I would advise against filling against the back fence. I am not an expert, however, I think it may rust. This is the reason why it is built on a footing when there is a difference in levels. You could have two beds, one higher, for plants requiring good drainage, than put a small retaining wall/edge for the ones that would benefit from moisture draining from the upper level. Just an idea. I personally like different levels in the garden, looks much more interesting and 30cm is not really that much.

g'day peeguu,

i too would not suggest you use any fences as retaining walls their footings aren't designed for that purpose. not sure what 1 foot every 8 meters looks like but it doesn't sound steep to me.

maybe you could terrace the slope using logs? or put a dry wall around the lower area just inside the fence line and level off that way then you don't need to consider ag' type drainage. if you go for a retaining wall you then need that rubble/ag' drain which has to be drained off to somewhere and i don't think you are allowed to drain it to private land?

len

Here is a link that might be useful: lens garden page

As some one who has done a fair bit of landscaping, I reckon that a fall of one foot in eight metres (roughly one in thirty) is not at all bad if you are planning garden beds. I would leave it. It is a good fall for runoff in times of rain. If you are wanting level areas for sitting outside around a table then with a fall like yours, you could lay some sleepers across the first half and terrace the nearest area. Dividing it into two can also add a bit of interest to the garden area especially if you leave the natural fall in the other section. You do not have to lay the sleepers at right angles to the fence but if the fall is say, diagonal, consider exploiting that and see how it might look. Lay it out using you garden hose to mark the areas and compare the alternatives.

Avoid just putting garden beds around the edges as it can look rather uninteresting. You could break it up with curves etc. There are lots of magazines to inspire you. But the fall in your backyard could definitely be taken advantage of, rather than wasting the energy on creating a flat space.

I must agree with the above posters. I would find a dead flat yard area to be very boring, but if you must, then terracing would be the way to go. Perhaps if there is enough area, you could have a garden bed across the middle of the yard at the change in levels, with a small retaining wall 30cm, or 1 railway sleeper high. 2 steps down through this would bring you to a little private garden area with garden beds on all sides, or it might be a childrens play area with cubby house, or a utility area with shed, clothesline and compost bins.

If you must fill against the back fence, you should construct a retaining wall, possibly from H4 treated pine sleepers (this is by far the cheapest retaining wall, and you won't see it anyway). You will probably need to install a new fence on the retaining wall anyway. I agree that natural slopes look better, but they have to be workable for you.

Good stuff, thank you all for the comments/advice, i think you have turned me. I was getting side tracked by covering up the ugly concrete footing that is exposed on the side fence. Probably some small shrubs will do the trick nicely, less work too