Hillside Landscaping Ideas

Hillside landscaping can be a challenge, but should be a welcome one. Remember that vision is more horizontal and landscaping a hill creates a vertical element in your yard that shows naturally.

While some people want a perfectly flat lot, a flat yard is a little more challenging to have that same appeal.

This newly completed project is waiting for shrubs to add some colour. These natural stone steps and rock garden, replaced a steep, slippery,
and often muddy hill.
Stonework by Dream-yard.

We have a new gallery style, it is simple to operate.

Just click on any hillside landscaping photo to open a gallery slideshow of all the photos on this page.

Hillside Landscaping is an opportunity to build something creative and beautiful using plants, retaining walls, and rock gardens without having to force the site.

Landscaping slopes is also a great opportunity for natural looking water features.

Along with the retaining walls, you may also find some great rock garden ideas. The two most often go hand in hand.

Please see our article on Landscaping a Slope for some valuable hillside project considerations.

Enjoy our landscaping pictures, and visit "The Yard" Landscaping How-to modules if you are planning on installing your own projects.

Thanks so much, the Dream-yard Team.

This design shows how a steeply sloping front yard can be tamed without using retaining walls. A dry river bed is used to control storm water
between the two properties.
Picture compliments of a homeowner with a dream yard.

A nicely designed multi-cascade water feature is lined with just the right stones and plants. Well chosen and placed lighting, makes it show elegantly
like a bright moon shining on a stream.
Picture compliments of Guys Hill Landscaping

Desert rock garden ideas to give you inspiration from a well known professional Arizona landscape company. This outcropping between the stone steps
blends in well with the natural plants as well as the rugged desert
landscape in the background.
Picture compliments of www.horticultureunlimited.com

A nice set of natural stone steps takes users to the next level. The slope is nicely mixed with small trees, shrubs, boulders and mulch that are simple but
effective in a countryside landscape.
Picture compliments of www.nichegardenslandscaping.com

A slope tamed with natural stone steps and a wall. This is also a wonderful example of how natural stone can be blended with a
manufactured stone patio.
Picture compliments of www.ogslandscape.ca

A steep corner is altered with a nicely stacked natural stone wall.
A garden to add interest was also installed.
Picture compliments of www.american-stone.com

Stone slabs are a great feature for hillside landscaping. They blend so
naturally to the surrounding landscape.
Picture compliments of www.american-stone.com

Although this hillside landscape design looks simple, it contains many different features. A boulder wall, landscape steps, stone edging on a short landing of flagstone walkway, trees, shrubs, and a large block retaining wall.
Landscaping lighting also lines the walkway.
Picture compliments of www.nichegardenslandscaping.com

Further along the hillside of the same project we gain a little more perspective of the overall design. A beautiful natural stone wall built in and around the boulders ties the two features together with Perennial shrubs in front of the
wall adding to the flow and unity.
Picture compliments of www.nichegardenslandscaping.com

Between houses can often be an awkward place to landscape.
These steps make it practical and attractive.
Picture compliments of www.ogslandscape.ca

This natural stone wall creates a more gentle slope. The garden bed is just the right size to keep a nice balance to the whole design.
Picture compliments of www.goshenstonework.com

Boulders are a great addition to this hillside. They tie in nicely with
the smaller boulders in the house, as well as the
rugged mountain background.
Picture compliments of www.american-stone.com

Retaining walls are great ways to make more usable space in a yard.
The patio below would have lost many square feet without this wall. The area above was used to make a walkway with stairs that come off the end of the wall.
A planting bed was strategically designed and built into the split of this wall.
Picture compliments of www.nichegardenslandscaping.com

Hillsides are a golden opportunity for a natural looking water feature.
This is a great example of working with the landscape.
Picture compliments of www.ogslandscape.ca

This slope was covered with landscape fabric and planted with some drought tolerant shrubs before being topped with decorative rock.
Project by Dream-yard.

Terracing" is a simple but effective way to deal with slopes. Garden
beds in each level soften up the large stones used here.
Picture compliments of www.ogslandscape.ca