For many people, a home with a yard is something that is a main deciding factor. Being able to have your own slice of nature, no matter how big or small, is unmatched and something that plenty of homeowners insist on. But what happens if your yard doesn’t fit the mold of a typical sprawling backyard? What if you have a pretty steep slope in your backyard? Is the space still useable? The short answer is yes, but the fact is that it will take a little creativity on how to best make use of the space.
So, let’s take a look at some tips on how you can make the most of your sloped backyard and enjoy your own slice of the outdoors.
Stop Trying to Work Against Your Slope
The very first tip is acceptance. Rather than fighting with the slope and allowing it to better you, it’s time to work with it and think of ways that you can design a space that actually requires a slope and thrives with one. By accepting this, you will learn to love and embrace the natural layout of your yard. No, the yard won’t look the same as those with a flat space, but that doesn’t have to be a negative.
Be Extremely Mindful of Drainage
Another thing to keep in mind is drainage. Drainage is important at the best of times, but when your yard is on a slope you really need to be careful that the water doesn’t pool or build up in places it shouldn’t be.
Some of the best ways to create ideal drainage, and at the same time, prevent erosion from taking place, is to build retaining walls, make use of specialized fabric for erosion control, plant shrubs and trees to prevent erosion, make use of trenches and ditches to allow for drainage, and embrace a step terracing landscape plan.
Even if the slope isn’t particularly steep, if you don’t take the proper measures to prevent erosion and allow for the ideal drainage, the grade of your slope can start to change rather drastically.
Use Rocks to Ensure the Landscaping is Secure
Whatever landscaping design you decide to use, whether it is creating gardens, a cascading terrace, or just individual shrubs and trees, using large rocks and stones will help to reinforce what you have planted. It will ensure that everything stays in place and doesn’t start to move or slide. As an added bonus, this tip helps to add beauty and interest to your landscape design.
Why Not Create Your Own Waterfall?
One thing that a sloping yard can be perfectly suited for is man-made waterfall. Think about it, the water has to flow downward and your yard would allow for this to happen naturally. You can create different levels of the waterfall and really make it something beautiful and serene.
By using these tips, you’ll be able to make the best use of your outdoor space, regardless of the fact that you have a slope in your yard.