A lawn needs an even surface for easy mowing and a flat lawn is easier to care for than one on a slope. Steep slopes are dangerous to mow with powered equipment, and petrol mowers are limited to slopes of 30 degrees or less, unless they have a 2-stroke engine or a special 4-stroke engine fitted.

But a 30-degree slope is no fun to mow, so consider planting it up with something else. For example, thrift, which remains neat, looks like grass from a distance and has the bonus of pink flowers. Or heathers, which are available in a range of leaf and flower colours, but need shearing annually to keep tidy.