BACKYARD IDEAS / DECK
Squeeze in a seat. A cultivated sloping garden like this one is not best suited to entertaining or playing, but it is perfect for sitting and relaxing. The steep slope here has been walled to create beds; a horizontal slice of lawn, just big enough for a bench, has been included in the design to provide a spot in which to sit and admire the garden.
Plant a living mural. If your garden slopes upward, the rear boundary will be much more prominent. Make a feature of it by creating a fabulous planted wall, as seen here. Alternatively, grow trees in pots along the wall or train climbing plants up it for a vibrant backdrop. Here strips of lawn and shallow steps with inset lights create a green carpet leading to the lush wall.
Plant a living mural. If your garden slopes upward, the rear boundary will be much more prominent. Make a feature of it by creating a fabulous planted wall, as seen here. Alternatively, grow trees in pots along the wall or train climbing plants up it for a vibrant backdrop. Here strips of lawn and shallow steps with inset lights create a green carpet leading to the lush wall.
Design the terraces around different themes. Terraces cut into a sloping garden gain extra style points when each is given a clear identity. Here the lower level contains a water feature, while above are structural plants that stand out against a white rendered wall. Beyond is a more relaxed planting set against black stained wooden walls.
Mary-Liz Campbell Landscape Design This is a planting around large boulders. Plants include junipers, Japanese blood grass, cleome, butterfly grass, sedums, pennisetum. URL http://www.marylizcampbell.com
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