Designing Garden Steps

Steps in your garden can be expensive to build but, when well done and located, provide a garden with added interest. Too frequently, however, gardeners will economise, making steps too narrow and too steep, or simply ugly. A flight should act as a sculptural feature, leading you from one area to another or welcoming you and your guests when used as a house access.

When designing steps, a strong horizontal shape can contrast well with vertically shaped plants and grasses, creating a powerful effect. Alternatively, you can use step treads, filled with gravel to allow planting to flow into the landings and with boulder groups to lead into a rock garden or just to add sculptural interest.  Turning some of the steps can give added interest too. The use of a shallow retaining wall can provide a casual seat and offers some measure of privacy. Ornamental and imaginative steps could incorporate a waterfall feature, which could be easily worked from a small, submersible pump located in a reservoir at the foot of the flight.

Alfresia is an online retailer of garden furniture for outdoors and conservatory, also selling garden accessories such as hammocks, charcoal barbecues, parasols and outdoor cooking equipment.