How to Prepare Your Garden for a Shed

Should I put my outdoor shed storage on blocks? Can I put it on gravel? What’s the best garden building base?

Sometimes, it seems like a million questions to answer before you even buy one. You might even find yourself asking whether is it cheaper to build your own shed. Not to worry, though – we’re here to help you answer all those questions. 

But one thing holds true: whether you build your shed or not – you’ll need to prepare your garden for it. That goes for whatever you intend to use it for – whether that be a home office shed, a storage or a summer house. So follow this simple guide to preparing your garden for a shed to put your mind at ease.

How To Prepare Your Garden for a Shed

1. Choose your shed site
2. Clear the ground of debris
3. Level the ground and build a perimeter
4. Build your foundation (gravel, paving, timber, or concrete)

Sounds simple right? And it is simple enough if you follow this helpful guide. So without further ado, let’s crack on!

How to Build a Shed Base

Whether you’re building a metal shed or a wooden storage shed, a good base will ensure its longevity. 

You might have the highest quality pressure-treated timber. But if you don’t have a solid foundation you could lose your shed to sinking or rot. 

So let’s start simple with step 1, which is deciding where in your garden your shed is going to go.

Step 1 – Choose Shed Site

When thinking about where to place garden sheds you need to consider more than just looks. Of course, make sure that you place your shed somewhere that compliments your garden. But you’ll still need to consider structural elements.

Some questions you might want to ask when choosing a shed site are:

• Access – Will I be able to walk all around my shed? Or do I want it hard up against a boundary?
• Drainage – Is my shed able to drain excess rainwater? Make sure not to place your shed on boggy or marshy ground or in a gully.
• Permission – Do I need to get planning permission to build here? Is it within my property lines and are my neighbours ok with the proposed shed?

Remember, your shed site should be larger than the exact size of your shed’s base. We suggest adding a foot in every direction. So, for example, a square shed with a proposed base of 5ft. x 5ft. will need a 36ft. site.

You’ll also want to consider whether you’ll be connecting amenities to your shed. If you want to read more about installing utilities to your shed you can check out our guide on the site. If so, you might want to dial before you dig (DBYD) to check existing underground utility maps.

Last but not least, choosing a shed site isn’t just about the shed itself. Think about the other elements of your garden.

• Do you have overhanging trees and shrubs that you want to regularly prune? These could cause damage to a shed roof in harsh weather conditions. 
• Do you have plans for landscaping around your shed?
• Do you have a path to your shed? Or is foot traffic going to ruin patches of your lawn?

Once you feel comfortable with where your sheds going to go, you can look at preparing your shed site.

Step 2 – How to Clear the Ground for a Shed

Whether you’re building a potting shed or a shed for a home garden office, you’ll want to know how to level the ground.

The first step will be to clean ground cover and debris like plants and stumps. Make sure to poison these at this stage if you don’t want to see them come back. We’ll explain in more detail, but failing to treat weeds can ruin your shed!

One of the biggest places where people fall down at this stage is not building a perimeter.

Think about it – you’re tamping the earth (hitting it with a tamper to compact it) and you don’t have a perimeter. Then the earth at the edges of your base isn’t going to be held in place. This means that over time your shed’s base can actually become structurally unstable.

To combat this, consider building a perimeter to hold your shed base in place. Use pressure- and ground-contact treated wood to build a simple frame around your base. From there, you can move on to compacting the earth.

For now, use a rake to pull up dead weeds, leaves, and stones. Then finish levelling it with a landscaping rake. 

Top tip: If you don’t have one of these, flipping your rake over and using the edge without prongs can give you a rough level.

Once you’ve done this, use a spirit level or run some string lines between the corners of your shed site to check the level. 

Then you can use either use a hand-held tamper and work around the border before moving into the centre of your site. Failing this, you could also stamp it level(ish) with just your boots! 

Though we don’t think your legs will thank you.

If you’re really going all out, you could even hire a ‘whacker’ (or petrol compactor) for this stage. This might come in handy if you opt for a gravel base in step 4.

Step 3 – Building the foundation

Next, you’ll want to lay down a weed-proof membrane (or landscaping fabric). Even if you’ve killed your weeds we recommend that you follow this step. This will prevent weeds and moisture from reaching the floor of your shed.

Once you’ve levelled your ground and build a perimeter ready for your shed you can move on to step 4.

Step 4 – Building a shed base

At this stage of learning how to prepare your garden for a shed, you’ll have a couple of different options. We’d recommend following steps 1-3 no matter what base you go for, however. 

Then you can settle on one of either:

• Crushed stone base
• Pavement slab base
• Timber base
• Concrete base

Let’s have an in-depth look at those options for a garden shed base.

Crushed Stone Base

You might also hear a crushed stone garden shed base referred to as a gravel base. Although, it’s not quite the same as gravel that you might put in your driveway. Crushed stone is useful because it allows water to drain away whilst protecting against weed growth.

So if you’re looking to build a gravel shed foundation, we suggest going for “¾ clean” crushed stone. These are (as the name suggests) ¾ inch stones with have been cleaned of dirt to make sure they don’t lock up.

Crushed stone also offers a good compromise on price. But it’ll still give a sufficient foundation to most sheds.

Once you’ve ordered your crushed stone, have it dumped inside the perimeter you built earlier. Then you can work on tamping and levelling it just like you did with your dirt in step 2.

Top tip: This time, start near the edges and work your way inward in a spiral. Then you won’t get gravel piling up at your perimeter.

Pavement Slab Base

An even cheaper option for a garden shed base might be building a pavement slab base.

This is because we probably all have some paving slabs lying around our garden. So if you don’t want to pour a concrete slab, a paving slab base is a good alternative. You’ll need to integrate this with steps 2 and 3, though.

To lay a garden paving slab base for your shed, start by removing around 7cm of topsoil. You can then either sink the slabs and backfill or secure them with some all-purpose cement. 

Top tip: Make sure to level your slabs across the whole of your proposed site.

And remember, laying slabs on loose ground won’t create a suitable base for a garden shed. This is because paving slabs can sink into loose earth at different rates. This can cause your shed to become uneven and lead to cracked windows and doors that won’t open!

One argument against using paving slabs, though, is that animals might burrow underneath them. This can further weaken your foundation.

Timber Base

If you’re putting up a smaller outdoor garden shed, then you might think about building a timber base. 

Simply build a four-sided frame and affix crossbeams with a drill or nail gun. Then affix your frame to corner posts and drive it into the ground.

By building a simple frame to fit the size of your shed’s base you can also raise your shed. This will help with keeping its base dry and clear of weeds. It’s also a less permanent option than a concrete slab if you ever want to move your shed.

Concrete Base

But, if you do want a more long-term solution, you could always pour a concrete slab. Sheds under 8 x 8ft and weighing less than 300 pounds (including contents) won’t need this option, though.

Now, a concrete base will be more expensive but might see you better off in the long run. This is because it won’t sink in the way paving slabs or a timber base might.

If you are thinking about pouring a concrete base, follow these steps:

• Level your shed site
• Either build boxing or a perimeter. You can either remove boxing later or concrete in your perimeter with posts at all four corners
• Mix and pour concrete inside the boxing
• Using either a string line or height pegs, level concrete and discard excess
• Leave the concrete to set and wash if necessary

Granted, a concrete slab will protect your shed from ground moisture. But it might cost a bit for a landscaper if you aren’t confident in following those steps yourself.

No matter what base you choose for your outdoor garden building, let’s recap some of the universal rules:

• DO check the level again and again
• DON’T leave rubble, leaves, or anything that can cause damage or rot
• DO use a weed proof membrane underneath
• DON’T try to erect your shed on bare ground or actual gravel

Once you’re happy with that we can move onto the final stage.

Preparing for shed delivery

Whether you’re building your own shed or buying one ready-made, you’ll need to prepare your garden in advance.

Then, you’ll want to aim to have your shed delivered on a run of good weather when you’ve got some time to assemble it. That means having your concrete slab set and ready to go or making sure your paving slabs haven’t sunk.

The good news is, with a selection of easy-to-assemble sheds available, it shouldn’t take too long. For example, our tongue-and-groove panels are ready cut and you and a friend can assemble them in a matter of hours.

Just remember to have clear access to your proposed shed site on the day of delivery.

Shed Maintenance and Garden Integration

Once your shed is in place, it’s essential to maintain it to ensure it stands the test of time. Regularly inspect for damage, especially after extreme weather, and address any issues promptly. Apply a weather-resistant coating to protect against the elements.

Moreover, lubricate door hinges and locks. Keep the interior clean and organised to prevent clutter and damage to your tools. Make sure the roof is free of debris, and inspect for leaks. Routine care will extend your shed’s lifespan and utility.

Enhancing your garden with the new shed

Your garden building can be more than just a functional storage space. These shed interior ideas prove they can also enhance the aesthetics of your garden. Paint or stain with shed paints that complement your garden’s theme. Soften the edges by planting decorative shrubs or climbing plants nearby.

Create a pathway to the shed with stepping stones or a gravel walkway. Consider adding LED solar outdoor lights for an enchanting ambience in the evening.

Landscaping Around the Shed

This trick can transform it from a mere storage space into an attractive garden feature. Here are some tips for achieving a harmonious garden-shed integration:

Adding plants and flowers

• Colourful borders: Plant flowers or create a flower bed along the shed’s perimeter. Choose a colour palette that complements your garden’s overall theme.
• Climbing vines: Train climbing plants like clematis or jasmine to grow up the sides of your shed. They add a touch of elegance and soften the structure’s appearance. Even better with lattice planters.
• Container gardens: Place decorative pots or containers with flowering plants near the entrance. This adds a burst of colour and allows for easy maintenance.

Creating pathways and access points

• Gravel paths: Lay down a gravel pathway leading to your shed. It’s both functional and visually appealing.
• Stepping stones: Use stepping stones to create a natural path to the shed. They can be nestled in the grass or gravel for a charming effect.
• Arbours: Install a garden arbour at the shed’s entrance. This aims to frame the pathway and provide a welcoming gateway.
• Solar lights: Illuminate the pathway with such lights for a magical ambience at night.

Round-up

So now you know that there’s more than one option when it comes to preparing your garden for a shed. But there’s no need to be daunted!

Just follow the steps in this handy guide, and you’ll have a shed foundation that’ll last you for a long time. And, if we’ve done our job, we all now know the answer to ‘Can you put a shed directly on the ground?’. (No!)

So why not save yourself some time on shed construction and focus on laying the groundwork? And by that, we mean literal groundwork! 

Make sure that your shed site is ready to go, whether you’ve chosen a gravel shed foundation or a timber base. Then, you can focus on prepping your garden for your new outdoor structure.

And now that you’ve got your garden ready, consider getting the new BillyOh Switch Apex unit to suit the plot! We also have pent sheds for sale version — the BillyOh Switch Tongue and Groove Pent Shed.

Next on your reading list: The Difference Between a Pent and Apex Summerhouse

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