Raised beds, sleepers and stonework in the New Forest and Southampton

Our gallery includes a long rendered raised bed alongside a new lawn, and sleeper-edged borders framing porcelain patios.

Walls and raised beds carry a lot of weight once they are filled with soil, especially after rain. We set sleepers and block work on firm bases, fix them securely and allow for drainage so water does not build up behind them. For retaining walls, we assess the height and the load before choosing the right construction.

We also think about the finish: the line of the wall, how corners are detailed and how the bed meets the paving or lawn around it.

Raised beds suit vegetable growing, herbs, cut flowers or low-maintenance shrubs. Because the soil is brought in, you can choose the right mix for what you want to grow, whatever the ground underneath. Built to the right height, they can also double as informal seating.

Raised beds and walls often form part of a bigger project, such as a garden makeover, a new patio or levelling a sloping lawn.

Many gardens across the New Forest and south Hampshire slope, either gently towards the house or more steeply away from it. A sloping garden can be hard to use, with nowhere flat to sit, play or put a table. Retaining walls in sleepers, brick or block allow us to create level terraces, with steps between them and planting along the edges. The height, construction and drainage are planned for each wall, because a retaining wall has to hold back the weight of wet soil for many years. Done well, a sloping garden can become one of the most interesting spaces to spend time in. We will explain the options and costs clearly before work starts.