Could I level my new garden?

[HolA13]

Hi Guys,

Long time lurker but I’m buying a new house & very excited to make it our family home while my girlies grow up.

Our compromise with this house has been the garden. It’s quite small. But the house is exactly what we want & where we want & the garden is enough for our needs. I’ve arranged a photo - perhaps my biggest niggle with it are the steps. Both the gardens next door have been levelled flat but ours is risen. And I don’t know why. A flat lawn would give a much better play area for the kids & a bit more privacy.. just a more practical garden in general.

Can anyone think of a reason we couldn’t? Could there be a reason it wasn’t done in the first place? Or if you think we could, would it be a horribly long job? We’d get professionals in!

Thank you 😊

I wonder if yours is raised because of its direct proximity to a road. Maybe there are utilities/drains for end of the road under yours or near yours?

Or else yours was where the builders dumped the excess spoil and made yours raised? It costs a lot to level and dig out.

Have you got side access for the garden? Otherwise spoil might need to go through house. I'd ask your solicitor and look at the deed map of the house.

Don't know how old your children are. Once they've got past the falling down steps stage, a change of level is really helpful in a lot of play situations.

I’d not take the risk. For a start it would cost a fortune, as you’d have to dig much deeper then replace the topsoil. You’d also need new fences.

A bigger problem for me would be the risk of wet or boggy ground. The lower the ground the more rain accumulates and the less it drains away.

I’d make it a feature. As pp says it is useful for play. Add a little slide and a soft landing pad if your kids are young. Steps are great to sit on and play on. In terms of garden design there are lots of things you could do with steps too. Much better than just being flat.

It looks as if the road is at the higher level too. If you bring your lawn down, you would need retaining walls round it to support the road, don't even go there . Put a little picket fence along the edge of the lawn.

My garden had a slight slope and my god, the amount of soil that need to be hauled away was shocking. Its a massive job and I wouldn't do it unless absolutely necessary.

If you bring your lawn down, you would need retaining walls round it to support the road, don't even go there with potential liability if the road started to collapse as a result of changes you'd made.

Is it a new build?
I'd suspect you would get drainage issues, the cost would be astronomical for the gain and visually the house/garden balance would be negative.

Lots you could do with the current design.

I'm on a farm with acres of space but one of DD's favourite play areas was the steps, lining up toys, jumping up and down.

As others have said the children will enjoy playing on the steps. If you’re concerned about privacy or danger if they are still young then perhaps putting a trellis fence across the top of the steps would give you that? I actually quite like gardens with different levels as I think you can create more privacy and cosy spots.

Do you have to step down from back door?
If so you could possibly put a raised deck over patio. I wouldnt bother though, it will cost £££