Ideas on Hillside Landscaping With a Terrace

Use Attractive Materials

• A terrace turns the natural contours of a hill into level steps. This is accomplished by digging into the hill at different elevations and building retaining walls to prevent the exposed soil from eroding. Various materials can be used for your retaining walls. Wood, such as logs or railroad ties, can be used, but a down side is that it will have to be replaced from time to time as it rots or splits. A more durable solution is stone, whether in the form of blocks cut by a manufacturer to lock together or natural stones fitted together and held by mortar.

Beautify with plants

• Once you've converted the hillside into a terrace, you'll want to plant some vegetation to improve its appearance. You can keep it simple, planting grass at each level, or you can be more creative. Once they take root, bushes and shrubs can be even more low-maintenance than lawns, as they only need occasional trimming, while a lawn needs regular mowing. You can further improve the appearance of the terracing by planting flowers to add color to an otherwise plain-looking landscape. Avoid planting trees. Their roots can destroy the retaining walls.

Add Some Accessories

• Add steps between levels to improve access to different areas of the terrace. Place benches on the terrace where you, your family, and guests can sit and enjoy the view. Install an irrigation system for the vegetation on the terrace. Add a fountain at the base of the terrace to serve as a focal point between the terrace and the house.