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Using Landscaping Blocks

Landscaping blocks are the material that retaining walls are made of. They are larger and heavier than landscaping bricks, and are uniform in shape – often having the front side of the block with a textured type of design, as that is the only side that will be seen.

I don’t have cause to have a very large retaining wall in my backyard landscaping design. I do know someone who had a 10-foot retaining wall installed next to their driveway (the garage was essentially located underneath the house), and she had this professionally done.

I would recommend that any large retaining wall installation be handled by a professional, particularly when it will have a huge impact on your landscaping design or the foundation of your home. Installing a retaining wall with landscaping blocks is as intricate as installing a patio, except it is much more cumbersome given that the installation occurs on a slope, and if the landscaping blocks are not properly laid, it will lead to deterioration of the wall, and costly repairs in the long run.

Photo courtesy of mcready (opens new window)

Installing a retaining wall that is less that 2-3 feet high is something that can be accomplished by the average do-it-yourselfer, particularly if it’s done only to add design and interest to the landscaping, and has no effect on the foundation of your home. I may try my hand at this in the future.

There are a couple of areas that could benefit from a very short retaining wall. I have a large Weeping Willow tree in my backyard. Underneath that tree, I’ve planted a collection of ferns, however before planting them, I built up the soil under the tree. During dry periods in the summer, the ferns do not seem to get enough water because they are on a gradual slope, and any rain that is received, quickly runs down the slope. I would like to build a short retaining wall around those ferns to ensure they receive the proper water.

So, how do you go about building a retaining wall? Excellent question!

There is a wonderful article that I found on the Lowe’s website detailing step by step how to build a retaining wall. They discuss the use of special interlocking concrete blocks, which help keep these landscaping blocks in place, and make them easy to place together for the do-it-yourselfer. Please keep in mind that, as the article points out, you should not use these landscaping blocks to create anything more than a relatively low wall. This article offers step by step directions for how to build a retaining wall (opens new window).

Instead of landscaping blocks, this retaining wall is contructed by landscaping with stones. I like the informal look of this wall.

Here’s a sample of a very small wall that was in place when I moved into my house. The low side is on my property, while the high side is on my neighbor’s property. Unfortunately, my neighbor has not been able to attend to his area. Soil needs to be added, and the weeds need to be removed.

I just love the look of this little retaining wall, and would definitely want to do some type of duplication for my “fern fandangle” in the backyard. I was able to find another article that discusses building a retaining wall by landscaping with stones (without the use of mortar). This article about retaining walls (opens new window) was found on one of my favorite websites, and I hope you find it useful for your project as well.

I will fill you in on my own experience with this process when I decide to take it on. I may even video tape the process to give you a real idea for how easy or difficult it is for the average homeowner. I’m not making any promises to get that project accomplished in 2009 though!

Enjoy your retaining wall adventure!

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