10 Elevated Ideas to Level Up Your Flat Garden
Whatever size your garden, enhance it with a design that includes features and planting at different levels
Patricia Tyrrell
14 March 2017
Houzz Ireland Contributor Patricia Tyrrell is an award winning landscape and garden designer and horticulturist with specialist knowledge of planting design.
Houzz Ireland Contributor Patricia Tyrrell is an award winning landscape and garden... More
Changes in level will create a garden that’s visually more interesting. New housing, however, generally favours flat land and this, combined with fencing to the boundaries, makes it quite challenging to change levels in any significant way.
However, even on a very flat site, it’s possible, with some tips and tricks, to create subtle but interesting level changes and introduce features that can make all the difference to the look and feel of your garden.
However, even on a very flat site, it’s possible, with some tips and tricks, to create subtle but interesting level changes and introduce features that can make all the difference to the look and feel of your garden.
Dig deep
In this very flat garden, variation in levels has been achieved by creating a sunken patio area. Not only does this add considerable interest, it also creates a sunny, sheltered space.
If you’re creating a lower level in the garden, though, it’s important to consider how it will drain, otherwise you may end up with a pool rather than a sunken terrace.
So your garden style is: formal
In this very flat garden, variation in levels has been achieved by creating a sunken patio area. Not only does this add considerable interest, it also creates a sunny, sheltered space.
If you’re creating a lower level in the garden, though, it’s important to consider how it will drain, otherwise you may end up with a pool rather than a sunken terrace.
So your garden style is: formal
Maximise curves
Height can be added by contouring and mounding up the earth so the ground rises gently. Then plant some grasses and perennials that add to the height, but also emphasise the contours. You could further play with heights by planting low perennials to the front and grading gradually to taller plants towards the back.
Height can be added by contouring and mounding up the earth so the ground rises gently. Then plant some grasses and perennials that add to the height, but also emphasise the contours. You could further play with heights by planting low perennials to the front and grading gradually to taller plants towards the back.
Play with raised beds
Well-designed raised beds create the illusion of a garden on different levels. Once built, the areas beside them can also be raised or lowered to create a visually interesting space. Decking is particularly versatile in this regard, due to the nature of its construction on a base frame, which allows for stepping up or down.
Well-designed raised beds create the illusion of a garden on different levels. Once built, the areas beside them can also be raised or lowered to create a visually interesting space. Decking is particularly versatile in this regard, due to the nature of its construction on a base frame, which allows for stepping up or down.
Trick the eye
By digging down to construct this stream and then bridging across it, the designer has created a garden on different levels. The tall planting on either side of the stream also adds to the feeling of depth.
By digging down to construct this stream and then bridging across it, the designer has created a garden on different levels. The tall planting on either side of the stream also adds to the feeling of depth.
Add some reflection
Water can be used in several different ways to create interest and a sense of varied levels in a garden. Pools of still water have infinite depth, reflecting the sky and the surrounding trees.
If possible, create small slopes down to the pool, which will emphasise and add to this effect. Looking down into the water in this garden, the view goes on forever.
See a selection of garden ponds
Water can be used in several different ways to create interest and a sense of varied levels in a garden. Pools of still water have infinite depth, reflecting the sky and the surrounding trees.
If possible, create small slopes down to the pool, which will emphasise and add to this effect. Looking down into the water in this garden, the view goes on forever.
See a selection of garden ponds
Think big
This sweet house is enclosed by what is essentially an extremely large raised bed, built in stone. Due to the scale of the raised area, viewed from the house, the garden will look as if it’s on two levels. It also gives instant enclosure and privacy to a space that would otherwise be quite open.
This sweet house is enclosed by what is essentially an extremely large raised bed, built in stone. Due to the scale of the raised area, viewed from the house, the garden will look as if it’s on two levels. It also gives instant enclosure and privacy to a space that would otherwise be quite open.
Rock it
Well-placed boulders can visually lift your garden. Rocks placed at ascending heights coupled with carefully arranged trees and planting give the impression of rising ground and can also add a lot of depth.
Here, broad steps positioned as a man-made element within the rocks add to the effect, so the overall look is anything but flat.
Well-placed boulders can visually lift your garden. Rocks placed at ascending heights coupled with carefully arranged trees and planting give the impression of rising ground and can also add a lot of depth.
Here, broad steps positioned as a man-made element within the rocks add to the effect, so the overall look is anything but flat.
Sculpt the earth
Not the first thing that springs to mind, but the earth beneath our feet has the potential for subtle or spectacular sculpting, from simple berms to tall mounts from which to view the garden.
A creative approach to the ground plane can add some fun and an original look to a flat area, as seen at the back of this garden, where the ground undulates between trees.
Not the first thing that springs to mind, but the earth beneath our feet has the potential for subtle or spectacular sculpting, from simple berms to tall mounts from which to view the garden.
A creative approach to the ground plane can add some fun and an original look to a flat area, as seen at the back of this garden, where the ground undulates between trees.
Sit proud
A circular seating area can easily be raised above the garden, because of its geometry and lack of connection to other elements in the space. Once the planting has grown up and softened the edges, it forms a raised oasis from which to view the garden.
This works well here on a small scale, but it could look good on a grander scale too.
Small and stylish patios for lovebirds
A circular seating area can easily be raised above the garden, because of its geometry and lack of connection to other elements in the space. Once the planting has grown up and softened the edges, it forms a raised oasis from which to view the garden.
This works well here on a small scale, but it could look good on a grander scale too.
Small and stylish patios for lovebirds
Protect what lies beneath
Soil is not something dead, but a living, breathing ecosystem with a complex structure. When changing levels, carry out the work in dry weather and try to keep traffic over the soil to a minimum.
Remove the surface layer – the topsoil – and store it carefully, then reshape the subsoil. Once the desired levels are achieved and any compaction remedied, replace the topsoil.
Also avoid tree roots, which are vital to a tree’s survival. Don’t damage or remove roots and also don’t change the level of the soil around a tree, as this could kill it.
Tell us
How have you incorporated different levels into your garden? Share your tips in the Comments below.
More
Read more garden design stories
Soil is not something dead, but a living, breathing ecosystem with a complex structure. When changing levels, carry out the work in dry weather and try to keep traffic over the soil to a minimum.
Remove the surface layer – the topsoil – and store it carefully, then reshape the subsoil. Once the desired levels are achieved and any compaction remedied, replace the topsoil.
Also avoid tree roots, which are vital to a tree’s survival. Don’t damage or remove roots and also don’t change the level of the soil around a tree, as this could kill it.
Tell us
How have you incorporated different levels into your garden? Share your tips in the Comments below.
More
Read more garden design stories
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Thank you too Vickie
Yes, creating different levels within a garden space can lift it from boring to sensational as the above illustrate. Lovely examples.
I like the Paul Martin design, it would look really nice with a modern house like my own. Really enjoyed looking at it.