Owners of a site on a slope are in an ambiguous position. Standard methods for placing beds are unacceptable here, and the arrangement of such a site involves significant material costs. However, after studying the existing approaches to registration, the owner most often comes to the conclusion about the advantages of such a situation. Landscaping of a plot on a slope will be developed and implemented by specialists. The presented ideas are able to transform the territory, making it unique, immersing in the beauty of mountain landscapes.

Strengthening the slopes on the site with your own hands

Landscaping begins with work to strengthen the slopes on the site. This will prevent further destructive processes that can damage buildings and decorated landscape design.

Preparatory actions

When strengthening slopes, various methods and designs are used. Landscaping allows the use of stones and concrete blocks, biomats and gabions, logs and lawn grates in the preparation of the site. To properly strengthen the slopes, it is necessary to study and calculate the following points:

• how close are groundwater;
• under what slope is the slope;
• geological features of the soil;
• is there a danger of washing away the site at a close location of the reservoir;
• take into account the pressure of the soil on the slope;
• determine the material for strengthening;
• identify areas in need of strengthening.

With a slight slope, it allows solving the problem of fixing the soil by planting trees and shrubs with a developed root system. With a significant slope, terracing or the use of geotextiles will be required.

Methods for strengthening slopes

The simplest and most inexpensive option for landscape design when strengthening a slope on a site is planting plants with a developed root system. This solution is acceptable under the condition of a small slope and its area. Plants are planted in cells that play the role of a reinforcing structure. In the future, the developed root system is intertwined with the fastening elements and does not allow the occurrence of landslides or soil erosion. Juniper is the leader with this method of strengthening the soil, it is also recommended to plant Chinese blackberries, lilacs and hawthorn.

Slopes in a summer cottage are often reinforced with fences made of concrete slabs, sandstone, brick or limestone. The advantage of this landscape design method is as follows:

high level of resistance to external destructive factors;

• does not require significant care efforts;
• does not interfere with the growth of green spaces;
• structural durability.

Such fences are erected subject to certain conditions:

• a solid foundation is laid;
• the minimum height of the fence is 1 m;
• the thickness of the fence is 1/3 of the height;
• mandatory drainage system equipment (water flowing down the slope should not wash away the structure)
• fences are built from the bottom up;
• it is recommended to build a cascade structure;
• it is necessary to provide for a slight slope towards the slope.

The landscape design of the site provides an opportunity to decorate such a structure with flower beds, decorative stairs, and lanterns.

Another option for strengthening the slope on the site is the use of stones and logs. They are dug into the ground, having previously studied the type of soil and the condition of the surface. At the same time, do not forget about the aesthetic appearance of the site and take care of the presence of drainage. Such an inexpensive way of landscaping is acceptable on both small and large slopes.

Modern developments in landscape design suggest using geotextiles in arranging a site on a slope. This product in rolls, consisting of polyester and polypropylene fibers, has the following advantages:

• water resistance;
• soil protection from freezing;
• when the water converges, it prevents the mixing of soil layers;
• plastic;
• has a high resistance to damage;
• ease of laying on the ground.

Another option that is acceptable when developing landscape design on a slope is the laying of geomats. This waterproof material consists of polypropylene gratings superimposed on each other and connected as a result of exposure to high temperatures. Geomats have the following features:

• do not contain toxic substances;
• UV resistance;
• maintaining the natural beauty of the landscape;
• not afraid of aggressive substances;
• resistant to low and high temperatures;
• easy to install.

The presented methods of landscape design when strengthening the slope can be done with your own hands or with the help of professionals. Their choice depends on the preferences of the owner and further plans for arranging the site.

Design options

Landscaping of a site on a slope opens up wide prospects for the realization of vivid fantasies and bold ideas. Considering the need for serious financial investments in landscaping, the approach to planning a site on a slope requires special care and thoughtfulness. The development of landscape design design work is necessarily preceded by a study of the technical indicators of water supply and soil characteristics. The location of future outbuildings and recreation areas deserves special attention. Already starting from their location, they are planning the construction of future terraces, flights of stairs, retaining walls and other elements of landscape design. When landscaping a site on a slope, its location relative to the cardinal points must be taken into account.

Terracing

Having decided to use terracing in the landscape design of a site on a slope, discard excessively long retaining walls in a straight line. This design will create the impression of a huge staircase. Landscape design experts recommend arranging terraces randomly with ledges or cascades. This will create a picturesque picture of the general view.

Winding paths or paths are provided between the terraces, and several steps are designed on steep slopes. Retaining walls on the site are made of various materials: natural stone and brick, wood and concrete. It is better to equip a steep climb with retaining walls using cement mortar; dry masonry will suffice on a flat place.

Original ideas in the design of retaining walls on the site are only welcome. Refuse straight lines, rounded shapes will provide smooth relief transitions and visually make them less conspicuous. Deviating from standard approaches will allow terraces with various functional purposes. Landscaping allows you to place vegetable beds and plantings of shrubs in separate areas. Combining them with winding paths will visually create a single picture of incompatible things.

The location of the terrace on wet ground suggests the presence of drainage filling from crushed stone. It is located between the wall and the ground in a width of 10-15 cm. It is recommended to supplement the masonry with pipe trimmings, which will ensure moisture escapes to the outside and prevent it from accumulating behind the retaining wall. The absence of such protective measures will provoke the rapid destruction of the structure.

Arrangement of paths and stairs

Neat paths are an indispensable attribute of landscape design, which help to achieve an organic connection between terraces. To ensure compatibility, it is better to perform them from a similar material.

Important ! Large decorative elements, whether stones, tiles or circles of wood, are capable of creating good visibility and a vivid perception of the path.

The winding shape of the path hides the steepness of the slope, and the serpentine, on the contrary, emphasizes it. Following the rules of landscape design of a site on a slope, it is better to emphasize the bends of the paths with low trees, shrubs or evergreens. Stairs on a steep slope of the site will be required. In width, it can correspond to the path that continues it or be a little narrower, but not less than 60 cm. If the staircase has many steps, it is better to separate them with platforms. It is advisable to equip them in places where the direction of movement changes. With a sufficient size, the site is decorated with a bench, an elegant statue or an original flowerpot. Landscape design experts recommend that a staircase located in a shady place be made of building materials of a lighter shade.

Remember! The beauty of landscape design must be combined with safety, choose non-slip material for paths and stairs.

Thoughtful landscape design will provide comfort during evening walks with the help of competent lighting. There are many ways to design it, and it will not be difficult to choose an option that matches the general style.

Site floristry

Choosing the concept of floristry, the best option for landscape design would be the style of a mountainous area. In this case, the location of the territory relative to the cardinal points must be taken into account. In this aspect, the site on the northern slope has its advantages, due to the possibility of decorating it with moisture-loving plants, accustomed to a shady location. For the south side, grasses and flowers that can withstand high temperatures and drought are more suitable.

Landscaping is developed in such a way that the planted plants have a different flowering period. Tulips, hyacinths and crocuses will be the first to please the owners in early spring. They can be replaced by decorative bows, California poppies and marigolds, and autumn will delight with bright colors of asters and chrysanthemums. Planting perennials will make gardening easier.

Trees on a plot with a slope, according to the rules of landscape design, are planted in a special way. If the house is at the top, next to it there are high plantings in the form of thuja, spruce or pyramidal poplar. Barberry or lilac will help create an interesting composition.

Please note! Planted trees and shrubs should not close the house.

Lower plants are found further down the slope. Evergreen shrubs and colorful flower beds can add nobility and sophistication. Juniper, magnolia, boxwood will be appropriate here. The region in which the site is located also plays a role. Therefore, when choosing green spaces, consider the peculiarities of the climatic conditions of your area.

The basic rules for landscape design of a site on a slope are as follows:

• correctly organize the division into zones;
• equip strong retaining walls;
• protect the site from soil erosion with the help of a competent drainage system;

In this article, we will offer you ideas that will help you equip a site that has a noticeable slope. We hope that our advice will help you turn the presence of a slope from a disadvantage into an advantage of the site, its highlight and the most noticeable element of landscape design.

Usually, a flat relief is positioned as the main advantage of the house adjoining area. In fact, on such an allotment it is easier to carry out construction, arrange landscape design, you can choose any project you like.

However, if your plot of land has a noticeable slope, you should not give up and assume that nothing can be done about it. There are several options for turning the slope into the most beautiful element of the allotment. The most interesting of them we will offer you in this article.

Equipping a site with a slope, one should not forget about convenient ways of movement. If the slope is very noticeable, of course, you can’t do without ladders and steps.

1. Deck

Above the slope, you can build a real deck from a decking board. This area will offer a beautiful view, and the deck itself will be an ideal place for outdoor recreation. Most often, such sites are equipped near the house, but they can be built in any part of the garden that differs in slope.

The deck can be supported by poles or a solid concrete foundation. A terrace board is used, which perfectly withstands all temperature changes and is not afraid of moisture.

The deck above the property will, of course, feature garden furniture that will transform the outdoor area into a cozy area for family dining outdoors.

2. Alpine slide

This element of landscape design traditionally rises above the site, and when arranging an alpine hill, you usually have to make an embankment. So why not use a natural slope, which will be the perfect location for such a "stone bed".

To create an alpine slide, flowers are used that feel good on rocky soil and slopes, strengthen the earth. This arrangement will emphasize the "stony flower bed", highlighting it from the surrounding space.

3. Terracing

Have you ever seen rice fields located on the slopes on separate steps? The same method can be used in the country. Experts advise creating three or four terraces in areas with a height difference of about three meters. For their arrangement, retaining walls are used, created from concrete, reinforced mesh, stones or boards.

Each such terrace can have its own function - beds with vegetables will appear on one, shrubs on the second, and a flower bed on the third. These will be clearly defined separate zones with their own borders, united, for example, by an inclined path, stone or wooden steps. Terracing is done across the slope.

The disadvantage of terracing is that the supporting walls themselves will take up a lot of space, so there will be less land left for flower beds and beds.

Experts advise building the outer side of each terrace with a slope towards the slope to ensure natural water runoff during heavy rains.

Metal plates can also serve as retaining walls. In this case, professionals advise adding natural materials and elements, for example, large boulders, which will soften the coldness of the metal.

Gabions can be used as a retaining wall on a site with a slope.

4. Stream and waterfall

If your site has a slope, this is a great opportunity to create an artificial stream or waterfall. To do this, you do not have to equip the embankment and worry about the flow of water, everything will happen naturally. A water cascade can also decorate a retaining wall supporting one of the terraces.

The slope is already there, it remains to take care of the course of the future stream and think about where exactly your future river will flow

A cascade stream on a slope, surrounded by lush juniper thickets, looks very natural, it seems created by nature itself

5. Vertical garden

On a site with a slope, the most noticeable part will, of course, be the upper wall or fence. Its design should be given special attention, for example, to create a beautiful vertical garden.

Along the most visible, located at the top wall of the site, you can arrange tall plants in flowerpots or pots. You can use vertical gardening techniques on the wall itself. Climbing plants are ideal, such as parthenocissus, honeysuckle, common ivy or vichi grapes.

6. Observation deck with a bench

A site with a slope usually does not offer a place to relax - only terraces and paths with steps connecting them. Allocate one terrace for a small seating area - plant a tree there, and install a bench in its shade. You will get a beautiful observation deck where it will be so nice to sit with a book or just admire your lush garden. Of course, for the arrangement of the viewing area, it is better to choose one of the upper terraces to provide a beautiful view.

Find a place on the site for a swing sofa or a regular bench and you will get a great seating area with a view of the entire lower part of the site.

7. Ornamental garden

A plot, even with a strong slope, is not a reason to abandon the cultivation of herbs, spices and vegetables. True, the arrangement of the beds will have to be taken care of additionally. High beds in special flowerpots are perfect.

This site has a strong slope, but this did not stop the owners from equipping a garden that looks attractive and will bring a good harvest.

In a cramped space between two retaining walls made of stone, in any case, there will be enough space for cabbages and greens.

8. "Wild" slope

It is not at all necessary to bring your site with a strong slope in perfect order. It is quite possible to leave it in its natural state, providing only a convenient descent-ascent in the form of steps or stairs. And on the sides of the path, let such plants that do not require constant care grow, such as crocuses, botanical tulips, mint and lemon balm, bluebells, St. John's wort, ayuga.

By the way, all ground cover plants perfectly strengthen the slopes. In addition, for this purpose, you can plant sea buckthorn, broom, wild rose, lilac, cotoneaster, Japanese quince - all these shrubs do not require special care and feel great on an inclined surface, holding the soil with their roots.

Who said that a site on a slope must necessarily be decorated with regular flower beds with their clear boundaries, have a “sleek” civilized look? Do natural slopes with their wild flowers and shrubs look less attractive?

In conclusion, we note that landscape design experts are confident that it is easier to design a plot with a slope when the house is on a hill. However, if there is no other way out and the cottage had to be located at the very bottom of the slope, do not despair - many of our tips can also be used for such an arrangement, which is considered the most disadvantageous.

In general, many professionals are convinced that a flat terrain is too boring, but a natural slope can be used "to the fullest", turning it into an unusually beautiful place. Try it, perhaps, after the completion of the work, you will also be convinced of their correctness!

Advantages and disadvantages of a site on a slope, planning rules for a problem area, placement of functional zones, basic methods for improving an allotment.

Advantages and disadvantages of a site on a slope

Many people prefer to purchase only horizontal land plots for summer cottages, counting on the ease of their operation. However, allotments on the slopes provide more opportunities for the formation of an original appearance and the embodiment of non-standard ideas. Therefore, do not be upset if you have at your disposal an area located at an angle to the horizon.

Its undoubted advantages include the following points:

• Dachas on the slope are always different from each other.
• Competent arrangement of the site will allow you to get a picturesque example of landscape art.
• By placing the house at the very top, you can view the entire territory from the window.
• On such land, you can build design elements that are inaccessible to flat areas - an alpine hill, a waterfall or a cascade.
• If the slope is directed to the south, you can harvest a good harvest of fruits and vegetables on it due to better sun exposure.

However, such allotments have a lot of disadvantages:

1. It is difficult to grow a lawn on a steep slope.
2. For the arrangement will require significant financial investments.
3. Plantings should be watered frequently, because. water does not hold well on the slope.
4. Buildings are built only at the top, because of the danger of erosion of the foundation.
5. Unstable areas may slip.
6. Moving on sloping terrain is tiring.
7. Small children should not play on steep slopes.

Creating a Sloped Lot Design

The improvement of the territory begins with the analysis of various indicators, which will allow you to create an optimal layout for the placement of elements and develop a sequence of construction work.

The following characteristics need to be assessed:

• Surface relief. It determines the location of zones (residential, recreation, garden), placement of communications, etc.
• The size and geometry of the site. This characteristic influences the style of planning.
• Possibilities of leveling the territory by terracing.
• Soil type. Often it is necessary to import fertile land for growing garden and horticultural crops.
• The depth of groundwater. Information is needed to create a drainage system in order to drain rain and flood water.
• Dominant wind direction. Ignoring this factor can lead to the death of green spaces that do not take root well in very cold or very hot weather. It is necessary to select appropriate plant varieties or provide protection from the winds.
• The location of the inclined area in relation to the cardinal points and the illumination of the territory. Characteristics have a great influence on crop yields. It is necessary to choose the right plants.
• Systems of measures to strengthen the soil on the slopes. These include planting vegetation with a branched root system that creates turf, mechanical strengthening of the soil, planting plants with powerful roots.

The result of the analysis of the information received is the creation of a project for a site with a slope, which must indicate:

1. Houses and additional outbuildings (showers, gazebos, garages, etc.). The main object on the territory is a residential building. The breakdown of the put on begins with it.
2. Rest zone. Placement depends on the decision of the dacha owner to concentrate entertainment places in one place or scatter them throughout the dacha.
3. Enclosing fence. A hedge of 2-3 rows of trees or trimmed shrubs looks beautiful.
4. Area for a vegetable garden and a garden. Plots for them are prepared depending on the steepness of the slope.
5. Terracing or other surface leveling methods. The resulting flat areas are used as lawns, pools are equipped in the hollows.
6. Underground and overground communications.

The optimal arrangement of zones is considered to be such that 9-11% of the territory is allocated for buildings, 65-77% for gardens and gardens, 11-16% for paths, stairs, driveways.

The plan is drawn up in a regular, landscape or mixed style. For a site at an angle, a landscape style is most suitable, in which the elements are arranged freely and naturally. Correct and symmetrical forms are excluded, which adds to the attractiveness of the dacha. The regular style is designed for flat areas, and the mixed style combines the features of the first two.

The diagram is drawn at the selected scale, usually 1:100. Divide the sheet into 1x1 cm squares, each of which corresponds to 1 m 2 of the plot. Orient the sketch to the cardinal points. Cut out figures of buildings from cardboard in the same scale (house, shower, garage, front garden, garden, etc.) and place them on the plan at your discretion, taking into account building codes and other requirements. We recommend that you indicate the entrances and exits of buildings in order to avoid bitter disappointments. After obtaining satisfactory results, you can begin work on the improvement of the cottage.

The landscape of a site with a slope is formed according to its own rules. Each zone is located depending on its purpose, size, terrain, etc. Often, the arrangement of the territory is influenced by the possibility of creating terraces - horizontal platforms that are easy to operate.

Terracing

Leveling is usually done on slopes with a slope greater than 15 degrees. With a slight slope, no surface modifications are carried out. In areas with an average slope, it will be necessary to build supports for the terrace. If the angle is very large, serious construction work will be required using heavy equipment. The number of platforms and their dimensions depend on the angle of inclination. Stairs are used to move from one level to another.

Terracing begins with determining the steepness of the slope and is carried out in several stages:

• Marking horizontal areas. Their dimensions should be such that the elements of the site are freely placed - a house, a flower bed, a garden. They can be arranged in a different sequence - in one row, in a checkerboard pattern, asymmetrically, it all depends on the wishes of the owner.
• Formation of horizontal platforms. Work begins at the top, gradually descending to the base. The cut soil is moved to the lower areas. Usually, the height of the walls of the structure does not exceed 0.6-0.8 m, and the width is 4-5 m. On small plots, 2-3 levels are equipped, on large plots - from 5 or more.

The terraces are supported by vertical walls. When building them, consider the following:

1. Overturning and shearing forces act on partitions, so the structure must withstand such loads. To increase the strength and durability of the walls, a foundation is needed, the dimensions of which depend on the size of the partition, as well as on the characteristics of the soil.
2. In order for the support to withstand large vertical loads, a drainage system is created that prevents the base from being washed away with water.
3. During the construction of the "dry" method, pour the stones with soil with seeds. After a short period of time, the wall will have a very beautiful appearance. But without cement mortar, the protective structure does not withstand the large amount of water that appears on the site during rain or snow melt.
4. Brick walls are very beautiful and durable. Partitions can be made deaf, discharged, winding or zigzag, etc.
5. Wooden structures look very beautiful, but their service life is short, even after treatment with special preparations.
6. Concrete walls can be built up to 3 m high, which is much more than stone or brick walls (0.8 m). It is allowed to use ready-made panels or pour formwork.

Residential and auxiliary buildings

It is quite difficult to erect buildings on sloping sites. This requires a large amount of work to be done on the basement and underground parts of the building. Ideally, the building should protect the territory from the prevailing winds and not obscure green spaces.

When building, use our recommendations:

• Place buildings in such a way that there is the shortest distance between them.
• It is recommended to build houses in the north or northwest of the allotment.
• If the site is turned to the south, build the house at the very top. If to the east and west - also above all the elements of the cottage, at its northern border.
• If the territory descends to the north, erect the building in the middle of the allotment, closer to the western side.
• In any case, do not build a house at the bottom of a slope to avoid flooding. The facade of the building should face the street.
• Often, 5-7 m of free space is left between the building and the road, which is filled with flowers and low shrubs.
• The location of the windows is important. Openings facing southeast and southwest provide illumination of the room throughout the day, and to the north they create shading that cools the room in hot weather.
• By the size of the shadow cast by the house, you can determine the geometry of the recreation area and the parking lot.
• The gazebo is usually located in the most beautiful place, with a good view. The playground is located on the lawn under the windows of the room, where adults most often gather during the daytime. On the edge leave a place for a barbeque.

There are several methods for building a house on a slope. The horizontality of the building is ensured by the high plinth, in which case the natural slope is preserved. In the basement you can place a garage, a shed, a kitchen. The place under the building is leveled by filling or trimming.

Green areas

Plantings look especially beautiful on sloping terrain.

Plants are planted according to certain rules:

• Vegetables and fruits are grown on the sunny side, where they take root well.
• Do not plant trees closer than 5 m from buildings, so that they do not have dampness from lack of light.
• On the north side of the building, plant sprawling fruit trees - apple trees, pears. You can also place an apple and cherry tree on the east side of the building. In this case, in the summer there will be a large shaded area near the house.
• Plant shrubs near the garage, as well as around compost heaps and other unsightly places.
• On the south side of the house, plant heat-loving plants - grapes.
• Grow vegetables in the middle of an area where there is no shade. Provide the same conditions for the flower garden.
• Give up tall shrubs along the edges of the garden, it gives a long shade. You can grow raspberries on the south side of the garden, it gives almost no shade.

Creation of a drainage system

The layout of the site with a slope must necessarily indicate the drainage scheme, which is necessary to maintain a constant water balance and quickly remove rainwater and moisture that appears in the spring during snowmelt. The danger from excess moisture is the formation of scours.

The steeper the angle of inclination, the faster the water will wash it away. Even small streams wash out deep gullies over time, which leads to the formation of deep ravines. The arrangement of drains is started after the completion of the construction of the main buildings, communications, green plantings.

Drainage can be open and closed. The latter option has an advantage, because saves usable space. Above them, you can organize access roads and paths.

The drainage system is a system of trenches and receiving collectors. Highways are dug along the slope. The most effective option is considered in which the ditches are arranged in the form of a "Christmas tree". In this case, additional outlets are adjacent to the central trench, which removes moisture outside the site or into the intake manifold.

The depth of the trenches is 0.3-1 meter. The bottom should be with a slope of at least 2 mm over a length of 1 m. Fill it with sand with a layer of 10 cm, then cover it with geotextile with an overlap on the walls. Sprinkle rubble on top with a layer of 15-20 cm.

Place the pieces of perforated drainage pipe on the prepared pillow and connect them together. Fill the pipe with crushed stone and cover with geotextile. Fill the remaining space with sand or soil.

Site decoration

The multi-level arrangement of individual sections allows you to introduce original ideas. A good option for non-standard territory is the Alpine style with a lot of raw stones and bright colors.

Using these elements, you can solve the following tasks:

1. Zone design;
2. Strengthening the soil with boulders;
3. Snow retention;
4. Site decoration.

On an inclined plot, plants are planted according to certain rules: the higher the place, the lower the plants. At the top there should be undersized species, at the base - trees and tall bushes, which allows you to visually align the allotment.

There should not be free glades in the country. Fill the strips with lawn or ground cover plants that prevent soil from washing out. On a sloping slope, you can grow a lawn.

Track layout

To move around the site, consider the location of the paths.

They are subject to the following requirements:

• The width of the paths and the height of the steps throughout the area must be the same to avoid injury when going up and down. To smooth out differences in the heights of the tracks, make them winding.
• The maximum allowed path angle is 45 degrees. With these parameters, be sure to make a railing. Make treads 25-30 cm wide, risers 15 cm high.
• With a large slope of the land on the stairs, be sure to provide rest areas, after which the direction of movement should change.
• The most affordable price is a wooden staircase. In this case, the riser is made of boards fixed on the sides with pegs, and the compacted soil forms the tread.
• A staircase made of brick, stone or concrete will be more durable. In the latter case, use formwork.
• A section of stairs with 10 steps or more must be supported by a concrete base that will prevent it from slipping.
• The dimensions and shape of the stairs depend on the functional purpose of the site and do not necessarily meet accepted standards.

Slope strengthening

So that the soil does not slip, the soil must be strengthened. For this, the following methods are used:

1. natural fortifications. They are used at small angles (up to 15 degrees). Sites on the slopes are recommended to be planted with creeping plants, near the base - with lilacs, wild roses, willows. The roots of these plants intertwine and form a strong frame.
2. Use of geomaterials - geotextiles or geogrids. The material is laid on the surface and covered with soil. After a short period of time, a layer of turf and other vegetation appears, which reliably prevent the soil from slipping. The service life of the geomaterial is more than 50 years.
3. mound. This is the creation of barriers from the soil, which is taken from the sole and sprinkled on top of the slope. Used on large areas, tk. takes up a lot of usable space. Periodically, the soil must be poured to increase the height of the embankment.
4. Retaining walls made of wood or stone. Not only strengthen the slopes, but also create a comfortable terracing. Most often, this method is used on hilly terrain with any elevation difference. Partitions up to 0.8 m are easy to build on your own. Massive walls that can withstand heavy loads are built using heavy equipment.
5. gabions. These are special factory-made structures filled with pebbles, stones and other materials. If the contents are sprinkled with earth, in the spring a growth will appear above the structure, which will disguise it.

Watch the video about the plot with a slope:

A little attractive at first summer cottage, located at an angle to the horizon, with the right approach, it will become a beautiful and comfortable recreation area. To obtain a good result, it is necessary to study the features of using the problem area, which should be taken into account even at the stage of developing a summer cottage project. Depending on the size, they distinguish: macrorelief (large landforms that determine the general appearance of a large area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe earth's surface: mountain ranges, plateaus, etc.); mesorelief (relief forms that are details of a particular section of a mountain surface: valleys, basins, buttress, rib, etc.) and microrelief (small components that form relief details).

In the mountainous relief, the following forms are distinguished:
The mountains(or mountainous countries) - highly elevated vast areas of the earth's surface with multiple dissection and sharp fluctuations in elevation, formed as a result of tectonic processes.

foothills- lowered peripheral parts of mountain systems and ranges, having a hilly or mountainous character.

Peak- the pointed peak of a mountain (1), in a broader sense - the highest point of any peak, regardless of its shape.

Vertex(2) - the upper highest part of the massif, mountain or elevated section of the crest of the ridge.
The forms of mountain peaks are varied. Their characteristic features are reflected in the names: "peak" (3), "needle" (4), "tooth" and "horn" (5), "tower" (6), "pyramid" (7), "cone" (8), "dome" (9), "table mountain" (10).

mountain range- a separate group of mountains, which has small elevation differences within itself.

Ridge(11) - a linearly elongated series of mountain peaks connected by depressions (bars, saddles), bounded by slopes inclined in opposite directions from the ridge line. The slopes are usually dissected by valleys.

Mountain chain- a series of ridges of great length.

mountain group(12) - a separate isolated section of mountains, a compact system of ridges and mountain ranges, separated from other mountain groups by deep, wide valleys and low saddles.

Crest(13) - a line that is the junction of opposite slopes of a mountain, a ridge. There are ridges sharp, rounded, serrated, sawtooth.

Rocky jumper(14) - part of the ridge, located between two small hills ("gendarmes", small peaks).

Saddle(15) - a shallow depression between two peaks.

Pass(16) - the lowest place in the crest of the ridge, a more accessible transition from one valley to another.

Slope(17) - lateral, wide part of the mountain.

Edge(18) - a short ridge of the summit part of the mountain, a secondary ridge extending from the main ridge.

Buttress(19) - an implicit rib on a steep slope of a mountain or ridge.

Shoulder(20) - bend, more gentle than the entire line of the ridge, ledge on the ridge in front of the top.

presummit(21) - a massive uplift of the ridge near the top of the mountain, slightly inferior to it in height.

Takeoff(22) - a sharp increase in the steepness of the ridge.

"Gendarme"(23) - a minor peak on the approaches to the main peak of the ridge.

valleys- an elongated hollow landform formed by a combination of two slopes, the intersection of which creates the lower strip of the valley floor, usually occupied by the bed of a permanent or drying watercourse. A flat bottom is often located between the slopes; such valleys are called flat-bottomed. If the bottom is flooded during the flood, it is called a floodplain, and the valley is called a floodplain. If the slopes or the bottom are stepped in large sections, they are called terraced valleys.

hanging valley- lateral valley, the bottom of which is located much higher than the bottom of the main valley, and the end abruptly breaks off, forming an estuarine step.

Gorge- a steeply sloping valley with a V-shaped transverse profile.

Canyon- a deep valley (gorge) with almost steep slopes and a narrow bottom, usually completely occupied by the riverbed.

Basin- a large oval or rounded depression between the mountains.

Kar- a natural bowl-shaped depression in the near-top part of the mountain. It is formed during frost weathering of depressions. Some kars are filled with kar glaciers or firn.

Scree- accumulation of rock fragments at the base, often under the couloirs of steep cliffs. There are large (24), medium and small (25) talus.

cone(26) - an accumulation of fragments of loose rock (sand, pebbles, crushed stone and gravel) or avalanche snow at the base of gutters and couloirs, which are a constant channel of rockfalls and avalanches.
The relief of steep rocky slopes also presents a series of specific forms.

Crack(27) - a vertical or horizontal cut a few millimeters wide in the rock, used to drive rock hooks.

gap(28) - a wider, vertical or sloping crack a few centimeters wide (less than 10) that can fit a palm or a wooden wedge.

Cleft(29) - a wider slot that can fit a limb.

Fireplace(30) - a wide vertical or sloping crevice in which a climber can fit.

Cork(31) - a piece of rock wedged in a fireplace or crevice.

gutter(32) - narrow and shallow hollow.

couloir(33) - a trough-shaped or V-shaped hollow on a steep slope of a mountain, directed along the line of water flow.

Wall(34) - part of a slope or ridge steeper than 70° and several tens or hundreds of meters high. There is also a very steep mountain slope, in general, a wall is a part of a wall or a steep section of a slope, a ridge up to 10 m high.

Plate(35) - a section of a smooth inclined rock layer.

Cornice(36) - rock ledge hanging over the wall (wall).

ledge(37) - a separate, sharply protruding small part of it above the level of a wall or rock, which can be clasped with fingers or hands, throw a rope for insurance or descent, etc.

ledge(38) - a recess in the rock, a small depression, a step-like unevenness on the wall, ridge. You can stand on a ledge, lean on your hand, but you can’t grab it or grab it.

A shelf(39) - oblong, horizontal or inclined narrow ledge.

Terrace(40) - a horizontal or inclined wide long shelf on the slopes of the mountains, along which you can move.

Balcony(41) - a separate horizontal platform on the wall.

Breakaway(42) - a plate-like, vertically standing part of the rock, with its upper part moving away from the wall.

"Lamb foreheads"(43) - rocky ledges of bedrock on the bottom or slope of the gorge, smoothed as a result of the movement of the glacier and the stones carried by it.

Trough(44) - a trough-shaped depression on the slope, open towards the valley.

Inner corner(45) - the angle formed by two walls converging inside the rock.

Outside corner(46) - the angle formed by two walls converging outwards of the rock.

Hook- a small (1-3 cm) unevenness of the rocky surface, for which you can hold on to the first phalanges of the fingers.

Support- implicitly expressed unevenness on the surface of the rocks.

Glaciers and landforms.
Glaciers are formed as a result of the accumulation of masses of solid atmospheric precipitation. Snow under the pressure of the overlying layers on the lower ones and sublimation of water vapor turns first into firn, then into loose white firn ice, and finally into dense blue glacier ice. Masses of ice located on the slopes of mountains, being a plastic substance, flow down, forming glaciers. The speed of movement of mountain glaciers is 10-300 m per year.

Being in continuous motion along the bed, the glacier repeats all its bends in the vertical and horizontal directions. As a result, various landforms are formed.
The glacier consists of two main parts: a firn-snow basin, or feeding zone (snowfields), and a melting zone (ablation) - the tongue of the glacier, which usually descends below the snow line.
The snow line is a conditional border, above which non-melting snow remains in the mountains, turning into firn. On the snow line, the arrival of solid precipitation is equal to their consumption. The level of the snow line depends on the temperature and humidity of the air, the intensity of solar radiation, and the strength of the prevailing winds.

Eternal snow is a cover of snow and ice located above the snow line, where the annual income of snow exceeds its loss. Below the snow line, snow and ice decrease under the influence of solar radiation, air heat, rain and melt water.

There are the following types of glaciers:
Cover glacier - almost completely hides the underlying relief. The feeding basin is located in the central part of the glacier surface, from where a series of tongues descend in different directions (example: Elbrus glaciation).

Karovy glacier(47) - occupies the bottom of the car or trough on the slope of the ridge. The food basin coincides with the surface of the glacier; the tongue does not extend beyond the kar.

hanging glacier(48) - lies on the steep slopes of a mountain or ridge. It has an underdeveloped tongue, which, before reaching the valley, breaks off, forming ice avalanches.

revived glacier(49) is formed from the fragments of a valley glacier, when the end of the latter breaks off during a bed fracture and collapses down. The blocks accumulate and freeze into a new glacier, which continues to move.

valley glacier(50) has a distinct feeding area (snow-firn pool) and a tongue descending into the valley. A glacier merging from several streams is called a complex glacier.

peremetny glacier(51) - a glacier split into two streams sliding along independent beds, with a common pool of food.

The relief of glaciers has such forms.
Snow cornice (52) - inflated, formed on the ridge towards the leeward slope. As a result of the turbulence of the air flow, a niche, a pocket can form under the eaves.

snow slope(53) - the side of the mountain, covered with snow. Snow does not lie on a slope in a stationary state, but continuously changes its structure and slowly moves down (displaces under its own weight, blown away by the wind, slides down in avalanches, collapses in avalanches). There are slopes straight, concave, convex, stepped; by steepness: medium, gentle, steep, very steep. The term "wall" does not apply to a snowy slope.

Avalanche- masses of snow falling from mountain peaks and slopes. The fall of an avalanche occurs as a result of overloading the slope with snow in violation of stability and adhesion to the underlying surface.

Avalanche chute(54) is formed on a snowy, firn slope under the couloirs and in their bottom, it is a constant channel of avalanches.

avalanche cone(see 26) - a cone-shaped compressed bedding of avalanches located under avalanche flows.

snowfield, snowfield(55) - immobile accumulation of snow in places protected from wind and sun (among the towering slopes). They are the feeding area of ​​glaciers.

snowy plateau(56) - a more or less even snow-firn field located at a high altitude between the mountains.

Glacial tongue(57) - the glacier itself is of a valley type, without a feeding zone. It is an ice stream descending into the valley.

Piedmont fissure(bergschrund) (58) - a crack in the glacier feeding area. It is formed along the edge of the firn field, separating the immovable part of the firn frozen to the rock from the mobile mass flowing down to the lower part of the firn basin.

Transverse cracks(59) are formed in the places of the inflection of the glacier bed, where the speed of its movement exceeds the plastic possibilities of ice. On convex bends, cracks expand upwards, on concave bends - downwards.

Longitudinal cracks(60) are formed at the points of exit of the glacial tongue from the narrow part of the bed to the wider one.

Radial cracks(61) are formed in the places of sharp turns of the bed along the outer part of the glacier and radiate to its edge.

Side cracks(62) arise as a result of the decelerating effect of the rocky coast of the bed on the moving ice, are located at a certain angle relative to the direction of movement.

cruciform cracks(63) are formed on separate bulges of the glacier bed, from which the ice slides in different directions.

Bridge snowy(64) - the rest of the snow cover up to 1-1.5 m thick, partially covering the crack, a thicker snowball in the crack - a snow plug.

Jumper- a thin ice plate connecting diagonally both walls of a wide crack. Usually collapses as the crack expands further.

Icefall(65) - a section of a glacier, broken by deep crevasses and fissures into separate blocks of various shapes and sizes. It is formed in places of sharp bends of the glacier bed in its entire width (or most of it), the speed of ice movement increases, causing splits.

Seraki(66) - individual large blocks of ice in an icefall with steep or sheer walls.

Reset(67) - a separate firn-ice blocky layer on the snowy slope of the mountain. In the lower part it has a firn spall wall, and in the upper part it has a crack.

Grotto(68) - a large gully at the end of the tongue of the glacier, from which melt water flows.

ice well- a hole in a glacier. The flow of melt water flowing down the surface of the glacier enters the crack, leaving a vertical gully in the ice even after the crack closes.

glacial mill- a spherical cavity in a glacial well. The stone that has fallen into the well is constantly set in motion by water, producing a spherical depression.

Glacier tables(mushrooms) (69) - large stones sitting on an ice leg from 0.5 to 4 m high. Getting from the slopes of the mountains to the surface of the glacier, blocks of rock protect the ice hidden under it from melting, resulting in the formation of an ice leg. When it thaws, the lump falls and the process begins again.

ice glass- a depression that has melted under a small stone heated by the sun.

Surface moraines(70) - a continuous stone cover of the final part of the glacial tongue, formed as a result of the confluence of lateral and median moraines.

Lateral moraine(71) - an accumulation of rock fragments that rolled down from the slopes along the edge of the glacier.

Median moraines(72) - continuous parallel ridges of rock fragments in the middle of the glacier surface, formed as a result of the confluence of lateral moraines of glacier tributaries.
Internal moraine - fragments of rock that have penetrated into the thickness of the glacier through cracks or fallen into the snow of the firn basin.

bottom moraine(73) - an accumulation of rock fragments that penetrated under the glacier through through cracks, as well as pieces of rock torn off from the bed.

Terminal frontal moraines(74) - arcuate swell deposited in front of the tongue of the glacier during its retreat.

coastal moraines(75) - located on both sides of the tongue of the glacier, the ridges raised high above it indicate the retreat of the glacier.

Randkluft(76) - welt gap, a narrow space between the glacier and its bed.

Nunatak(77) - a rocky island, prominent among the glacial stream (the glacier flows around it on both sides).

In mountaineering practice, along with the generally accepted terminology, a number of relief names are used to describe peaks and climbing routes, revealing the nature and complexity of the obstacles to be overcome.

Familiarity with landforms, terminology and characteristic features related to them is necessary for every climber. After all, every detail of the relief implies the appropriate technique and tactics of overcoming.

This terminology is fixed by a special system of symbols - designations of individual relief elements, developed by UIAA.

It facilitates the study of literature, allows you to unify the route and reporting documentation, helps to navigate the terrain.

Terminology in the names of mountainous relief

The appearance of the peak, as a rule, is reflected in the name.
Peak, dome, needle, tooth, tower, pyramid, horn, cone. These names, which sound different in different languages, give a clear idea of ​​the configuration of the vertices and do not need further explanation. However, in the Pamirs and Tien Shan, many significant peaks, regardless of shape, are called peaks.

Ridge- a series of linearly elongated mountain peaks connected by depressions (lintels, saddles), bounded by deep valleys. Ranges of great extent or a linear system of ridges are called a mountain range.

Valley- an elongated depression between the ridges. Valleys (the result of the destructive activity of glaciers and rivers - erosion) are divided by location into longitudinal, running parallel to the ridges, and transverse, extending perpendicular to the axis of the latter.
In appearance, the valleys are wide, with a flat bottom - floodplains. More often one can observe V-shaped valleys with steep slopes and a narrow bottom. With slopes of great steepness, they are called gorges. The narrowest of these forms - steep-walled with a narrow bottom, the width of the stream - canyons.

Saddle- lowering the ridge between two peaks. Often such a decrease is used as the most convenient way to overcome the ridge and is called a pass. The part of a ridge that connects the peaks or steep ledges on it is called a lintel. It can be rocky, ice or snowy.
Characterizing the transition from a steep ridge to its gentle part and again to a steep one, the definition of a shoulder is used; a sharp increase in steepness is called takeoff. Steep rocky ledges, sometimes rising tens of meters above the crest, are known as gendarmes.

presummit- this is a massive rise of the ridge near the top, slightly inferior to it in height.

Crest- a line of junction of opposite slopes of a mountain or ridge. Combs can be sharp, rounded (ridges) and serrated (saws). The secondary ridge extending from the main one is called the rib; an implicitly expressed ridge or a system of short rocky ledges on a steep slope - a buttress.

Under slope refers to the lateral wide part of the mountain. The relief of rocky slopes also contains a number of specific forms: a steeply falling (at least 60-70¦) slope forms a wall, and climbers call areas of a similar nature, but of a shorter length, walls.
Sometimes small sections of rocks stand out on the snowy slopes - islands.

Circus- a place (part of a gorge, glacier, plateau) is limited by a group of peaks and their crests or spurs.
The relief of steep rocky slopes and buttresses is also expressed by specific forms: the rocks are usually dissected by cracks that can be distinguished along the strike into horizontal, vertical and inclined ones. If the crack allows you to enter your fingers or the toe of your boot into it, it is called a gap, and when one limb enters, crevice.

The widest fissure-like, vertically arranged elements of the rocky relief, in which a person can fit entirely, are known as fireplaces. They can rise to tens of meters and exceed human height in width. As you go deeper into the rock, the fireplace usually narrows.
Often found in fireplaces traffic jams- firmly wedged fragments of rocks. They, as a rule, block the path, but can be used as fulcrum and insurance.

A monolithic section of rocks with a small number of irregularities is called a slab. By the nature of the surface, the slabs can be stepped, tiled, etc.

Stepped areas on rocky slopes, depending on the size and possibilities of use, are called ledges (a recess, a small stepped unevenness in the rock on which you can stand, lean on your hand, but you can’t clasp it), shelves, balconies, terraces. You can stand on the shelf with your feet, you can sit on the balcony, and the terrace allows you to set up a tent.
The section of rocks hanging over the slope, which is not passable without special means, is called a cornice. A fragment of a rocky relief that allows you to throw a safety rope over it is called ledge. Intersecting plates form an inner corner (when the walls converge inside the rock) or an outer corner.
The smallest elements of the rocky relief remain leads-- small (1-5 cm) irregularities in the surface of the rocks, for which you can hold on to your fingers or lean on them. In the latter case, they are often called supports.

Lobby- recesses on the slope, arising under the action of flowing and falling water. They reach a width of several tens of meters, often extend to the entire height of the slope, and, depending on the time of year and landscape conditions, can be filled with snow, firn, and ice. The couloir is a natural route for rockfalls and avalanches. The bottom of the couloir is often cut with a trough.

Scree- accumulation of fragments of rocks, most often under the couloirs. There are large, small and medium talus. Sometimes such accumulations of fragments of loose rock (sand, crushed stone), as well as avalanche snow at the base of the gutter, are called alluvial fans in accordance with the shape.

Glacier- a natural accumulation of ice of atmospheric origin, with independent movement. It is this movement that is the main feature of the glacier. The most important condition for the existence of a glacier is the predominance of the amount of solid atmospheric precipitation over their evaporation and melting. Glaciers accumulate and temporarily withdraw atmospheric moisture evaporating from the surface of the planet and return it in the form of melted glacial waters. A mountain glacier has an area of ​​nourishment (firn basin) and an ablation area (loss of ice and firn as a result of melting, evaporation, and mechanical consumption).
In the upper reaches of the glacier, on the border between the immovable ice-firn cover and the detached masses of ice, which give rise to the moving glacier, there are piedmont cracks - bergschrunds. They cross the slopes of the circus for a very long distance, changing their place and size. Bergschrunds are characterized by the excess of the upper edge of the crack over the lower one, reaching in some cases about several meters,

All the detrital material transported and deposited by the glacier forms moraines. According to the formation conditions, several types of moraines are distinguished. The general term cover moraine is a continuous stone cover of the final part of the glacial tongue, formed as a result of the confluence of median and lateral moraines. Often this moraine covers the glacier with a continuous layer long before the end of the tongue.

Lateral moraine- rock fragments that rolled down from the slopes, located along the edges of the glacier in the form of longitudinal ridges. Over time, these fragments are cemented into a continuous mass, forming ridges and sharp ridges. The recesses between the moraines and the main slope are called moraine pockets. Fragments that have fallen through or melted into the thickness of the glacier, moving along with it, constitute the internal moraine.

The accumulation of rock fragments that have penetrated under the glacier through through cracks, as well as pieces of rock torn off from the bed, is called bottom moraine. Median moraines are formed from overlapping lateral moraines at the confluence of glaciers. The number of such formations depends on the number of tributaries. On the many kilometers long Pamir glaciers, their surface at a considerable distance bears pronounced bands of median moraines.

The transported material accumulates as the glacier melts in the terminal and lateral parts of the tongue. Retreating, the glacier leaves a lot of debris. Ridges that cross the valley in arcuate shafts below the end of the glacier are called terminal or frontal moraines; they indicate the position of maximum development or prolonged stop of the glacier.

The hilly relief between the end shafts is called the main moraine. The ridges along the sides of the valleys, marking the lateral boundaries of the retreating glacier, are called coastal moraines. They often represent a bizarre ridge, rising hundreds of meters above the glacier. Massive boulders often remain on the crests and slopes of large moraines, weakly associated with the main conglomerate. With heavy rains, collapses and landslides are not uncommon on such moraines.

Sometimes at the edge of the glacier are found lamb foreheads- rocky ledges smoothed by ice. Most often they are exposed under steep receding tongues. Large areas of sheep's foreheads are called curly rocks.

Icefalls are a continuous chaotic system of tensile cracks and shearing and simultaneous collapse of large blocks of broken ice. Like transverse fissures, they occur at sharp bends and faults with a height difference of tens and sometimes hundreds of meters. On an icefall at slope angles greater than 20¦, the area covered by faults is many times larger than a monolithic mass of ice. Similar to icefalls, the chaotic destruction of a glacier sometimes occurs at its confluence with tributaries flowing into it.

Separate, bizarre blocks of ice, reaching enormous sizes, are called seracs, sometimes very unstable.
Depending on the state and amount of snow on the glacier, cracks can be closed or open. Constant deformation of cracks and uneven melting of snow leads to the appearance of bridges over cracks - thin ice plates that diagonally connect the walls of a wide crack or ice-snow bridges.

On the border of the glacier and its sides, active melting occurs, and in this zone hollows are formed, deepened by water flows.
This -- rantkluft, edge gap, edge crack.

In summer, soft, sticky snow, temperature crust, frozen firn are more common in the mountains, soft snow is slightly damp after bad weather, in winter - wind crust, sandy - dry, frosty snow, areas swept by the wind from powdery snow, fluffy freshly fallen snow. Winter snow structures are more difficult to overcome and avalanche prone.

In the high mountains, summer snow often resembles winter snow. Winter blizzards and snowfalls cover the slopes and ridges of the gorge with snow. Most of the snow accumulates in the couloirs, on the surface of the glaciers that fill the bottom of the gorges. It fills up ice couloirs, covers smooth rocky and icy slopes, fills up wide bergschrunds with avalanche cones and throws snow bridges over glacial cracks with avalanche cones. At the same time, snow is fraught with all sorts of dangers. Many slopes become avalanche-prone, the tops of rocky ridges can become impassable due to snow cornices. Glacial cracks covered with snow are masked, it is easy to fall into them.

Eternal snow covering the mountains above the snow line, under the influence of their own gravity, wind and sun, form peculiar landforms. Snow-covered slopes of small steepness make up snow fields. Large, almost horizontal areas are called snow plateaus, and if they have the shape of a depression or hollow, then troughs. On the leeward sides of the snow ridges, cantilever overhanging snow cornices appear, reaching significant (several meters) sizes. Under a large cornice, a characteristic niche often forms due to air turbulence.

mountain rivers- mighty arteries supplying the moisture accumulated in the area of ​​eternal snows to the plains. Their feeding areas are located high in the mountains, near the tongues of glaciers. Therefore, the flow regime of mountain rivers is subject to the daily cycle of the intensity of melting of glaciers and snow in the sources. After sunrise, the inflow of melt water increases and reaches a maximum in the afternoon in the upper reaches of the river.
The bottom of mountain rivers is usually strewn with stones, partially mobile, which leads to constant changes in its relief.
Waterfall- the fall of water in the river from a ledge that crosses the river channel. A waterfall is a place where water falls from a height of more than one meter. Below - thresholds and ledges