Garden steps you can make

Fact of life: not all housing blocks are born flat, which is good because changes in level add interest to a landscape, and are a convenient way to separate different zones within your garden. The best way to unite these highs and lows is with a sturdy set of steps. As landscaping jobs go, steps are not much more difficult than building a path or paving. But it’s vital to plan and measure accurately, as nothing’s more irritating than walking on uncomfortably spaced steps.

Get to know the step-building terms, such as ‘tread’ (the flat part) and ‘riser’ (the vertical section). Then use timber sleepers and decomposed granite to create a rustic effect, before planting up the margins with a selection of native flowers and grasses.

Line the sides with our native treasures
Your new set of garden steps will benefit from a spot of selective plantscaping to help give them a more established look. As an accompaniment to the sleepers and granite, go for a selection of native flowers – such as kangaroo paw and hardenbergia – mixed with the strappy foliage of ornamental grasses like lomandra. Then, to add extra height behind, try planting a few cordylines – they’re neat and narrow, and will grow to about 1-1.5m high.

Garden steps

Gather your supplies
200 x 75mm x 2.4m H4 treated pine sleepers (for risers); 600mm lengths treated pine (2 per step as posts); hardwood pegs (for chocks); circular saw; deco-granite mixed with cement(4:1 ratio); quick-set concrete; spirit level; manual post-hole digger (hired); power drill; galvanised 100mm batten screws; Intergrain Natural Stain in Charcoal

Note: Garden size and gradients vary. See Landscaper’s tips to work out number of steps needed.

Step 1
Clear site of vegetation and debris. Rake ground smooth.

Step 2
Dig a shallow trench for the bottom step. Measure space for step and cut sleepers to fit.

Step 3
Lie sleeper on its narrow end at front of trench to form first riser. Secure with chocks. Using a spirit level, check sleeper is level.

Step 4
Using a manual post-hole digger, make 2 evenly spaced holes, 400mm deep, directly behind each riser.

Step 5
Put posts in holes and fix to risers by screwing from the front. Use 2 screws per post. This helps secure the risers and prevents any slippage.

Step 6
To secure posts, mix quick-set concrete with water, according to manufacturer’s instructions, to form a cement slurry. Allow to harden for 10-20 minutes.

Step 7
Working up the slope, set risers in place so tops are 180mm above step below. Work with the land contours – here, risers in the lower area were set diagonally.

Step 8
Remove the chocks. If you wish, you can paint the timber risers at this stage.

Step 9
Backfill steps’ treads with deco-granite and cement mixture. Level off with a trowel or float.

Step 10
Compact the deco-granite on each stair tread. We used a homemade compactor, made from an offcut of a sleeper screwed onto a homemade handle.

Step 11
After compacting, wet down the deco-granite so the cement sets hard. The surface will be hard-wearing and weed-proof.

Landscaper's tips

• To work out how many steps you need in total, simply measure the height of your slope from top to bottom (in mm) and divide this number by 180. This will help you work out how many sleepers you need.

• The 200mm-high sleepers used to form the risers are slightly high but, once they’ve been backfilled with crushed granite, they’ll end up a comfortable 180mm.

• H4 treated timber is designed to withstand moisture and so will help stave off rot.

• Deco-granite can be bought by the bag but, for a big project, it’s more economical to buy in bulk from a landscape supplier. The minimum order is usually half a tonne. If buying this way, ask for the cement to be mixed in with it before delivery.