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Hillside "Before"
Garden Design Maine was brought on to assist a dedicated DIY homeowner in transforming a challenging grassy hillside into a vibrant, multi-season garden retreat. The project required careful plant selection to endure Maine’s unpredictable winters and sudden spring thaws.
The homeowner envisioned a garden flanking a planned stairway that would provide both beauty and function. Garden Design Maine's role was to recommend perennials, shrubs, and native species that could thrive in a mix of full sun, partial shade, and lower-light conditions across the slope.
Design Goals:
Create a visually appealing garden with four-season interest
Recommend hardy Zone 4 perennials and shrubs
Incorporate native plants to support local pollinators and ecosystem health
Design for varied light conditions across the hillside
Complement the planned stair installation with layered plantings on both sides
To meet these goals, Garden Design Maine curated a planting plan that included long-blooming perennials, structural shrubs with colorful stems or foliage for winter interest, and native species known for resilience and ecological value.
Chosen Design
Chosen Design
CAD planting plan
The customer brought the design to life by creating the garden space and planting everything themselves, using the garden plan as a guide. While some creative liberties were taken, the finished product met all project goals—and within just a few short months, the hillside was flourishing with color, texture, and structure. The result is a testament to thoughtful planning, climate-conscious plant choices, and the dedication of a passionate DIY gardener.
October 2025, a few months after planting
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