advice please - stepped gdn

My wife and I are considering buying a house with a stepped/terraced garden but this is a major issue for us because we would want to level it out to some degree. I would really appreciate any advice on how easy and expensive this would be.

The garden itself is built on 4 levels, 3 of which I would like to level-out to give our two young children more space to roam.
I estimate that to bring the second and third steps up to the same height as the first step I would require something like 2250 cubic feet of soil/filler (the average dimensions being 30 x 25 x 2.5). I also understand that I will have to factor in 'compacting' (forgive the ignorance I know nothing about gardening/landscaping).

So my questions would be, based on these approximations:

- what materials can I use and how much will I need of each? I'm guessing that I can buy a couple of feet of cheaper fill and then add 12 inches of top soil or something to that effect???
- there is no real access to the garden except via a side gate so I'm anticipating buying the materials, dumping the soil in the front garden and then taking it through via wheelbarrow myself (how many trips!) to the back garden. Then I suppose I'll have to pay for a professional to roll the soil and lay the turf for me. Can I really manage it the wheelbarrow route with this many tonnes of soil? Any idea of the costs of getting someone to handle the garden once the materials are in the back?
- am I on a lost cause? any idea how much will all this cost me?

thanks in advance, Marc

 

wiseoldowl,

Your very kind with your offer but I don't have a photo and I'm not sure I can get one any time soon. I hadn't thought about shifting the soil around though...good idea it would just mean having steps down to the lawn from the house.

I estimate the levels to be approx (in feet):
1. (house level) lawn of 30ft Wide x 20ft Long
2. 3 steps (2ft) down to flower bed of 30 x 10
3. 5 steps (3ft) down to lawn of 30 x 15
4. many steps down to bottom level which I would leave

I hope this is something you can estimate from. If you think its a 'go' and not too expensive and we buy the house I would certianly come back for more detailed advice (and photos!). If its not too expensive I'd get a landscaper in to do the lot but I know to properly 'landscape' with all the flowers, trees, decking etc it would cost a fortune. Indeed one Idea I had was to make the top 2 levels lawn and build the third level up on decking but it might look odd with decking at the back.

Now I'm waffling..

cheers, Marc

 

Hi Marc & Woo,

My back garden is very large but had 3 rather steep steps leading up to it, not very dog friendly and about 4ft up.

We decided to knock the wall out from around it, plus the steps and we now have a long shallow step area leading up. It was very hard work and moving the soil about was back breaking for my husband but the end result was worth it. The bricks from the old wall was used for hard core under the patio :D

Bit off topic but my point is it was very hard and a long job but the end result is very pleasant and im really glad we did it :D

If you do go ahead please post your pics on the forum, i would love to see its progress as i am sure everyone else will.

Good luck

 

I would certainly try to keep thinngs 'on site' as much as possible, as this will keep costs down.

Personaly (depending on the actual conditions on site) I would look at the existing terraces and see if there is anyway of extending one or more of them back into the next one above it (by digging away the soil/stone) or forwards above the one below it (by building up the ground). A combination of both would be the ideal as you can use the soil dug out from one to fill in and build up another.

Just remember when you are altering the levels to make sure the retaining walls are well built and strong enough to take the weight of the soil - consult a builder or landscaper for advice, as it does depend on the geology of the area. Also be aware of the heights of the retaining walls. Dont terrace/flaten it off so much you need massive walls to retain the ground. Not only will this look a bit stark from the house, it would also be a safety hazard to your children.

If you are bothered by having lots of steps, think about sloping paths or ramps between the terraces. This will not only make access around the garden easier (particularly with a wheelbarrow or mower), they would also make the garden safer and more fun for childen too.

Hope this helps

P.S. Could you not ask the current owner if you could go around and take a few photos? It would greatly assist us in advising you.

 

Just done a rough caluculation and 2250cubic feet of soil is roughly 65 tons.

Moving 10 tonnes by hand would be bad, 65 is realisticly not going to be possible. couple this with the fact that You would almost certainly need to constrain this earth at the base.

Even if you try and move levels one and two over three and four you will almost certainly be down to very heavy clay/ stone and would need heavy plant.

The ground would need good consolidation.

Is there any possibility of getting large plant in ie taking down a section of fence / hedge etc?