How to Build Garden Steps Using Ground Bolts

Garden steps allow you to navigate through your garden more effectively to access elevated areas. There are many materials to consider when building garden steps. A common and effective material is landscaping timber. The ground is cut out in stepped portions to create natural stairs. The timbers are placed at the edge of each earthen stair and secured in place with ground bolts or reinforcement bar. The area behind the timber is filled in with crushed gravel. This type of garden step blends in with the natural surroundings of the garden.

Landscape spray paint
Tape measure
Shovel
6- by 6-inch landscape timber, 48 inches long
3/8-inch drill bit
Drill
Ground bolts, 18 inches long
Mallet
Gravel

Instructions

- 1
  Measure a width of 48 inches across the incline where you want to install the steps. Measure up to the top of the incline at each side of the 48-inch span. Divide the length of the incline into 12-inch increments.
- 2
  Mark off all of the measurements that you made in Step 1 with landscape spray paint, including the 12-inch increments. You will have spray-painted a series of 12- by 48-inch rectangles.
- 3
  Dig out the bottom 12- by 48-inch marked rectangle with a shovel so that you have a triangular portion removed from the incline that resembles a bottom stair. Continue digging out the 12- by 48-inch rectangles to dig out dirt stairs until you reach the top of the incline.
- 4
  Place a landscape timber at the edge of each dug-out earthen stair, with one 6- by 48-inch side flat against the ground. These are the front portion of the stair treads.
- 5
  Drill eight evenly spaced holes through the top of each timber with a 3/8-inch drill bit and drill.
- 6
  Drive a ground bolt through each hole in the timbers to drive the bolts into the ground and secure the timbers in place using a mallet. The top of the bolts should be flush with the top surface of the timbers.
- 7
  Fill in the space behind each timber with gravel until it is level with the surface of the timbers on each step.

Do it Yourself Hardscape Steps

The Outdoor Use of Tile

Landscaping Walks & Pathways