Gardens with a slope are one of the most wasted areas throughout British homes.
They’re hard work to mow, tricky to enjoy, and always seem to get bogged down and eroded over time. But what if that awkward slope was actually the best thing about your garden?
With careful planning, it can become just that. Below is everything you need to know about leveling your sloped or uneven garden.
Here’s What You’ll Learn:
- Why Levelling Your Garden Is Worthwhile
- Understanding Your Slope
- How to Level a Garden
- What’s Involved In the Job
- Do You Need Planning Permission?
- Should You DIY or Hire Someone?
- Costs
Why Levelling Your Garden Is Worthwhile
According to government statistics, 87% of households in the UK have access to their own private garden.
But garden stats also show that a surprising amount of gardens are left unused or struggle to be used effectively.
Throw a slope into the mix, and you’ve got one part of your property that many people ignore.
Levelling a garden opens up your outdoor space so it can actually be used. Whether that’s entertaining friends and family, growing plants, playing sports or simply relaxing outside — without the worry of erosion or muddy slopes.
Did you know leveling your garden can also add value to your home?
Surprisingly, research suggests that gardens with usable outdoor space can increase property value by anywhere from 7% to 20%. Yes, you read that correctly. Levelling your garden really can pay for itself.
Choosing the right vegetation for a sloped terrain involves more than just selecting pretty flowers; it requires a strategic understanding of root structures and soil stabilization. Hardy ground covers and deep-rooted shrubs can create a living network that anchors the hillside against heavy rains and wind. Many homeowners find it helpful to learn about services at Missinne Greenhouse & Landscaping when deciding which native species will best withstand local environmental stressors while adding texture to the landscape. By layering different plant heights and colors, you can turn a problematic incline into a vibrant, multi-dimensional feature that enhances your property’s overall aesthetic and ecological health.
Understanding Your Slope
Now it’s clear it’s worth investing in garden levelling. The first step is actually understanding what you need to do before any work can begin.
As mentioned, not all sloping gardens are created equal. There are in fact several different levels of slope you might encounter:
- Minor bumps with small dips and low spots
- Gentle incline running in one direction
- Steep slope of 25% or greater
The shallow bumps and dips can often be resolved with a thin layer of top dressing. This is a sand, soil and compost mix that is spread over the affected area. Job done, pretty simple and inexpensive too.
A consistent slope across your garden will usually require some form of levelling work. This involves either building up the lower end, lowering the higher end — or a combination of both. Methods used will be discussed later on.
Steep slopes greater than 25% rarely can be improved without installing terraces. Terracing a garden involves splitting the garden into flat sections separated by retaining walls. Larger job, but allows you to create something really special with the space.
How to Level a Garden
There are three main approaches to leveling a sloped garden.
Which option you go for depends entirely on the gradient you are dealing with.
Top Dressing
Ideal for minor surface bumps and dips. A sand/soil mix is laid over low lying areas to create a flat surface. Structural changes aren’t needed.
Cut and Fill
Consists of cutting soil from the higher point of the slope and spreading it across the lower point. Regular cut and fill operations are used on gardens with steady slopes.
Terracing
Installing terraces onto your garden allows you to split a steep slope into flat levels. This is achieved by digging trenches for retaining walls. Retaining walls can range from £30 to £300 per linear metre depending on the material used; timber, breeze block, brick or stone for example.
Terracing is generally more expensive but gives you the freedom to create usable flat spaces separated by landscaping or paving. Allows you to create something really unique with your garden.
What’s Involved In the Job
So you know the methods used to level a garden. Let’s take a look at what generally happens when a professional garden levelling company turns up.
- Site Survey — Identifying any potential issues such as buried utility pipes or existing drainage problems.
- Measurement — Figuring out the exact rise and run of your slope to work out how much soil needs moving.
- Excavation — Digging out soil from the higher areas. This soil is either redistributed onto lower areas or taken away.
- Retaining Wall — If required, digging foundations and building a retaining wall with proper drainage on the rear.
- Backfilling & Compaction — Refilling excavated areas with soil and compacting it down to prevent future sinking.
- Surface Finishing — Putting down turf, paving, planting etc depending on the final garden design.
Proper drainage is something that always needs to be considered when undertaking any levelling work.
By flattening out your garden you are changing the way water flows around your property. Failure to plan for drainage after the levelling work has been completed can cause water to pool. Which rather defeats the point of spending money in the first place.
Do You Need Planning Permission?
Most garden levelling work can be undertaken without needing to consult your local council’s planning department.
However, some larger scale jobs that involve significant earthmoving can be considered an “engineering operation”. This is especially true if:
- The property is listed or in a conservation area
- Any retaining walls exceed certain heights
- Levelling alters drainage patterns or significantly changes the appearance of the land
It’s always worth checking with your local planning office if you have any doubts. A good landscaper will offer this advice as part of the initial consultation anyway.
Should You DIY or Hire Someone?
Whilst laying a thin layer of top dressing is certainly achievable as a DIY project. That is about where your abilities end.
As soon as you start digging into the lawn you are probably better off calling in professional help.
Here are the main reasons why:
- Professionals have access to machinery; excavators, bobcats and plate compactors.
- They know how to accurately calculate how much soil will be required.
- Professionals understand how to safely dig around existing utility lines.
- Slope correcting mistakes are expensive… and very hard to fix.
Know your limits and you’ll save yourself a lot of hassle in the long run.
Costs
As with most gardening services, the total cost to level a sloped garden depends on the job at hand.
Prices can vary from a couple of hundred pounds right up to £6,000 or more. Yes, you read that correctly.
Some of the main things that affect cost include:
- Steepness and size of your slope
- Type of soil you have — clay and rocky soils will increase costs
- Whether retaining walls are required and if so what materials are used
- Costs to remove and dispose of soil plus transportation fees
- Access to the property and if machinery can reach the garden
Always get a few quotes before deciding on who to go with.
Bringing It All Together
Learning how to level a sloped garden is pretty straight forward when you know what you’re looking for.
It really is worth undertaking as long as you plan and budget accordingly. Not only does it open up your garden for you to do what you want with. It also helps to prevent rainwater pooling and improves drainage around your property.
Simply follow these steps and you’ll be well on your way to sorting out that wasted patch of grass.
- Understand your slope before committing to any method of leveling.
- There are options for most gardens. Pick the method that works with your gradient, don’t force your gradient to fit the method.
- Factor drainage into your plans from the get go.
- Get professional help for anything more than a basic top dressing.
Hopefully, your sloped garden stops being that awkward part of your house… And starts to become one of your favourite places to spend time.
