How to Landscape a Sloping Garden
A sloping area in any garden can be a challenge for even the most experienced gardener. Terracing is an excellent solution to this problem. It can be very stylish when a dry stack stone wall is built to hold the terracing. This stone wall not only adds a decorative element to the garden but also warms the soil through the transfer of heat from the stone to the soil. This can allow the gardener to plant sooner and grow longer into the season. The terracing itself also protects the plants because it causes cold air to follow the terraced area instead of settling on the plants. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Graph paper
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Shape or sod cutter
- Shovel
- Wheelbarrow
- Well-seasoned compost
- Garden rake
- Stone from rock quarries or yards
- Plants of choice
- Mulch
- Irrigation such as soak hoses or drip irrigation
Instructions
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When drawing out the design, make sure it is to scale. Draw out the design of the terrace on graph paper using pencil and ruler.
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The turned over grass will turn into humus. Cut sod using a spade or sod cutter and lay back down on the soil with grass side down. Cover the area with well-seasoned compost.
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A simple shovel is all that is needed to cut the terraced area. Cut the terrace design into equal-sized beds using a shovel. Smooth the soil surface with a garden rake.
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Make sure the wall leans slightly to hold the soil in the terraced area Following the lines of the design begin to dry stack stones into a stone wall. As the wall goes up, make sure that it leans inward or toward the soil to help hold it up. Make sure the wall does not go higher than 20 inches in height.
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When planting the terraced garden area, observe nature for some planting ideas. Plant trees in the top terrace section and shrubs in the middle level. The lowest level needs to be planted with the smallest plants in the design.
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Mulch will conserve soil moisture and reduce soil erosion. Place mulch on top of the terraced garden area.
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Laying an irrigation system in the terraced area will prevent soil erosion. Lay down soak hoses or drip irrigation system in the garden.
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Tips & Warnings
If perennials are used or more weed control is needed, lay down weed barrier on top of the garden.
To increase garden space, plant in the cracks of the stone wall around the terrace.
Be careful when walking on the soil in the terraced area. Soil compaction can cause a stone wall to tumble down.
References
- Photo Credit pencil draw graph image by Anatoly Tiplyashin from Fotolia.com grass image by green308 from Fotolia.com shovel in truck image by Andrew Orlemann from Fotolia.com stone wall image by Edsweb from Fotolia.com trees image by Nikolay Svirid from Fotolia.com pine bark mulch image by robert mobley from Fotolia.com Water root irrigation system image by TekinT from Fotolia.com
