Challenges of gardening on a slope

The owner of this property was unhappy with the performance of the existing flowers in her steep front garden, many of which had become shaded out as a Japanese Maple canopy spread over time. She shared that she likes to sit on her front porch and wanted a garden that was colorful all season, but that required little maintenance.

Gardening on a slope however is never easy. From soil erosion to difficulties planting, watering, and weeding while standing under the low branches of a tree, gardening in this space requires more effort.

I created a design which included the addition of colorful annuals and long blooming hydrangeas, to provide season long color. I also removed a number of non-performing perennials and replaced them with more shade tolerant varieties.

The photo to the right shows the garden in March 2025 before the redesign. The pics below show how the new design unfolded over the course of the summer.