Making the most of a sloping garden

Create level tiers

The most effective approach is to cut the slope into two or three level tiers, each with its own job — a patio by the house, a lawn or play area in the middle, a seating area or vegetable beds at the top. In Radstock we tiered a garden into three, with artificial grass at the bottom and patios on the higher two levels.

Retain the soil properly

Each change of level needs a retaining structure strong enough to hold the soil and water behind it. Options include block walls with a rendered or stone finish, rough stone or Cotswold walling, and railway sleepers. On a Chilcompton housing-association garden we excavated almost 60 tonnes of soil to build a large retaining wall with steps built in.

Sleepers: quick, warm and versatile

Timber sleepers make attractive terraces, raised beds and steps, and suit cottage and contemporary gardens alike. In Nempnett Thrubwell we hand-excavated a steep bank and installed sleeper terraces filled with clean stone and decorative gravel.

Steps and paths

Comfortable steps are what make a tiered garden easy to use. We build steps in matching paving, sleepers or stone, with curved treads where the design calls for it, and paths that link each level.

Do not forget drainage

Water always runs downhill, so a sloping garden needs drainage planned in — land drains behind walls and under lawns, and a soakaway in the lowest corner. That keeps the lower tiers usable and protects your walls.

Decking on a slope

A raised deck is a fast way to create a level space off the back door without moving large amounts of soil, and works well alongside paved tiers below.

Access and difficult sites

Many sloping gardens have no machine access. We are used to hand-digging when we have to, and we plan the job so soil and materials move as efficiently as possible.

Written by the JSW Landscaping & Surfacing team · Updated October 2026