It’s not an unfair assumption that gardens are more coveted than ever. Recent surveys have shown that a well-presented one has the potential to add 20% to a home’s value, and that 70% of buyers are willing to pay a premium for outdoor green space. This said, sloped, uneven and steep gardens aren’t quite so sought after. This brings us to today’s topic of discussion: how to level a garden slope.
You may have been mulling over this project for a while, plans to install decking or a patio hampered by the incline, or maybe this is the first time you’ve considered landscaping your garden before selling up. Either way, know that you can learn how to level a garden without the need for a digger or other expensive equipment. All you need is a bit of elbow grease and an eye for detail. Let’s muck in.
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- Reasons behind levelling a sloped garden
- Qualifications needed for the project
- Equipment and materials required
- How to level a garden slope
Why wave goodbye to a sloped garden?
Before we dive straight into our tutorial, here are a few reasons why it might be time to say goodbye to a steep or otherwise hilly garden. After all, if you’re on the fence, you might need a bit of persuasion before you gather all your landscaping equipment and supplies.
- Water drainage: Steep gardens can pose a real problem for drainage systems when the weather is bad, even more so if the hill runs down towards your home.
- Inefficient use of the space: Sometimes space gets wasted if it’s on a slope as garden décor will be unbalanced, rendering the slope unused.
- Prevents the installation of patio or decking: With a steep garden, there are some features you simply can’t install such as seating areas, and adding water features like ponds poses extra difficulty.
- Gardening requires more thought: With run-off gliding down the slope, additional creativity and planning are needed for gardening to ensure that your plants continue to flourish and prosper.
Can anyone level a garden?
If you’ve already conquered your interior design and your garden is next on the agenda, you’ll be pleased to know that if you’re a competent DIYer you’ll be qualified to carry out the work. This is under the assumption that you are working with mild to mid-level problems. If it’s a severe slope you’re hoping to flatten, hiring a mini digger might be in order.
For those feeling less confident, it might be worth enquiring with a landscaper about quotes to ensure the job gets done to a good standard. This way, you’ll have the peace of mind that the plot will be adequately level, and it may even prove to be more cost-effective in the long run if you don’t possess any of the tools required for the project.
What you need for this project
Speaking of tools, here’s the definitive list of everything you’ll need to get a perfectly level garden.
For issues on the milder end of the spectrum, get yourself:
- A spirit level for measuring the incline
- String and stakes to help measure up
- Rake, shovel, trowel and other useful groundwork tools for digging and breaking up the ground
- A rotavator if you can get your hands on one
- A garden roller or hand tamper
- Retaining wall materials
- Adequate topsoil
- Any garden design materials for after the levelling (e.g. gravel, fencing, construction timber)
How to level a steep garden without a digger
1) Key considerations
You may simply want a space where you can lie down comfortably in the grass on a picnic blanket. Perhaps you need to build the groundwork for a flat front garden to accompany a contemporary driveway idea. Or maybe you need a level surface from which to build a garden office or a shed. Whatever the reason, it’s important you put together a concise action plan.
To begin with, you should busy yourself with thinking through the major considerations that will affect the process. How to level your garden most appropriately will depend on the garden’s design as well as the steepness of the incline or any bumpiness. If there’s a steep incline, a retaining wall might be necessary to provide usable land that is both protected against downhill erosion and enhances your gardening experience.
You’ll also need to wait for a dry forecast, so the soil isn’t waterlogged and difficult to dig up. This way, soil erosion definitely won’t spoil your plans, now or in the future.
2) Measuring up and marking out the ground
When you’ve done the research to determine whether you need a retaining wall and you’ve blocked out a sunny day for your landscaping endeavours, it’s time to get out the measuring tape and spirit level.
Measure the gradient of the slope by placing stakes in the topmost and lowest points and tie string around both to attach them, ensuring the line is as straight as possible.
If you’re going down the retaining wall route, measure from the bottom post to the top of the string, and this number will be its height.
3) Building a retaining wall (optional)
Retaining walls can be visually appealing additions to a levelled garden, but they’re much more than that. For especially steep slopes, they’ll help your newly placed soil resist gravity and stay stable and in place.
Retaining walls can be constructed using a vast number of materials from bricks, stones and sleepers to gabions (wire enclosures filled with stones) or strong concrete blocks. Just make sure that you consult an expert if you feel uncertain about the construction as you don’t want to get this wrong!
Foundations
Dig a trench at least 15-30 cm deep, depending on the height of the wall. The foundation should be level and compacted to ensure stability.
Layering
Start placing your chosen materials from the bottom up, ensuring each layer is level and aligned. Use a spirit level frequently to check for accuracy.
Backfill
As you build, backfill behind the wall with gravel or soil to aid in drainage and support the structure.
Drainage
Install drainage pipes if needed to prevent water pressure from building up behind the wall.
Capping
Finish the top of the wall with a capstone or a similar finishing material to provide a neat and sturdy top layer.
4) Removing any debris, patio slabs or turf
If you’re giving your outdoor space a complete makeover, it’s best to start from a clean slate. And this means removing everything that’s there. After all, if you simply lay some extra topsoil on existing turf, it’s not going to safeguard you from consistent problems like flooding, moss and the like.
If you have patio slabs or paving stones, carefully lift and remove them. You may need a crowbar or similar tool to help with this. Clean and store them if you plan to reuse them or dispose of them in an eco-conscious way – local sharing apps like Olio or Facebook Marketplace are great for this
For existing turf, use a spade or turf cutter to lift and remove it, being careful to remove the top layer of soil along with the turf to prevent it from regrowing. This step also helps to reduce the risk of weed problems in the future.
5) Getting the surface ready
With the old materials removed, the next step is to prepare the ground for the new soil and landscaping features. Using a spade, digger or tilling machine (you can usually rent one at an affordable rate), work the soil surface thoroughly. Aim to dig to a depth of 15-20 cm. This process will help to break up any inconsistently compacted layers and improve soil texture.
As you dig, mix the surface soil to create a more workable and loose texture. This will enhance aeration and prepare a better environment for your new grass or other planting.
After breaking up and mixing the soil, use a rake to smooth out any remaining lumps or uneven patches. With this completed, you’ll have a lovely level base for the topsoil, which will help prevent drainage issues or problems when planting.
6) Identifying the highest point
Identify the highest point of your garden to establish a reference for your levelling efforts. This will guide you in determining how much soil you need to add to lower areas and ensure a consistent slope.
Place the spirit level across different areas of your garden to pinpoint the highest elevation. Remember the stakes you placed earlier? Use these as your guides.
Mark this highest point clearly with stakes or flags so you can use it as a guide for adding and spreading topsoil.
7) Build up the ground with topsoil
With the highest point identified, you can begin filling in the lower areas to create a level surface, ready for seating a fresh green lawn or whatever you want.
Start adding topsoil to the lower areas, spreading it evenly across the garden. You can use a rake to distribute the soil and create a smooth surface.
We advise applying the topsoil in layers, building up gradually to avoid creating uneven patches and, of course, don’t forget to regularly check the level with your spirit level to keep up the consistency.
8) Compact the earth
Once you’ve spread the topsoil and achieved a generally level surface, it’s important to compact the soil to ensure stability and prevent uneven settling.
Use a garden roller or hand tamper to firmly compact the soil. Start from one end of the garden and work systematically across the area. This will help eliminate air pockets and provide a solid base for your future landscaping.
When you’re done with compacting, take the spirit level to inspect the surface for any remaining low spots or uneven areas. Then you can address any inconsistencies by adding more soil where needed and re-compacting.
Once the soil is evenly compacted, use a rake to make any final adjustments and achieve a smooth, level finish. It should be looking very consistent by now.
9) Lay your landscaping material of choice
Now, you can proceed to lay down your chosen landscaping material, be it gravel, turf or a lovely patio. For patios, in particular, we suggest leaving the newly levelled ground to settle for at least 24 hours before placing any slabs down. If you’re turfing, you can dive right in.
10) Finishing touches: privacy and embellishment
While levelling your sloped garden may well enhance its drainage and curb appeal, it’s unlikely to make your garden more private. Thus, when you’re all sorted with the previous steps, it can be a good idea to create a sense of intimacy by looking toward measures such as fencing, which has many types specifically designed for this purpose, or introducing leafy greenery to shield your seating area from view.
Finally, you can try your hand at decorating. Whether a tasteful border built from railway sleepers to lend your outdoor space extra charm or accessories like a plant wall or exterior mirrors, it’s not difficult to dress up your brand-new garden and give it a whole new dimension.
Roll up your sleeves
By carefully following each of the instructions laid out above, you will be able to level your sloped garden in no time – and do so professionally. With the incline eliminated, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of a flat patio, deck or lawn (or perhaps all three!) knowing that it is safer, more functional and valuable than ever before.
So, roll up your sleeves, grab your materials and get started. We believe in you.