A Spectacular Spring

The Right Retaining Wall For Your Yard, Garden, And Property

2 March 2017 by Terri Holmes

A retaining wall is necessary on your property if you have any uneven or sloped areas that you want to smooth out. Furthermore, these can be utilitarian while also improving your home's overall curb appeal.

First, make a decision about the right type of retaining wall for your property:

• Mortar-less walls are rustic and look great in a garden.
• Dry-stacked walls are a popular DIY choice, often made from fieldstone.
• Railroad ties or timbers make heavy-duty walls that prevent soil erosion.
• Cement blocks make it easy to keep things even and level, without the guess-work of natural rocks and stones.
• A living wall is a hollow wall that allows for you to add back-fill and soil for plants and small garden beds.

Some tips when doing this yourself include:

Stay level. It is very important to pay attention to keeping things level when constructing your retaining wall. Measure precisely and keep a carpenter's level on hand to check your work frequently.

Think utility. Incorporate your retaining wall into the landscape and make it a useful part of your outdoor living space. You could use the wall's top for seating or a garden!

Deal with slopes. Address the slopes on your property with terracing, which is basically levels of the wall that graduate to a flat surface.

Pay attention to the foundation. All your work and your wall sits on the foundation, so make sure to build a sturdy foundation with back-fill and tamp a lot for stability.

Buy your stones. It may seem more interesting to use natural rocks and stones that you find around your property, but these can be challenging to use in a level retaining wall. Buy manufactured pavers or stone for your project as they are easier to measure and estimate during the building process.

Don't neglect drainage. Don't forget about drainage when constructing your wall. Failure to install a form of drainage will eventually erode and destroy your wall. This is an immediate concern when you are using mortar rather than a hollow-style wall which allows you to go back and adjust your drainage pipe.

Cap things off. Finish your wall with cap-blocks secured with masonry adhesive. There are different styles available, such as flat surfaced caps for seating or displaying accents, or ornamental caps that require little embellishment.

Use these tips to narrow-down the options and choose the right retaining wall for your property. For more info about building a retaining wall, contact a company like New Horizon Landscapes & Design.

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