21+ Awesome Sloped Landscaping Ideas You Can Steal For Your Yard (2023)

FAQs

How can I landscape my hillside cheap? ›

Steep, sunny slopes are perfect for perennials such as daylilies, creeping phlox, lamb's ears, stonecrop and a variety of ornamental grasses. A number of woody plants can also serve as good groundcovers, especially creeping juniper, fragrant sumac, bearberry, and Russian arborvitae.

Granite paving is one of the best materials for a sloping path. Granite is naturally slip-resistant, which makes it one of the safer materials for a patio or path, particularly a sloping one. Granite is very durable and resilient, meaning it is well suited to the rigours of being used regularly as a walkway.

The maximum slope for the soil you can safely go without having a retaining wall is 35 degrees. This is especially important if the soil is granular. If the angle is steeper than 35 degrees, you need a retaining wall to keep the landscape in place.

Creeping, spreading or clumping varieties and low-growing shrubs planted en mass can all form a groundcover to protect the soil on a slope. Choose a ground cover plant that is best for your soil that is noted to survive in your environment.

Slopes can be stabilized by adding a surface cover to the slope, excavating and changing (or regrading) the slope geometry, adding support structures to reinforce the slope or using drainage to control the groundwater in slope material.

Average land grading cost per square foot

The cost to level a yard per square foot is $0.08 to $2.00, with an average of $1.40. This totals out at $800 to $2,000 to grade an area of 1,000 square feet.

The two most common forms of slope creep mitigation are retaining walls (to intercept the slope) and steel pier underpinning (to secure and stabilize homes and decks against lateral movement).

What can I put on a hill instead of grass? ›

Gravelrings is only recommended for use on sloped surfaces with a maximum gradient of 1:5 (20 per cent). If the driveway in question is has a gradient greater than that then an alternative surface finish is recommended.

The only option for keeping gravel in place on a slope is to stabilize it with pavers. Pavers are locked into the ground and they trap gravel in place, preventing it from coming loose and spreading, even under heavy vehicle traffic.

Where the natural surface of the ground is sloped, the most economical solution may be a stepped foundation. In this case, the foundation takes the form of a series of concrete horizontal steps following the slope of the ground.

The most effective, natural way to control soil erosion on steep slopes and embankments is to plant vegetation. Not only will the grass, fescue and leaves help to slow down raindrops as they fall, the roots of the plants will also help to hold the soil together, making it harder for water to wash it away.

1) Using Retaining Walls

To build these retaining walls and place the rock, you'll need to cut into the slope and create a level ground above and below the wall. Then use a dry-stack method and order the rocks from largest and flattest at the base, to widest, smoothest, and best-looking stones for the top.

It's a bit frustrating to put mulch on your hillside to stabilize it for planting, only to find that the mulch itself won't stay in place. Loose-textured mulch can completely wash in a heavy rain, or tumble down in bits and pieces just from gravity and wind.

The maximum slope in a lawn should be twelve inches for every four feet. If the drop is greater than twelve inches you should plan to build a low retaining wall or cover the slope with a hardy ground cover or ornamental grass.

B-1.2 Excavations Made in Type B Soil

All simple slope excavations 20 feet or less in depth shall have a maximum allowable slope of 1:1.

What to do with a hill you don't want to mow? ›

There are many great treatments for hillside control that don't involve mowing. Retaining walls, bee lawns, and spreading shrub gardens are three of our favorite no-mow methods to manage a hillside.

Naturally deep-rooted grasses that establish quickly, such as turf-type tall fescue grasses, are excellent choices for erosion-prone spots. Fast-germinating annual and perennial ryegrasses help stabilize slopes quickly and control erosion while deeper rooted grasses become established and take hold.

Five factors influence slope stability of an embankment: 1) Shear strength of the soil; 2) Unit weight; 3) Embankment height; 4) Slope steepness; and 5) Pore pressure within the soil. Failure generally occurs in two ways.

Silt fence or brush barrier—These should be installed at the toe of the slope, and every 75 to 125 feet apart on long slopes. Retaining wall—Extremely steep slopes can be leveled out and shortened into two or more steps or benches by installing retaining walls of rock, brick, block, wood, logs, or other material.

Slope protection, e.g. protecting slopes with temporary seeding or sodding, permanent seeding or sodding, aggregates, fabrics, or erosion control blankets, or turf reinforcement mats.

Generally the steeper the slope the more it's going to cost. The steeper the slope the more time is going to be required to modify the design to suit the allotment. Also need to take into consideration that houses built on sloping land require considerably more foundational work to stabilise them.

How do I level my whole yard? With lawns, mow the grass and fill in low spots while digging out lumps or high spots. Put the grass back in place once level, then top-dress the lawn with a ½-inch layer of compost and level the lawn with the back of a bow rake. Use leveling sand to fix uneven pavers or flagstone paths.

Typically, building on a sloping site will add an additional cost of approximately $20,000 – $50,000 compared to a flat block.”

The three best options for redirecting water away from home foundations include French drains, gutter systems and swales. However, all of these options require professional installation to ensure they function as intended and drain or collect water in a responsible manner.

When adding soil, start by removing a few inches of topsoil. Then spread a layer of new soil, use a rake to smooth it out and create a gentle slope, and tamp it down using a hand tamper. Keep in mind that you want four to six inches of exposed foundation above the soil to prevent flooding.

Can you put soil on top of grass to level? ›

Areas of a lawn can become uneven over time, due to settling, drainage issues, and various natural and unnatural causes. In the least extreme cases, you can solve the problem by topdressing with a thin layer of leveling mix (soil, compost, and sand).

Erosion control blankets (ECBs) are typically biodegradable, open-weave blankets that provide temporary cover and support for establishing vegetation on bare soil areas.

The most inexpensive option is to dig out a trench around the existing patio and fill it with mulch. One step up from that, landscaping stones can add a more refined touch—with the added benefit that they don't need to be replaced on a regular basis, like mulch.

The most effective, natural way to control soil erosion on steep slopes and embankments is to plant vegetation. Not only will the grass, fescue and leaves help to slow down raindrops as they fall, the roots of the plants will also help to hold the soil together, making it harder for water to wash it away.

Landscaping costs $4 to $12 per square foot, on average, for basic and intermediate services. A full makeover including landscaping design and remodeling can cost up to $40 per square foot. Basic and intermediate services may include planting grass or flowers, lawn care and thatching.

What reduces soil erosion on steep slopes? ›

Using trees to control erosion

Tree roots help prevent landslides on steep slopes and stream bank erosion but they don't stop erosion on moderately sloping hillslopes. In forests, the soil surface is usually protected by a layer of mulch from decaying vegetation as well as a variety of surface growing plants.

Rock, gravel, pebbles and other stones can be applied to landscaping features such as flowerbeds to suppress weed growth and retain moisture. Rock is economical and seldom needs replacement. It also complements modern architectural features and more minimalist landscaping.

Creeping, spreading or clumping varieties and low-growing shrubs planted en mass can all form a groundcover to protect the soil on a slope. Choose a ground cover plant that is best for your soil that is noted to survive in your environment.