A sloped area in your garden can be an incredible asset, allowing you to plant on multiple levels for a richer and more interesting effect. You may need to add some garden steps, however, to make weeding, feeding and pruning plants on a hill easier. Steps also make it easier to get around in the lawn in general and can help you guide visitors through your outdoor space, funneling them toward a bench, gazebo or picnic table.
Wood is a great material for building such steps, wooden steps blend exceptionally well in gardens adjacent to outdoor decks, especially when they lead seamlessly from the deck into the yard. Like stone, however, wood steps can prove to be quite slippery when wet, so consider adding textured treads.
What Are Wood Steps Pros?
The main pros are charming looks, a feeling of coziness, a natural touch to your space and versatility: a wooden walkway can match any outdoor space in any style, just style it differently for each of them. One more advantage is that a wooden staircase can be DIYed, for example, of pallets, which means that you are going to save the budget. With aging and weathering, wood gets a chic whitewashed-like look that is perfect for shabby chic and rustic spaces. Wooden stairs can be accented with pebbles and rocks along them, with green or blooming groundcovers and with bright blooms and greenery along them.
A beautiful sloped light-stained wood deck lined up with long planters with blooms and a comfy staircase is a cool spot in the garden.
A modern terraced garden done with concrete benches, and raised garden beds, a rich-stained wooden staircase and lots of textural greenery.
A rustic wood staircase like this one lined up with greenery will match a rustic or woodland-inspired garden and can be easily DIYed.
A contemporary outdoor space with rich-stained wooden steps, large rocks and greenery in between is very stylish and chic.
Weathered wood steps arranged creatively and with moss and greenery lining them up.
An elegant wooden staircase with a metal frame for maximal sturdiness, and with lush green shrubs around it.
Gravel stairs with wood retainers to make them more stable and keep gravel in place and large rocks around them.
A Zen-like weathered wood and gravel path lined up with greenery, groundcovers and large rocks is a very beautiful solution for a modern and relaxed garden.
What Are Wood Steps Cons?
Wood isn’t the most durable material, and even with special finishes it won’t last as long as stone or brick. If you are living in a wet climate, in a damp place, wood will be damaged and destroyed very fast. Even if not, you will have to reseal or restain the walkway from time to time to make it look better. If you opt for wooden steps, make sure you use pressure-treated lumber. If you don’t, your wood will rot everywhere it comes into contact with the earth. Wood stairs are also more easily damaged by pets and children. A pet with claws can easily scratch a wood staircase, and young children can also damage the material. Wood can be also slippery when wet but you may pair it up with gravel, mulch and other materials.
Wood retainers and rocks will keep sand and gravel in place, while the gravel itself is softer and less slippery for walking. Add greenery on both sides and voila!.
Mulch covered with greenery and dark wood retainers plus green groundcovers create a lovely secret garden feel. Such a staircase will be great for a woodland outdoor slot.
Large weathered tree slice steps are a unique solution that will give your garden a character, and they will match a fairy-tale space perfectly.
A green lawn and wood retainers plus ornamental grasses along make up a very stylish and elegant outdoor staircase.
A small ladder or gravel and timber retainers is a lovely addition to the outdoor space covered with gravel, too.
Light-stained wood steps with small lights built into the corners will guarantee safe walking at night and will add a modern feel to the space.
A creative outdoor ladder of reclaimed wood, rusty metal and gravel with some blooming groundcovers and greenery is a gorgeous part of the landscape.
A minimalist tropical garden featuring palm trees, green lawn, greenery, light-stained steps and a raised pool.
How To Waterproof The Wood Steps?
There are two basic product categories for waterproofing: stains and sealants. Stains are used on wood to enhance color and make them weather resistant. Sealants protect concrete and wood from moisture but do not stop water movement through the concrete from the outside. For masonry, the sealants are the go-to product.
Mulch and dark-stained wood make up a nice rustic combo, add bright blooms and voila, this staircase is like a small garden itself.
A small yet steep staircase of pebbles and wood retainers is quite safe for walking, and ferns add interest to the space.
A polished green lawn is made less formal with a weathered wood slab staircase and ornamental grasses along it.
A stylish modern farden featuring various types of greenery and groundcovers, reclaimed wooden steps and a matching pergola with a modern white lounger.
A reclaimed wood staircase accented with rocks, candle lanterns and lavender looks spectacular and such styling will do even for parties.
Sand steps and wood retainers plus rocks lining up the stairs are a great solution for a rock or desert garden.
A simple reclaimed wood staircase with green groundcovers and a wooden rail plus greenery along it is a lovely solution for a rustic outdoor space.
A large light-stained staircase on a steep slope, with blooms and greenery along it is a perfect idea for a relaxed garden with a woodland feel.
How To Prevent Wood Steps From Rotting?
Eventually, water will always get down into the unprotected wood and start rotting it from that point. To avoid this problem, I’ve started connecting stair treads from underneath using exterior-grade L-brackets screwed into the stringers and treads, so there are no penetrations from above where water can sneak in.
A large tree slice descending path surrounded with greenery and bright blooms is a perfect idea for a fairy-tale or secret garden and it looks impressive.
Reclaimed tree slices look all-natural, and green groundcovers and pebbles add to the look of the staircase.
A weathered stained wood staircase lined up with green groundcovers and lush green shrubs is amazing for a modern garden.
A pretty terraced garden including wooden steps and raised wood edge garden beds with blooms and veggies.
Build in some lights into the steps to make walking at night secure, it's especially important if you love outdoor parties at night or just entertaining guests outdoors.
A weathered wood staircase with moss and with greenery and wildflowers around is a great idea for a woodland or secret garden, the texture of the wood feels magical.
Weathered wood steps paired with rope railing and bright blooms will be a perfect match for a coastal garden.
How To Protect Wood From Sun Damage?
Wood can fade as well as darken, depending on the type. Varnish, mostly used as a top coat, is made from resins, oil and solvents. They come in a variety of finishes, ranging from flat to high-gloss, and offer first class protection against UV rays, heat, water and wear and tear.
Modern weathered wood steps with hydrangeas and ornamental grasses along them are a super stylish idea for a modern space.
Bring more texture to your garden rocking whitewashed wooden steps and large rocks, they will also look cool in a coastal space.
Rustic wooden log steps with green lawn between and bright blooms along are amazing for rustic outdoor spaces.
A refined modern garden showing off perfect lawn, lavender and grasses and simple wooden steps with blooming groundcovers to make it look less formal and more relaxed.
Whitewashed wooden steps lined up with garden bed with green and blue hydrangeas to add a spectacular touch to the simple wood.
Rocks here not only prevent soil erosion but also add interest to the wooden steps and provide the landscape with more texture.
Pallet-like wooden tiles are great to build a deck or a staircase, you may add lights to them and to soften the look, surround them with greenery.
A wooden deck with matching steps, gravel hardscaping and extra bold purple and yellow blooms create a stylish and vibrant modern outdoor space.
Even the simplest wooden steps can be made eye-catching with groundcovers, whether they are green or blooming ones.