Stairs to no where in garden. Ideas?

A few ideas that come to mind: grow vines at the top that can grow down over them, grow moss on them, build-up the edges and fill with dirt for flowers that spread (wave petunias?), fill the steps with interesting pots for plants/flowers, make mosaic designs on the risers.

I can't tell from the picture, but if there is enough space at the top of the stairs, put a small outdoor chair--something bright and cheerful. Then make the steps a pretty path to the chair by lining them with beautiful pots of plants.

Hello. If it was my situation I would build a planter box that’s partially submersed. Likely v shaped to enclose the stairs.

Hi Areta, I like the planter box idea but since it would be right up against your foundation and by your picture it looks like you already have a water problem eroding and damaging your foundation that might not be your best option. I would recommend patching your broken concrete first and trying to find out what has caused the damage before putting in a planter. If you have a basement it could be a simple water leak problem or could be from water run off coming down your stairs that is causing the problem. Either way this needs to be found and fixed before you have very costly foundation problems. I think your birdbath would look much prettier used as a focal point elsewhere in your yard because it's out of scale with your stairs. It would however look much better if you moved it down a bit further from you stairs and closer to your foundation wall as a focal point once you fix your foundation problem. Keep in mind you don't always have to use water in a birdbath. They look very pretty filled with potting soil and planted with pretty flowers too! I would also go to Home depot and buy some of their concrete stain. It's the best I've ever used and looks and goes on just like paint but it holds onto concrete for years. They have tons of color options to choose from as well. I also like the idea of putting a pretty chair of two by your birdbath creating a nice place to enjoy your yard. I'd also place pretty potted flower plants down the outside edge of your steps as well to soften and add color and warmth. You really have so many options to beautify that area. If your birdbath still looks a bit big for that area you can still give the illusion of having a flower bed next to your foundation wall by partially embedding a landscaping timber then put potted plants, flowers pots and all behind the timbers. Move your birdbath elsewhere in the yard and add a small outdoor table between two chairs. By the way if you do stain your stairs you might also want to stain your foundation wall to match just in that area. Darker colors behind really show off beautiful flowers. Good luck making your stairs a relaxing, beautiful area to enjoy for years to come.

Would you like to fix up the area so that it is more useable and more inviting, or would you prefer to disguise the steps so that they do not appear so obtrusive?

Hi! I would use it for seasonal decor and potted plants. Good luck and stay safe!

Looks like a good place to arrange flowers in small pot. Each step would give a graduated height effect.

Make the stairs to nowhere to be stairs going to the top of the hill and create a landing, I like the garden table/chair idea, it gives that space a purpose. Take the bird bath else where.

You might consider painting the cement & foundation to match each other.

I am not a big fan of putting anything on steps that will be traveled, too much of a trip hazard.

A nice meandering pathway of pavers would help with navigating the hill leading to the steps.

To the right of the steps, get some ground cover to slow erosion (not mint):

https://www.stepables.com/

You can cover them with fake astroturff and put pot plants on them.

These would be a great place to display different containers of flowers, including some that could trail down the steps. Here are some trailing plant ideas: https://thekitchengarten.com/the-best-trailing-plants/

Looks like it gets a lot of sun...what about a potted herb garden there?

Maybe highlight your birdbath and put it up there? Otherwise Pick something you want to "look up to" to decorate the top. If the view is nice up there you can put a little chair and side table there

I would paint them a pretty white color, maybe make the bird bath into a fairies garden and plant some hosts (if it is in shade) or plants along the edge. You could put a couple of pots with annuals on every other step (or pumpkins for the fall!) to dress it up.

Here is my fairy garden bird bath: https://www.curlycraftymom.com/2014/05/my-lovely-fairy-garden-2014.html

Hi Areta, I have a few ideas for you,

1. You can put different plants on each step
2. put another birdbath and some solar lighting at the top of the stairs
3. Pant a crawling vine at the base of the stairs and train it to grow up the stairs

Hope these help you out

Trim the hedge or tree back away from the top of the steps and the fence and trim up off of the ground. Fill the crack against the house with cement or mortar mix. Put the bird bath at the top with plants in it with sweet potato vine in the edge to hang over and a tall plant in the middle. Add a watering can to the top step for decoration (and to water the plants with) and a plant on each landing in a pretty pot. Can't afford 5, pick 5 plastic ones and spray paint them.

Thank you for all the ideas. The steps to no where are also steps to that end in hill flower garden with a retaining wall. There is no access to these stairs on either side. The cracked cement is under a patio. Ironically there is just dirt on the other side of the wall. Not a basement. This is an old home with lots of odd things. The back yard has been reconfigured multiple time.

I agree the bird bath is not helping the stairs. That area does gets full sun.

Container garden should spruce area up.

super fun place for seasonal container garden