Sloped yard landscaping ideas

A slope becomes an asset the moment you stop trying to flatten it. The real decision is how much to terrace and how much to plant.

AI-generated concept image

Light: Partial shade
Water: Low
Upkeep: Medium
Color: Green-focused
Planting survives: −4 °F / −20 °C

Getting it right

Terracing is the expensive option. A retaining wall over about 4 feet (1.2 m) usually needs an engineer and a permit, drainage behind it and proper footings, so terrace only where you genuinely need level ground and plant the rest. Get the steps right: a comfortable outdoor step is a 6-inch (15 cm) rise with a 14 to 16-inch (35–40 cm) tread, far shallower than indoor stairs, with a landing every ten steps or so. Then cover the remaining slope with deep-rooted groundcover planted through jute or coir erosion matting until it knits together.

How to plan it

Decide where you need flat ground: usually one level area by the house for seating and perhaps one more lower down. Terrace those and keep the rest of the slope planted. Two low walls, each under about 3 feet (90 cm), are usually cheaper and safer than one tall one, and they look better too.

Choose a wall material that suits the house and the budget. Landscape timbers are cheapest but rot within 10 to 20 years; dry-stacked stone and segmental concrete blocks last for decades; gabions and weathering steel suit modern yards. Every wall needs gravel backfill and a drain at its base, or water pressure will eventually push it over.

Plant the rest of the slope densely, with deep-rooted groundcovers and low shrubs set in staggered rows so their roots knit across it. Water them through the first year, and avoid lawn on any slope too steep to mow safely, roughly anything steeper than 1 foot of rise in 3 feet.

Plants that work

Botanical names come first so you can order the right plant anywhere. Heights are for mature plants in the ground.
Plant	Type	Light	Water	Height	Hardy to
Bearberry cotoneasterCotoneaster dammeri	Groundcover · Evergreen	Full sun	Low	8–12 in (20–30 cm)	−13 °F / −25 °C
Creeping juniperJuniperus horizontalis	Conifer · Evergreen	Full sun	Low	8–16 in (20–40 cm)	−40 °F / −40 °C
Creeping St. John's wortHypericum calycinum	Groundcover · Semi-evergreen	Partial shade	Low	12–18 in (30–45 cm)	−4 °F / −20 °C
Periwinkle (vinca)Vinca minorInvasive in parts of the US. Check your state's list.	Groundcover · Evergreen	Shade	Low	6–8 in (15–20 cm)	−22 °F / −30 °C
Bigroot geraniumGeranium macrorrhizum	Groundcover · Semi-evergreen	Partial shade	Low	12–16 in (30–40 cm)	−22 °F / −30 °C
Japanese spurgePachysandra terminalis	Groundcover · Evergreen	Shade	Moderate	8–12 in (20–30 cm)	−13 °F / −25 °C
SnowberrySymphoricarpos albus	Shrub · Deciduous	Partial shade	Low	5–7 ft (1.5–2 m)	−31 °F / −35 °C
Rugosa roseRosa rugosaInvasive in parts of the US. Check your state's list.	Shrub · Deciduous	Full sun	Low	3–7 ft (1–2 m)	−31 °F / −35 °C
Feather reed grassCalamagrostis × acutiflora	Grass · Deciduous	Full sun	Moderate	4–6 ft (1.2–1.8 m)	−22 °F / −30 °C
Boxleaf honeysuckleLonicera pileata	Shrub · Evergreen	Partial shade	Low	20–31 in (50–80 cm)	−4 °F / −20 °C
HeatherCalluna vulgaris	Shrub · Evergreen	Full sun	Low	8–20 in (20–50 cm)	−22 °F / −30 °C
Mugo pinePinus mugo	Conifer · Evergreen	Full sun	Low	3–10 ft (1–3 m)	−40 °F / −40 °C

Surfaces and materials

Landscape timbers
Dry-stacked stone wall
Gabion wall
Weathering steel
Stepping stones
Bark mulch
Boulders

Works well when

The ground slopes steeply
The soil is thin and poor
You want low maintenance
There is no vehicle access
The soil is sandy and free-draining

Think twice when

The budget is tight
Young children play there
You want to keep some lawn

Common questions

What's the cheapest way to landscape a slope?

Plant it rather than terrace it. Groundcovers and shrubs planted through erosion matting cost a fraction of retaining walls; add a simple path of timber or stone steps for access.

What groundcovers hold a slope?

Creeping juniper, bearberry cotoneaster, bigroot geranium and snowberry spread and root firmly. Avoid periwinkle next to woodland, where it escapes.

Do I need a permit for a retaining wall?

Often, if it's taller than about 4 feet (1.2 m) or holds up a driveway, a building or another load. Rules vary by town, so check with the building department before you build.

How do I stop erosion on a slope?

Keep the soil covered. Plant densely, mulch with shredded bark, which knits together better than chips, and use erosion matting until plants establish. Send roof and driveway runoff away from the slope or into a rain garden.