How to Landscape a Hill – 3 Ideas for Landscaping a Steep Area

By Brandon Cornett, Editor 2013 All rights reserved

Reader question: "We have a steep hill in our backyard, and we are trying to figure out how to landscape it. Right now there's just grass back there. My husband has a heck of a time trying to mow it, as it is really steep. I think it's dangerous for him to do that. Can you offer any landscaping ideas for a hill such as ours?

"The way I see it, anything is better than the grass we currently have. But it would be nice to improve the overall look of the backyard, while also solving the hill problem. I am wide open for suggestions!"

You are not alone. This is one of the most common questions we receive from homeowners. As it turns out, there are many people out there who want to know the same thing you are asking: How can I landscape the steep hill I have in my yard?

Below, I've offered three specific landscaping ideas for your consideration: (1) retaining walls, (2) shrubs, and (3) ground cover with mulch or other substance. These techniques can be used by themselves, or in combination with one another. They all meet the challenges of landscape design for a hill, but with varying degrees of expense and effort.

A yard with a steep hill presents certain challenges, from a maintenance perspective. These yards are hard to water, due to runoff and pooling. They are hard to mow (as your husband will be quick to tell you). They can even be dangerous. This is why people with hills in their yards often seek a landscape-design solution to the problem. You'll be happy to know there are several solutions available. Which one you choose will depend on your budget and your aesthetic preferences.

The challenges of landscaping a hill become clear at the start of any project:

With those challenges in mind, let's look at some of the ideas and techniques you can use when landscaping a hill in your yard.

One popular idea for landscaping a hill is to segment it into two sections, with a retaining wall for a divider. In your case, since you are trying to get away from mowing the yard, you could combine this technique with mulching and plant placement. The idea is to create multiple tiers of yard space with no grass, and therefore no grass maintenance. You may have to water some plants or replace some mulch / groundcover from time to time, but you won't have to mow the steep hill anymore.

In the picture below, you can see this technique in action. Note that the wall is placed where the hill becomes less steep.

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How to Landscape a Hill - 3 Ideas for Landscaping a Steep Area