A plot on a slope — features of landscape design and rules for the construction of retaining walls (100 photos)
Sites with a slope can be considered not the most successful for the construction of suburban seasonal housing. It will take a lot of time and effort to arrange it, but the result is always worth the resources spent. It is on a site with a slope that you can give free rein to your imagination and fully express yourself as a landscape designer.
It is important to properly carry out all stages of preparatory work on a country plot. To create a comfortable and beautiful suburban area, you will need to strengthen the slopes, create terraces, think over the irrigation and drainage system.
When developing a landscape design of a site on a slope, it is necessary to take into account the nature of the soil, the angle of inclination and its location. The most favorable is the southern slope. This location allows you to freely grow vegetables and fruits, arrange gazebos and recreation areas.
The northern slopes are much worse in terms of creating a beautiful, immersed in greenery and flowers area. Throughout the day, the site remains in the shade, which significantly reduces its attractiveness. In addition, due to the lack of sun, the earth becomes cold and wet, which can negatively affect the already equipped terraces.
Terracing
The most convenient and often used way to hide strong differences in the height of the site is to create terraces and zones. Before you start creating levels on a site on a slope, you need to work on the layout and creation of zones. It is important to prioritize and correctly calculate the space needed for work, recreation, and green spaces.
Each terrace should be connected to the neighboring one. These can be both stairs and paths. When organizing ascents, you should make them as flat as possible so that the ascent is not tedious and difficult.
It is desirable that the height of the steps does not exceed 10 cm. It is better to make the steps deeper. The material of the stairs depends entirely on taste preferences: wood, stone, tile.
After drawing up a plan for the location of the terraces, determining their number and marking the terrain, they begin to strengthen the slopes.
Soil strengthening
An important step in the design of the site on the slope will be the strengthening of the soil and the creation of the supporting walls of the terraces. This will preserve the created landscape for a long time, prevent its destruction by groundwater and stormwater, prolong the life of buildings.
Before strengthening the slopes on the site, it is necessary to drown several important points at once:
- the height of the groundwater occurrence;
- the slope of the plot;
- soil type;
- distance to the nearest reservoir;
- ground pressure.
A plot with a slight slope can be easily strengthened by planting vegetation with a developed root system. In this way, dry soil can be strengthened, but it will require a developed irrigation system.
With a large slope, support walls may be required. Such structures allow to weaken the pressure of the soil on the slope and prevent leaching and erosion of the soil. Such supporting structures can be built of stone, brick, slabs and wood treated with moisture-repellent impregnation.
Choosing the material of the support wall should take into account its strength and durability, the required height of the walls being constructed and the features of the chosen design.
Stone walls are among the most durable and durable. The technology of laying stone for such walls originated a long time ago. Such walls serve for a long time and look very beautiful, but the creation process takes a very long time and requires a certain creative thinking. The stones are stacked on top of each other without a fixing solution. They should be selected in accordance with each other.
You can use the stone with the use of mortar or pre-fill the concrete base. This method is much lighter than the previous one and is more durable.
For the manufacture of large terraces or large drops, bricks or building blocks are used. However, before the construction of such walls, it is necessary to lay a solid ribbon foundation.
Support walls made of wood impregnated with moisture-repellent mixtures can be made of logs up to 15 cm in diameter, or with dense boards. Such walls are not so strong and should not exceed 30-40 cm. To create a support made of wood, additional pillars or a concrete base will be required, as well as a waterproof film on the ground side.
In addition, geotextiles or geomats can be used to strengthen the soil on the site. Such materials have a sufficiently high resistance to moisture, protect the soil from ultraviolet rays and frost, are easy to install and very environmentally friendly, can be used on a site with any slope.
Irrigation and drainage systems
When filling the terrace, you should immediately provide for the presence of drainage and drainage. If necessary, several drains and trays can be installed to drain the accumulated storm water.
The first floor in the terrace always performs the function of drainage. It is made of sand and gravel. After that, a layer of earth is laid, and fertile soil is on top. After a few days, the layer of fertile soil is filled up, as there is a natural shrinkage of the soil. Only after that, you can confidently begin to improve the site.
Design solutions on a site with a slopeBeauty and functionality are what every owner of a suburban plot needs.
Pre-planned zones and the presence of an idea about something specific greatly simplify the task of arranging a comfortable environment.
It is necessary to immediately determine the purpose of the suburban area – rest with family and friends, creating a vegetable garden and growing vegetables and fruits, or all at once. After that, you can choose the style you like by looking at several options for the photo arrangement of the site on the slope.
Almost any design solution can be performed on relief areas. It can be a small Japanese-style garden, a French park, a rustic garden, an Art Nouveau or country garden. Use the differences of the terraces to create waterfalls and a pond, do not forget to strengthen them with concrete blocks, plant climbing plants, wrapping them around gazebos and walls of buildings.
There are no restrictions here, except for fantasy and desire. Hiring a landscape designer is not necessary at all, the main thing is to invest your soul and all your creative potential, and the result will not disappoint.
Photo of the site on the slope