ᐅ Slope landscaping – looking for ideas

Dear housebuilding and gardening enthusiasts, dear community,

we have a somewhat unusual plot with a triangular shape and elevation differences. You can see this clearly in the pictures. Legally, we are not allowed to place a boundary structure, such as a wall, right up to the street and must keep a distance of 50cm (20 inches). With a wall, we would gain very little usable space at ground level. This is not required for a slope. Therefore, we created a steep embankment (about 65 degrees) and installed turf reinforcement mesh on the slope. The grass has since rooted, the slope is stable, and the area is covered with grass. However, the lawn is interspersed with clover and does not look as neat as expected – even when freshly mowed.

We are now looking for landscaping ideas for the slope. For example, we considered planting grasses to create a visual screen on the flat lawn area (plateau) facing the street and to visually straighten the slope. Perhaps small terraced hedges made of boxwood or terracing with wood or Corten steel? We are quite uncertain and seeking advice. It should look well-maintained and match the style of our modern house.

Do you have any ideas for us? I’m looking forward to your suggestions!
Best regards, Steve

This slope naturally suggests a rock garden with ground covers. There is extensive literature available on this. Boxwood could only be placed at the top edge, as otherwise it wouldn’t be accessible for pruning.

I would plant deep-rooting shrubs there to stabilize the slope.
How tall are they allowed to grow?
And how do you handle drainage? You actually need to ensure that surface water infiltrates on your own property. I don’t see that on the photos at all; a hedge could also help with that.

And what if you build a retaining wall along the steep slope, following the same angle as the grass does now? Would that be allowed? I wouldn't plant grasses there because they need a lot of water. How are you planning to irrigate without everything washing away? Mulch would also slide down the slope like that—it looks quite steep.

Best regards
Sabine

The soil lacks nutrients. That’s why the clover is there.

I would plant ground cover (bark mulch, gravel, etc. won’t hold up in the long term), perennials, and shrubs.
Once it’s grown in, it requires very little maintenance. If they are deeply rooted, watering needs are limited.

Otherwise,
take a look at prairie gardens (which also include grasses),
alpine or Mediterranean rock gardens (although I imagine your slope might be too steep for these).

Hello stefanb123,

Some time has passed since your post. But maybe you will still see it?
I would be interested to know what you eventually did with your slope.

Best regards