Terracing Small Slopes

What is a terrace and why use one?

A terrace is a level or gently sloped step cut or built into a hillside. It slows runoff, reduces erosion and creates flat growing space. Terraces have been used for centuries in many parts of the world.

On a small homestead, terraces can make a steep garden workable. They also bring risks, because water and soil are heavy, and a failed terrace can cause damage below it. Talk with your conservation district before you commit to a design.

Terraces also help keep water on the land. Each step catches rain and gives it time to soak in, which is useful in dry regions as well as wet ones.

Do I really need a terrace?

Try simpler options first. Contour planting, mulch, ground cover and raised beds on the contour often solve moderate slopes with far less work. Terraces suit steeper ground where the gardening area would otherwise be unusable or erosion is severe.

Ask your conservation district or NRCS service center whether your slope and soil call for terracing, and which design fits. They can advise on how steep is too steep.

Measure the slope before you decide. A simple level and a measuring tape tell you the rise over a known distance, and your conservation district can say what that means for your options.

What are the main types?

Simple terraces are formed by cutting into the slope and leveling soil, with a stable bank or low wall at the front. Raised bed terraces use timber, stone or block to hold soil in steps. Grass or planted banks hold the front edge of some terraces without hard walls.

Each type has trade-offs in cost, labor, durability and risk. Choose based on slope, soil and the height of the steps.

Planted banks use less material but need more space, while walls save space and cost more. On very small plots, narrow raised beds on the contour are often the most practical choice.

• Cut-and-fill terraces with planted banks
• Retaining-wall terraces of stone, block or timber
• Raised bed steps on the contour
• Narrow bench terraces for small gardens

How should I plan one?

Start with a sketch and a survey of the slope. Mark where water flows, where soil is deep, and where the base and outlet will be. Test the soil and ask about drainage. Plan the spacing, width and slope of each step and where excess water will go.

Every terrace needs a safe outlet for excess water, because water pooling behind a wall or bank can cause failure. Ask your conservation district to review the plan.

Think about access too. Plan paths and steps between levels so you do not carry loads up a steep bank, and keep the paths wide enough for a wheelbarrow.

What safety and legal issues apply?

Retaining walls above a modest height, walls near buildings, roads or property lines and earthmoving near streams often need engineered design and permits under local rules. Rules vary by state, county and town, so ask your building and zoning office before work.

Digging and moving soil and stone are physically dangerous. Banks can collapse, and heavy equipment can tip on slopes. Use qualified operators, call your utility locating service before digging and never work beneath an unsupported cut.

Keep a log of rainfall and any movement in the banks after storms, which tells you early if something needs attention.

How do I build and finish it?

Work in sections and stabilize each part before starting the next. Compact fill in thin layers, provide drainage behind walls and seed or mulch bare soil quickly. Plant the faces and edges with strong-rooted ground covers or grasses.

A badly built terrace can erode faster than the original slope, so take your time and ask for help with the structural parts.

Build in dry weather where you can. Wet soil is heavy, slumps easily and is far harder to compact well.

What does it cost and how do I maintain it?

Cost categories include design help, permits, equipment or labor, materials such as stone, block, timber, gravel and drainage pipe, soil and planting, and maintenance. Prices vary, so collect local quotes. Ask about cost-share programs for conservation work.

Inspect terraces after heavy rain. Clear outlets, repair small slumps and keep plants healthy. Early repairs are cheap compared with rebuilding.

Keep a folder with plans, permits, receipts and photos. If you sell the property, a buyer or inspector may ask how a wall or terrace was built. Take photos before, during and after the work, and keep them with your records. A buyer or inspector may ask how the structure was built, and dated pictures answer that question far better than memory does.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Homestead & Small Farm Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.