We designed this sprawling landscape at our Spanish Revival style project in Rancho Santa Fe to reflect our clients' vision of a colorful planting palette to compliment the custom ceramic tile mosaics, hand made iron work, stone and tile paths and patios, and the stucco fire pit and walls. All of these features were designed and installed by Gravel To Gold, Inc.

Boulder Retaining Walls

NS Landscapes

Tiered boulder retaining wall.
Large transitional sloped garden in Minneapolis with a retaining wall.

Our Work

U.S. InterLoc

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional sloped full sun formal garden for winter in Sacramento with a retaining wall and mulch.

Aptos

McTighe Landscaping Inc.

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional sloped garden in San Francisco with a retaining wall and mulch.

More of Our Work

Berkeley Design Group

Photo of a mid-sized traditional sloped full sun garden for summer in Cincinnati with a retaining wall and concrete pavers.

A Boulder Alternative

Mary Kirk Menefee, Landscape Designer

The boulder wall also becomes the bones of a lively garden. A mix of evergreens and perennials ensures year-round interest. Design by Mary Kirk Menefee; installation by Merrifield Garden Center. Photo: Mary Kirk Menefee

Alan Block wall and paver patio

Choice Landscapes LLC

Choice Landscapes LLC
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional sloped partial sun formal garden for spring in Seattle with a retaining wall and natural stone pavers.

Laurel Way

Guerin Design + Development

William Maccollum, Art Grey Photography
Expansive contemporary sloped full sun garden in Los Angeles with a retaining wall.

Rubble Retaining Wall

Land Art Design, Inc.

Designed and built by Land Art Design, Inc. Rubble stone gives an earthy look to this retaining wall.
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional sloped garden in DC Metro with a retaining wall and natural stone pavers.

Water's edge

West Winds Nursery LLC

Perennial Geraniums, Autumn Bride Heuchera, Carex pennsylvanica were planted in massed drifts along this hillside. Vardar Valley Boxwood and Otto Luyken Laurel are used to add some height and evergreen foliage to the planting. The wide, serpentine sandstone slab staircase with generous sized landings are used to create a beautiful walk to the water.

Lafayette 2

Envision Landscape Studio

Design ideas for a large modern sloped full sun xeriscape in San Francisco with a retaining wall and gravel.

Flagstone patio with terraced steps and waterfall

Legacy Landscape Design, LLC

This was a wooded back yard in Smyrna, GA . The main focal point was the long stream cascading down the hillside. The Mortared Flagstone Walkway and steps interacted with the stream and terminated at a patio and pond. It was all very natural and blended in with the existing landscape. Mark Schisler, Legacy Landscapes, Inc.

Sunset Residence

GEL: Griffin Enright Landscape

A layered hillside extends the garden.
Photo of a mid-sized modern sloped full sun garden for fall in Los Angeles with a retaining wall and concrete pavers.

Block Retaining Walls

Adelaide Retaining Walls

Newly constructed block style retaining wall. Blocks used were Boral Heathstone with bullnose capping
Photo of a mid-sized modern sloped garden in Adelaide with a retaining wall.

Topanga Canyon Hideaway

Urban Oasis Landscape Design

The custom concrete bench was designed to nestle into the hillside. Sitting in the dappled shades of the majestic Liquidambar is a lesson in tranquility.

Scarsdale Tudor

Design Farm Group

Dry laid retaining wall made up of a mix of both granite and natural fieldstone supported by interior mortar. Perennial plantings supported by a custom stained farm style fence providing a privacy screen for this residents side yard.

Gärten gestalten!

Mediterranean sloped full sun xeriscape in Dusseldorf with a retaining wall and natural stone pavers for summer.

"Weinberggarten"-Hanggarten I Rheinland-Pfalz

besgen Landschaftsarchitektur

besgen Landschaftsarchitektur
Large country sloped full sun xeriscape in Bonn with a retaining wall and natural stone pavers for spring.

Camas Modern Landscape Design & Build

Ross NW Watergardens

The back slope is given structure with a juniper and cedar retaining wall, cedar screens, and moon gates. Landscape Design & Pictures By Ben Bowen of Ross NW Watergardens

Specially designed backyard with retaining walls

Hedahl Landscape Deck & Patio

Permeable paver patio installed over septic drainline to provide breathability. Raised garden beds built into wall allow access from above and below.

Sloped Garden Design Ideas with a Retaining Wall

Get Inspired by Gardens on Houzz

A lot of the time when you get home from a long day at work, all you want to do is wind down. Where better to do this than in your very own garden at home? If you do it right, a great garden design can send you right into holiday mode. But where to start? There’s so many styles to choose from when it comes to garden design. Whether you want to create a tropical, modern, contemporary, beach style or country garden - or something else entirely - the large garden image gallery on Houzz has got you covered. Get inspired and collect your ideas to narrow down your desired garden style and features.

How to Create a Garden for Your Home

Depending on which style you’re going for, be sure to know what makes a garden and if it’s appropriate for your climate. You may want to consider adding a deck or other landscaping features, but the plants you choose will mostly dictate your style and what kind of ongoing maintenance is required. Don’t worry if your backyard isn’t very spacious - there are many plants that can thrive even in a small space and allow you to turn your space into a little paradise of your own, regardless of size.

Decide which plants to use

The greenery you choose is critical to your look. For example, if you’re trying to create a tropical garden palm trees and bamboo are your go-to options. Other popular options are golden cane palm trees and fern for ground cover. From there you can add some colour with bright flowers like frangipani, hibiscus or bromeliads. All these are actually quite hardy plants, so once established, your tropical garden is actually quite easy to maintain. Use this structure and apply it to your style. Research which plants you need to set your base for a garden and go from there.

Add some decor

If the plants don’t quite do it for you yet, or if you want to add some extra wow-factor, consider adding some extra features. Even if you can’t accommodate a swimming pool, hot tub or pond, you could look at smaller water features. Simple rocks can also have a great effect, while statues and gnomes will add some extra character. Don’t forget to add some furniture so you have a nice place to sit and enjoy your garden!

Need some help?

Once you know what you want your garden to look like, it may be hard to make it a reality on your own. If that is the case for you, consider consulting a professional to help you with your garden design. Every photo you find on Houzz will lead you to the local pro that did the job, so you won’t have a problem picking the perfect person to help! Whether you need a gardener in Brisbane, a landscape architect in Melbourne or a fireplace installer in Sydney, you can be sure to find one on Houzz.