How to Build a Stone Terraced Landscape
Building a stone terrace is a challenging do-it-yourself project. The heavy stones and necessary digging make this a laborious task, while careful placement is essential to ensure stability. A well built stone terrace will last decades, adding a rustic, natural contrast to the rest of your yard. Installing a stone terrace on a slope changes a difficult area into an extension of your outdoor living space. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Stakes
- String
- Hammer
- Shovel
- 3/4-inch gravel
- Hand tamper
- Grit sand
- Board
- Mallet
- Level
- Dirt
Instructions
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1
Drive two stakes into the corners of the downhill end of the site with a hammer. Drive two stakes into the uphill corners so the top of all four stakes are level. Loop a string around the four stakes to define the borders.
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2
Use a shovel to remove grass and other growth from the area within the string to prevent weeds from growing through the stones.
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3
Dig out a trench along the downhill side. It should be as wide as your stacking stones plus 4 inches and deep enough for an 8-inch-thick base plus half the depth of the bottom layer of stones.
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4
Dig two parallel trenches along the sides of the terrace from downhill to uphill. They should be the same width and depth as the first trench.
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5
Fill the trenches with 3/4-inch gravel and compact it with a hand tamper. The gravel base will support the stacked stones and improve drainage.
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6
Pour a 1-inch layer of grit sand over the gravel and spread it with a board. The sharp edges of sand particles create friction beneath the stones that helps keep them in place.
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Set the first row over stones in the downhill trench using the largest, flattest stones. Begin in one corner and place each stone flush against the next. Fill in spaces with smaller stones or more gravel. Hit the stones with a mallet and use a bubble level to ensure they are level. Repeat this process for the first row of the side trenches.
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8
Back-fill the space between the stones and the soil with more gravel.
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9
Stack the stones one layer at a time to create three connected retaining walls. Stagger the joints of the stones and lean the walls in toward the center of the terrace by 1 inch for every foot of height.
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10
Fill the space between the three walls and the slope with a mix of equal parts gravel and dirt. Pack it down with the tamper every few inches to make it as firm and solid as possible. Spread a 1-inch layer of sand over the top of the gravel.
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Lay flat stones on top of the sand leaving minimal gaps between each. Fill in the gaps with small rocks and sand to complete the terrace floor.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty Images
