Best Landscaping Ideas For Hillside Backyard
Hillsides can be a real pain to landscape, but if you have the right tricks up your sleeve it is actually quite easy. Below you will find some of the best landscaping ideas for your hillside backyard so that you do not have to worry about how difficult it is to deal with hills when planting flowers and plants.
Make Walkways And Paths Steep But Flat
The most important thing to do for landscaping a hill is to make sure that you have access to the yard. This is why it’s best to hire landscapers who know what they’re doing; with Sand and Stone Landscapes, it is best advised to make your paths and walkways steep but flat so that they are easy for you to use without risking yourself sliding down the hill when walking on it.
A good option would be using flagstones or bricks laid flat. This way it will be possible for you to plant grass between them so that, once it grows, it will not look too different from the yard itself.
If you would like to make your path even easier to use, lay down gravel or pebbles along the edges of the walkway so that there is no risk of slipping and hurting yourself when traversing the hillside landscape.
Evergreen Shrubs Are A Great Option For Hillside Landscaping
Evergreen shrubs are great for hillside landscaping because they tend to be very sturdy and will not get uprooted by the wind or heavy rainfall like other types of plants. If you live in an area where it does experience a lot of wind, then opt for bushes that have broader bases rather than thin, tall ones which can easily be toppled over by strong gusts.
On the other hand, if you are not worried about them being blown around too much during stormy weather but instead are more concerned with the south-facing hillside exposure where they are growing letting in too much heat during summer months, then feel free to plant shrubs with thin trunks so that they let in more light while still providing ample coverage.
Keep Your Lawn Green And Healthy With Drip Irrigation Systems
Once again, since hillsides tend to dry out faster than flat areas, you need to take extra special care when watering them with drip irrigation systems. It’s best if you use these types of irrigation systems up above the hillside landscaping area instead of having them placed next to it so that they do not get clogged up with dirt and mud from being close enough to where the rainwater tends to pool together.
This is a very efficient type of irrigation system because you can attach it directly to your hose and then turn on the spigot whenever you feel like it’s time to water your lawn. If you have a particularly large hillside garden, then you might want to install multiple irrigation lines as well as sprinklers in order to make sure that every square inch gets properly watered.
Protect Your Garden With A Fence
In order to protect your hillside landscaping from any harmful animals as well as prying eyes, it’s best if you build a fence around them. This way, the only people who will be able to access your yard will be those whose names are written down on the guest list and will therefore not cause any unnecessary damage to your garden.
If you do live near an area where there tends to be a lot of wildlife, then it’s recommended that you plant thorny bushes along the perimeter of your yard because they tend to deter deer or other types of large creatures far more than traditional fences do without having too much of an effect on the aesthetic appeal of your landscape design.
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Build A Retaining Wall
If there is a specific area of your hillside where you would like to plant flowers and plants but it tends to collect water and does not drain properly no matter what you do, then you can build a retaining wall in order to prevent the excess water from settling here.
Just make sure that this wall is no higher than 30 inches (it should never be taller than 30 inches) else it might become unstable if enough weight builds up against it due to dirt and mineral deposits slowly sliding down the hill over time.
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Add A Waterfall
If you have enough water runoff from the hill to make it worth your while, then you can also place a waterfall right in front of your retaining wall so that it becomes one cohesive unit. Just make sure that you build this up with cement otherwise rocks, dirt, and other types of debris might wash over it causing it to collapse into the ground which will cause damage to your yard.
Make A Moat
If you do not want to go through all of the trouble of building a retaining wall, then you can simply create a moat in the area where the excess water tends to build up. Just dig out a trench around this area so that it forms sort of an earthen bowl with high walls, which will collect any rainwater that drips down onto it.
Include A Rock Garden In Your Landscaping Plans
If you have enough space near the top of your hill then you might want to include a rock garden because they look absolutely stunning. Just make sure that there are at least 5 different types of rocks (no more than 15) and then scatter them on the ground in an area where they won’t be disturbed by people walking around or mowers cutting the grass nearby.
Install A Pergola
If you have a patio area where you would like to place outdoor furniture such as lounge chairs and sofas, then it’s highly recommended that you build a pergola right on top of it. This way, people will be able to walk through the center of your yard underneath the shade provided by the pergola.
If you plan on constructing a pergola for this purpose, then make sure that there are at least 7 feet of clearance beneath it because anything lower than that might cause people to bump into it when trying to walk.
Making your hillside backyard into a beautiful garden is an excellent way to express yourself and add some personal flair to your home. By using the ideas in this article, you will be able to create the perfect landscape design that matches both your needs as well as how you want it to look aesthetically pleasing.
Once everything has been completed, you will be able to enjoy all of the benefits of having an attractive, lush yard without worrying about any potential hazards.
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