How to Do Landscape Terracing

Plan and lay out the terraces. Check local ordinances or consult a building inspector concerning any regulations that will govern wall construction. Determine how many walls, or steps, will be placed and the size of each level between the walls. The first wall should be built on somewhat level ground at the bottom of the slope. This will make the construction of subsequent walls easier.

Excavate a trench for the base of the first, lowest wall. Dig a trench deep enough to accommodate four to six inches of gravel and an inch of bedding sand plus one inch of wall material for every eight inches of planned wall above ground. The trench should be slightly wider than the wall will be.

Place 3/4-inch gravel or a similar coarse aggregate in the trench. Compact the material with a hand tamp, checking for level regularly and moving material around as needed.

Spread an inch of bedding sand or fine stone atop the gravel layer.

Place the material for the first coarse of the wall in the trench. Make sure the face of the material is even and the layer is level. Make adjustments and add sand under the material as needed.

Lay the second course of material on top of the first coarse. Make sure that the material is staggered so that vertical joints do not align. Under most circumstances, the wall should slope back slightly into the earth. This leaning, known as cant or batter, allows greater stability and can be accomplished by setting each course back between about 1/2- and 3/4-inch from the face of the layer below it.

Back fill the space behind the wall after the second and each subsequent course is laid. If drainage is of high concern and the wall material and joints are minimally permeable, it may be wise to lay a length of perforated drain pipe or drain tiles along the base behind the wall. Otherwise, back fill behind each course with six inches to a foot of gravel. Soil excavated from the slope behind the first wall can be placed behind the gravel.

Continue stacking wall material and back filling behind the wall with gravel and soil until the desire height is reached.

Level the soil behind the first wall back to where the next wall and terrace step will be.

Repeat trench excavation for the wall base, placing gravel and sand in the trench, building the wall, back filling and leveling. Do this until the top of the slope is reached.