Terraced Landscape Beds for Steep Yards

Terraced landscape walls aren’t simply placed on top of the existing slope. They’re created by using a cut-and-fill method in which soil is removed to create a flat area. This soil is later used to fill a lower area. After the soil is removed, you’ll need ensure the walls sit on a good base. Regular old Minnesota dirt expands and contracts with the temperature, and anything built directly on it will be unstable. Instead, lay down a layer of something like class 5 fill. The variable sizes of rock and gravel will mesh together, forming an almost concrete-like layer. When your wall is built on this layer, it won’t be moving anytime soon.

Finally, be sure the area has good drainage. Especially if water runoff is the reason you’re considering a terraced landscape, you’ll want to be sure you have a system in place to catch all that water. If the terraces are going to be more than 30 inches tall, place gravel down the entire back of the walls to ensure saturated soil doesn’t push against the walls and topple them. At the bottom of the walls, include a drainage tube so any water that reaches the bottom can simply drain away.

Anything you want! Well, mostly. While some larger trees may be out of the question for terraced landscapes, anything you would grow in other garden beds is fair game. In fact, thanks to these terraces, you may be able to start growing some plants earlier in the spring, and keep them alive later into the fall. This is because terraces made of stone or cement blocks will hold some heat during cool summer nights. This is ideal for spring or fall plantings, when Minnesota weather can still get quite warm during the day but cools drastically at night.

If your terraces are built with stone rather than wood, consider plants that will help soften the look. For example, ivies planted at the top of a wall will drape down over time, covering portions of the stone with greenery. Really though, any greenery will look wonderful on your new terraced gardens. We’re especially fond of hostas, shrubs such as dogwoods, and tall, wide evergreens such as boxwood. Let your imagination roam! If you like wild, natural looks, try native grasses, tall flowering plants such as salvia or lupine, and ivies. If you like a more refined designs, look to shrubs and flowering plants that don’t spread, such as tulips.

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