A very tricky, steeply sloping site made functional with terraces planted with natives, succulents and grasses

The mid-century modern 1969 home was acquired by the current owners 6 years ago and has since been smartly renovated. However, the steeply sloping garden was impractical, and the owners realised they needed help creating flat, functional and family-friendly spaces.

Garden designer Alison Gardiner was consulted and came up with a clever multi-level plan to manipulate the challenging site and create pleasant places to pause, relax, eat and entertain!

Retaining walls were used to form a series of level terraces, each with its own purpose and individual yet connected character. The top terrace makes a lovely, secluded sitting spot and offers scenic views, and on the level below, a lawn serves as a play space for children and dogs. Informal stone or timber steps link the different terraces and, with their edges softened by the exuberant planting in the adjoining garden beds, they are a striking visual highlight. On the lower side of the house, there is extensive walling, a timber walkway, and steps that double as seating around a fire pit.

The plants have been carefully chosen to connect the garden with the surrounding landscape and to include an outstanding mix of Australian natives, flowering perennials, grasses, and succulents, all water-efficient yet together creating a lush, layered look.

Planted in generous drifts, they emphasise the differing textures and the colours of their foliage or flowers. Accent plants include grevilleas, spiky furcraea that hopefully will produce its spectacular tall flower spike, eucalypts, hakeas, succulents, several varieties of grasses and swathes of verdant myoporum. Sedum ‘Autum Joy’, salvias, vivid yellow billy buttons and a pretty, rounded, bush-shaped chrysanthemum are just some of the species that add flower colour.

Desert Flower Landscaping undertook the hardscaping in the garden, with materials including timber, corten steel, brick and stone, and finely crushed rock used in the paths, all selected by the designer to create a cohesive link between the house, the garden and the setting. Water tanks have been strategically placed, and a chicken house, fruit trees, veggies and herbs both in pots and in the ground are tucked in within easy reach of the kitchen.

This is a meticulously planned and constructed garden that has transformed an impractical hillside into a beautiful, green, functional, dynamic and engaging space!

NOTE: THERE ARE LOTS OF STEPS IN THIS STEEP GARDEN - TAKE CARE