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Integrated Stone Steps

Stone steps and retaining wall integrated into a slope make the backyard usable.

From "Grounds for Improvement"
episode DGFI-305

Figure A

Jane and Craig McKendree have a troubling backyard. There is an almost immediate slope right out the back door (figure A) with little room for even a grill. Nothing will grow on the hill, and drainage is a problem. Landscape designer Dean Hill devises a plan to build them a natural stone retaining wall and staircase with a flagstone terrace on top for grilling. Boulders and plants round out the design.

Creating the Retaining Wall and Stairway

Stone steps and a stone retaining wall are integrated into a challenging backyard slope to make the space more usable.

Tools
shovels
rakes
wheelbarrow
Toro dingo (compact utility loader)
level
rock hammer or chisel
safety goggles
gloves

Materials
landscape marking paint
6 tons of white to gray wall stone
6 (3'x4'x6") snapped steps
15 boulders
2 tons drain gravel
3 tons top soil
5 cubic yards hardwood mulch

Plants
10 (1 gallon) Green Gem boxwood
15 (1 gallon) assorted hosta
7 (1 gallon) ostrich fern
7 (1 gallon) Japanese painted fern
3 (1 gallon) climbing hydrangea
3 (1 gallon) Big Daddy hydrangea
3 (1 gallon) Lady in Red hydrangea

First the crew determines the rise and run of the steps and marks these areas with landscape marking paint. The steps for this project have a 14-inch tread and a three-foot landing at the door.

They begin digging the area for the steps from the bottom so that there will still be ground to set them into. They tamp the area and then place the step. Because these steps are very heavy, they rent a compact utility loader for the day (figure B), which costs about $150 per day to rent. A ball cart is also a good option for moving heavy round items like stones and root balls.

The crew uses a landscape bar and shovel to maneuver the step into the exact position and check to make sure it's level (figure C). They stack the next layers of steps, maintaining the 14-inch tread (figure D).

Figure B

Figure C

Figure D

The retaining wall, made up of wall stones, can be built around the steps. The first course starts halfway down from the top of the stone. The stones are placed as closely together as possible (figure E).

They check to see if the first course is level. Then they begin the second course, staggering the joints at least four inches from the joints on the first course. They use a rock hammer or chisel to shape any stones that don't quite fit (figure F).

Figure E

Figure F

They backfill the dirt around the stones to secure them in place (figure G). They also add stone gravel to backfill the area about six inches from the wall to create better drainage. After the area has been backfilled, they spread a layer of mulch. The stone retaining wall integrates well with the new stone steps (figure H).

Figure G

Figure H

To make a flagstone landing at the top of the retaining wall, for a grill area, they first make sure the area is flat. Flagstones need a flat foundation to avoid breaking. They place the flagstone pieces in a random pattern (figure I). Flagstones can be broken to fit a given space.

Finally, they plant boxwoods along the retaining wall up by the house. They set more stepping stones and boulders into the hillside (figure J) and create planting beds around them for the hosta, ferns and hydrangea (figure K). The stone retaining wall, steps and landing make the slope much more usable and attractive.

Figure I

Figure J

Figure K