How to Level a Garden

How to Level a Garden: A Step-by-Step Guide for UK Homeowners

Uneven gardens can be a nightmare. Water pools in the wrong places, mowing becomes a hassle, and any dreams of a patio or decking feel impossible.

The good news? Levelling your garden is absolutely doable with the right plan and equipment, and you can save a fortune turning your hand to some DIY.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to level your garden step by step, with tips tailored for UK conditions. You can also hire the equipment you need from Speedy Hire, saving time and money on your project.

 

Why level your garden?

There are loads of reasons to level a garden, including:

• Preparing for a patio, decking, or shed base
• Creating a flat lawn for kids to play on
• Improving drainage and preventing puddles
• Making maintenance (like mowing) much easier
• Boosting the overall look and usability of your outdoor space

 

How to Level a Garden: Step-by-Step

Tools & equipment you need:

• Rotavator – to break up soil
• Turf cutter – for removing old grass
• Wacker plate (plate compactor) – for firming the ground
• Wheelbarrow and shovels
• Laser level or string level kit
• Garden rake

 

Step 1: Assess your garden

Walk around the space and identify:

• High and low spots
• Drainage issues
• Any slopes that need to be reduced

Mark these areas with string lines or wooden stakes.

Top tip: Use a string level or laser level to measure how far off your garden is.

 

Step 2: Remove existing turf

If you're starting fresh, use a turf cutter to neatly lift the grass and top layer. You can reuse good turf later or compost it.

 

Step 3: Break up the soil

Use a rotavator to churn the soil, especially in high areas. This loosens the ground and makes it easier to level. It's ideal for gardens with compacted or clay-heavy soil.

• How to rotavate your garden

Rotavators from Speedy Hire come in petrol and electric models, depending on your space. Petrol is good for remote areas, but electric rotavators are less polluting and quieter, which makes them ideal for residential areas.

 

Step 4: Adjust the ground level

• High spots? Shovel soil into a wheelbarrow and move it to lower areas
• Low spots? Backfill with topsoil
• Rake everything over to start forming a level surface

You may need to repeat this a few times for best results.

 

Step 5: Firm the ground

Once roughly levelled, use a wacker plate (plate compactor) to firm the soil. This prevents the ground from sinking later.

If you're laying turf or building on it, this step is essential. Speedy Hire has plate compactors suitable for domestic gardens.

 

Step 6: Final checks and tidy up

Recheck the level with your string or laser kit. Add a fine layer of topsoil and then rake everything smooth.

You’re now ready to lay turf, seed your lawn, or begin your patio project!

 

FAQs

How do I improve drainage in the garden?

Before levelling, consider installing:

• A French drain, which diverts water that is pooling away from a property with the help of gravity
• Perforated pipe systems
• Gravel soakaways

 

Hire Garden Equipment with Speedy Hire

You don’t need to buy every tool you need. Speedy Hire offers everything you need to level your garden, including Turf cutters, Rotavators, Wacker plates, Wheelbarrows, rakes, and more

• Nationwide UK delivery
• Flexible hire periods
• Expert support & safety tips
• Book online 24/7

Ready to tackle that garden?

Levelling your garden is one of the best DIY landscaping jobs you can do to improve your outdoor space. Whether you’re creating a flat lawn, prepping for paving, or simply sorting out drainage, Speedy Hire has the tools to help you do it right.