Terraced Garden Renovation Near Torquay

The Challenge

This multi-level terraced garden near Torquay had been left to its own devices for a long time. Both the upper and lower levels were completely overgrown with weeds, the retaining walls were barely visible under the vegetation, and the steps between levels had almost disappeared. It was one of those gardens where the client had given up on it - too daunting to tackle alone.

The brief was clear: strip it right back, make it low-maintenance, and make it usable again. The client didn't want to spend every weekend battling weeds - they wanted to enjoy the space.

Stage 1: Full Clearance

The first job was a complete clearance of both levels - ripping out all the weeds, clearing vegetation from the walls and steps, and getting down to bare ground. This was hard, physical work given the steep terraced layout and limited access. Everything had to be carried out by hand.

Once cleared, the retaining walls and original brick edging were exposed and found to be in decent condition - the curved edging on the upper level is actually a really nice feature that had been completely hidden under years of growth.

Stage 2: New Blockwork and Edging

With everything cleared, we could see where the existing walls needed attention. We built up sections of new blockwork to reinforce the curved retaining wall that separates the upper and lower levels, creating clean, defined edges for the gravel to sit against.

Stage 3: Membrane and Gravel

Heavy-duty weed membrane was laid across both levels, carefully cut around the steps, walls and corners. Getting the membrane right on a terraced site is trickier than a flat garden - there are more edges, more overlaps, and more places for weeds to find a way through if you're not careful.

Once the membrane was down, bulk gravel was barrowed in and spread evenly across both levels. The curved retaining wall edge really comes into its own at this stage - it gives the finished space a much more interesting shape than a standard rectangular garden.

What's Still to Come

The gravel is down and the space is already transformed, but there's more to do. The next stages will include:

• Pressure washing - the steps and retaining walls will be pressure washed to clean off years of algae and grime
• Wall painting - the rendered walls will be painted to freshen the whole space up
• Final touches - tidying edges, any last adjustments to levels

Even in its current state, the difference from the overgrown starting point is dramatic. Where there was nothing but weeds and hidden walls, there's now a clean, usable, two-level outdoor space that the client can actually enjoy.

What This Project Involved

• Full clearance of overgrown terraced garden on two levels
• Vegetation and debris removal (all recycled at Wildwoods Contractors)
• New blockwork and curved retaining wall edging
• Heavy-duty weed membrane across both terraces
• Bulk gravel delivery and spreading
• Pressure washing and wall painting (upcoming)