
• fertile soil is laid.

Let's start with the design

Landscaping a site on a slope is perhaps one of the most pleasant moments for its owner. You can use the services of a specialist or only your imagination. Below we will offer several design options for every taste.

Deck

The area above the slope in the form of a deck will be an ideal relaxation area with a beautiful view. You can install sun loungers on it, organize a dining area and a barbecue area.

Alpine slide

This is a kind of composition of flower beds, lined with natural rough stone. Plants on a hill are planted according to the principle, the lower, the higher. The main condition is that they must be suitable for growing on inclined surfaces.

Terracing

This type of design requires mandatory reinforcement with supporting walls. The number and size of platforms depends on the functionality of each of them.

Despite the fact that supporting walls with this design technique take up a lot of space, it is very convenient if you want to clearly divide the boundaries of your site. The terraces can be connected with each other by paths or steps.

Waterfall and stream

An excellent solution would be to organize artificial reservoirs. A waterfall can decorate a supporting wall, and with the right choice of plants that will be located along the stream, the impression of a natural spring will be created.

vertical garden

On the most prominent wall of your site, you can organize a plant composition of your favorite garden plants and flowers. Climbing plants are usually used for the main background, with a bright accent on which will be various flowers planted in pots and arranged on the wall according to your taste.

Observation deck with bench

An observation deck can be set up on one of the upper tiers of the site. A wonderful privacy area where you can relax and unwind while enjoying the views of the blooming garden. As an option - an open gazebo covered with ivy.

Decorative vegetable garden

It’s a good idea to use even narrow spaces between supporting walls functionally by placing small beds for vegetables, herbs and spices in them. They should be high enough and filled with fertile soil.

"Wild" slope

If you are a fan of “wild” nature, it is quite acceptable to decorate the site in this style. It will be enough to arrange the ascent and descent in the form of stairs, paths or steps, along which to plant plants that do not require special care.

Choose ground cover plants that will not only give aesthetic pleasure to their appearance, but also strengthen the soil.

Viewing various photos of the design of a site on a slope will help you make a final decision on what your site will look like.

In conclusion, it should be noted that the development of a site on a slope requires large material and physical costs. But it is precisely this kind of relief that will make it possible to turn it into a place unlike any other, where you will want to return and host family and friends.

Photo of a site on a slope

Some people think that a site on a slope is a death sentence, because it is more difficult to place the required buildings on it. In fact, this is not the case if you approach the planning and arrangement of such a site correctly. Thanks to some solutions, it is even possible to expand the territory. What needs to be done for this? Basic techniques will be discussed in the article.

Is a site on a slope really that bad?

Only people with a non-standard solution will give preference to plots on slopes. This is explained by the need for a creative approach to territory development. The following facts speak in favor of choosing a site on a slope:

• unique appearance;
• the opportunity to create a work of art;
• the ability to view the entire territory;
• ease of construction of some elements;
• increased productivity.

The slope will provide an opportunity to break out of the gray mass of buildings and provide a design that will stand out and be different from others. Two adjacent dachas on a slope cannot be similar, because the topography is different. Thanks to the plot on the slope, you can build your own mini-paradise, which will please the eye and allow you to relax your soul. In addition, in such an area it is possible to create elements that would require significant costs on a horizontal surface.

These include, for example, waterfalls. It will be enough for him to lay out a gutter made of stone. This also applies to the alpine slide. On the horizontal section it would be necessary to import additional material for these purposes. It is considered ideal if the slope is on the south side. In this case, you can get a higher yield, because most of the day the area on the slope is warmed by the sun's rays.

But such a site on a slope also has its disadvantages, which are:

• the difficulty of planting a lawn;
• additional investments for arrangement;
• the need for frequent watering of plants;
• the need to place buildings on top;
• presence of unstable areas;
• additional effort to move around the territory;
• danger for children.

It is, in principle, possible to plant a lawn on a slope, but caring for such an area will cause certain difficulties. It is better to use a self-propelled lawn mower for these purposes, which you do not have to drag around. It is worth understanding that site development is not cheap. But if you introduce ideas gradually, the blow to the budget will be smoothed out.

Water leaves the site on a slope faster, so you will have to water the plants more often. You can select trees and shrubs that do not need a lot of moisture. Since the slopes can be unstable, it is recommended to construct the main buildings at the top so that the foundation is not washed away.

Moving along a sloped surface requires a lot of effort, although it also contributes to excellent well-being. It is important to supervise children so that they do not get injured while playing on a sloped area.

Preparatory stage

The beginning of the preparatory stage consists of a sound assessment of the nuances that relate to a specific site. It's worth thinking about:

• relief;
• geometric parameters;
• possibility of implementing terraces;
• type of soil;
• groundwater level;
• prevailing winds;
• illumination of the territory.

A correct assessment of the terrain of the site will make it possible to best position buildings and zone the territory. When solving such problems, it is also worth considering the geometry of the allocated area. The arrangement of buildings and flower beds may depend on it. Some areas are not suitable for terracing due to the slope being too steep.

In some areas, the soil may be clayey and you will need to transport fertile soil if you want to grow crops. It is important to analyze weak points by finding out at what level the groundwater is located. In areas where they are close, a high-quality drainage system will be needed.

Depending on the cardinal directions to which the hill is turned, as well as on the direction of the winds, a selection of plants is made. Some of them may freeze during the cold season. Some types of shrubs and trees love plenty of sun, which is also important to take into account.

Terracing

Everyone is familiar with this technique of arranging hills. Simply put, it is the creation of large steps or tiers. Each of them can carry its own functional load. This leveling method is used only when the slope exceeds 15 degrees. If the angle of the slope is smaller, then usually no modifications are made to level it. Terraces can be of different heights. It all depends on how steep the hill is.

In the case when the difference between the steps is only 0.5 meters, laying with stone without bandaging will be sufficient, since the loads on the walls are insignificant. If the difference reaches a meter or more, then the help of heavy equipment will be needed to ensure excavation work. The size of one platform also depends on the height of the difference. To make it easier to move between them, steps are built.

The process of creating slope terraces can be divided into two main stages;

• marking;
• formation.

Before markings are made, the plan must already indicate the place where the house and other buildings will be installed. Depending on this, boundaries are drawn on the slope, which will determine the width of each step. The arrangement of steps on the slope may not be sequential, but, for example, in a checkerboard pattern.

The formation process begins from the top of the hill. The equipment is gradually moving down. This makes it easier to move the cut soil, which is used to form the remaining areas. The standard height of terraces on a slope is considered to be no more than 80 cm. The length of each step can be 5 meters. The number of levels is limited by the customer's wishes.

Depending on the type of soil on the slope, it may be necessary to make a foundation for each partition under the terrace. It is necessary for reliable fixation of the wall, which will restrain the pressure of the soil. Instead of laying stone or brick, you can use gabions, which will perfectly complement the appearance of the site.

An excellent option would be gabions filled with pebbles. Moisture can have a destructive effect on the supporting wall and its foundation. This means that it is necessary to consider a drainage system that will drain melt and rain water in a timely manner.

You can avoid building massive walls with a foundation. To do this, it is enough to use a trick. Natural stone will still be needed, but it is mixed with the soil and seeds of unpretentious plants are added. When their root system gains sufficient strength, it will bind the soil to the stone, thereby strengthening the slopes. When laying brick walls, you can use different color schemes. In this case, you should not adhere to the even shape of the wall; you can make it zigzag or semicircular. In the resulting recesses it is easy to install benches and plant shrubs.

Note! When choosing wood as reinforcing walls for terraces on a slope, you must understand that their service life is limited. It can be extended a little through the use of protective compounds.

Arrangement

Paths on slopes can be arranged using natural stone. It can be laid on a prepared mortar so that the stones do not roll down the slope under their weight. Paths on the slope must be clearly marked. To make it easier to move on an inclined surface, they can be made in a zigzag shape to reduce the angle of climb at a time.

The path length increases, but less force needs to be applied. If the plans include building a pond on a slope, then it is better to place it on the lower terraces. There is no problem doing this at the top of the slope, but then good waterproofing will be required. A waterfall can descend to the reservoir from the very top of the slope.

You can strengthen the banks of a reservoir on slopes with various plants. These include marsh geranium, brunnera, ferns, meadowsweet, astilbe, loosestrife and others. Additionally, the banks of the reservoir on the slope are lined with bare stones. The recreation area can be located on the upper sections of the slope. You can sunbathe there. In extreme heat, you can move to the foot of the slope.

Each individual section of the slope can be decorated in its own style. This will require a lot of effort, but depending on your mood there will be freedom to choose the environment. There are more ideas for decorating the site in the video below.

Summary

As you can see, from a plot on a slope you can create a unique space for living and relaxation. You can get ideas from the illustrations in this article, and also ask one of the experienced designers for help.