Sloping gardens may seem challenging, but there are plenty of ways to transform even the steepest inclines into split-level spaces to provide areas for relaxation, entertaining and planting. How you design your tiered garden will depend on the size of the space, the steepness of the slope and your budget. Some tiered garden designs may need planning permission. To find out about planning and check for safety concerning issues such as retaining walls and drainage, it’s advisable to consult an expert.
Simple tiered garden ideas
Tiers made from sleepers
In areas with fairly shallow slopes, sleepers often offer a cheaper way to create a natural aesthetic in a tiered garden than using other materials such as bricks. Pressure treated softwood sleepers should be long-lasting, but avoid reusing railway sleepers are these are likely to have been treated with creosote and can cause health issues.
- Buy treated sleepers from B&Q, Travis Perkins and Wickes
Tiers with steps
Add steps between tiers to allow for easy movement between levels and create a focal point in your garden. Aim to use the same or complementary materials for steps and retaining walls to provide continuity. Above, the colour of the bricks blends with the stones used for the gabion retaining walls. Make sure any bricks used are durable enough for the situation.
- Buy stones and bricks from B&Q, Stone Warehouse and Wickes
Steep tiered garden ideas
Sunken patio
Use tiers to mark out zones in the garden with different functions. A sunken patio surrounded by retaining walls provides a secluded space where you can relax, eat and enjoy the planting. Here the lush foliage creates a vibrant, intimate atmosphere as if you were in the middle of a rainforest.
- Buy foliage plants from Crocus, J.Parker’s and Van Meuwen
Hidden tiers
In an informal garden, hide tiers beneath plants to create a cascade of foliage and flowers down the slope. Grasses and ground cover plants are particularly useful in this situation.
- Buy grasses and ground cover plants from Crocus, Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants and Sarah Raven
Small tiered garden ideas
Feature Wall
Turn a retaining wall into a feature by adding wood to make an insect habitat or building a gabion wall. This creates style and interest in a structure that might otherwise be imposing and unattractive. Don’t collect dead wood from local woodland or nature reserves as this damages wild habitats and belongs to the owner of the woodland.
- Collect wood from the garden, contact a local tree surgeon or buy wood for insect habitats from Etsy
Modern rendered tiers
Create a modern, minimalist look with walls made of rendered concrete. This is long-lasting, but any structure built with concrete has a significant environmental impact. More environmentally-friendly options include wood and reclaimed materials.
- Buy render for walls from B&Q, Travis Perkins and Wickes
Frequently asked questions
What to do with a split-level garden?
Split-level gardens offer lots of opportunities for creating different zones, planting in raised beds and providing an interesting journey through the space.
How do you make a multi-level garden?
Designing a multi-level garden involves consideration of important issues such as drainage and retaining walls, alongside the style you’d like to create and the amount of planting required. In most cases, it is advisable to seek help from experts in the planning and building stages.
