retaining wall planting ideas

1. What should I plant in my retaining wall?
2. What is the cheapest type of retaining wall?
3. Do I need a footing for a retaining wall?
4. How close to a retaining wall can I plant a tree?
5. How do you beautify a concrete retaining wall?
6. What is the easiest retaining wall to build?
7. WHY DO Retaining walls fail?
8. Do you need landscape fabric behind retaining wall?
9. What is the best type of retaining wall?
10. At what height does a retaining wall need to be engineered?
11. How far apart should posts be for a retaining wall?
12. How long do retaining walls last?
13. Can tree roots damage retaining walls?
14. How do you install a retaining wall block around a tree?
15. Can you plant a tree next to a wall?
16. What kind of rock do you put behind a retaining wall?
17. How do you build a hillside retaining wall?
18. Can you DIY a retaining wall?
19. How long will a pressure treated retaining wall last?

What should I plant in my retaining wall?

Trees and plants can soften the space around the wall, so it's natural to want to plant shrubs and bushes around the retaining wall. When installing new trees, look for slow-growing trees without aggressive roots. Small, flowering trees, such as the redbud or saucer magnolia, can do well near a retaining wall.

What is the cheapest type of retaining wall?

What is the cheapest retaining wall material?

• Treated pine and is the least expensive material. ...
• Hardwood is more expensive than treated pine. ...
• Railway sleepers are another - slightly more expensive - option and are built to withstand ground and water contact.
• Concrete sleepers are more expensive.

Do I need a footing for a retaining wall?

Foundation. ... A buried structural footing is usually required for larger retaining walls. To create this, a landscaper pours concrete below frost level (the depth to which the ground will freeze during the winter). Footings poured too shallow are prone to shifting and moving if moisture in the soil freezes and heaves.

How close to a retaining wall can I plant a tree?

If you want to plant a new tree, find a spot that's as far away from the wall as the plant will be once it's fully grown. So, if your new tree will reach 15 feet tall, choose a planting spot at least 15 feet away.

How do you beautify a concrete retaining wall?

Beautify exterior concrete walls, such as retaining walls, by applying a layer of stucco to create a textured appearance. Add a "cap" to the top of the wall if desired by attaching small slabs of flat, natural stone to the wall top using the correct adhesive.

What is the easiest retaining wall to build?

For the average do-it-yourselfer, building a retaining wall is easiest when using masonry blocks that will be stacked no taller than three feet, with no mortar binding the stones or concrete members. (For a curved wall, mark instead with a garden hose or spray paint.) ...

WHY DO Retaining walls fail?

The main cause of retaining wall failure is poor drainage. Without proper drainage, hydrostatic pressure builds up behind the retaining wall. Saturated soil is substantially heavier than dry soil, and the retaining wall may not be designed to handle such a load.

Do you need landscape fabric behind retaining wall?

Whether the wall is made from stones, bricks or wood, it is important to provide a barrier between the building blocks and the soil. ... Landscape fabric is thin and sturdy and is a simple way to preserve a retaining wall's construction.

What is the best type of retaining wall?

Retaining wall stones makes the nicest-looking walls of all. You have a wide variety of choices that will fit just about any style of yard and garden. On the downside, stone is usually more expensive, and the walls require more skill and more time to build.

At what height does a retaining wall need to be engineered?

Most municipalities require a building permit and a design from a Licensed Engineer if your wall is taller than 4 feet high (measured from the bottom of the first block to the top of the last block). Will your retaining wall be terraced?

How far apart should posts be for a retaining wall?

If you're building a four foot high retaining wall that had a “surcharge” or slope heading uphill from the wall, you're dealing with a lot of weight and may want to bring your posts as close as two feet apart (although this will vary with the size of posts and the type of board that will run between posts).

How long do retaining walls last?

How long will my retaining wall last? For a permanent wall structure, the general lifespan is generally between 50 and 100 years. This does, however, depend on the conditions of the soil and groundwater at your site.

Can tree roots damage retaining walls?

While it doesn't seem likely that your tree roots could hurt a retaining wall, they actually can cause some issues. Since most of your tree's growth happens out of sight under the ground, the roots are sometimes able to creep under the retaining wall to crack or even upheave it entirely if it's too close.

How do you install a retaining wall block around a tree?

How to Create a Retaining Wall Around a Tree

1. Step 1: Determine Distance From Tree. ...
2. Step 2: Dig a Level Ring. ...
3. Step 3: Add Gravel at the Base. ...
4. Step 4: Install the First Row of Stones. ...
5. Step 5: Mix the Cement. ...
6. Step 6: Apply the Cement. ...
7. Step 7: Add the Next Stone Layer. ...
8. Step 8: Build to the Desired Height.

Can you plant a tree next to a wall?

The roots of a tree will grow underneath walls. As they do, they can disrupt the leveled ground and cause damage to a wall. The roots force the soil upward placing pressure on the wall. That's why, if you're planting new trees, you should plant them well away from walls and structures.

What kind of rock do you put behind a retaining wall?

We refer to the material used for the base, within and behind the block as Wall Rock. Crushed or smooth stone, well graded, compactable aggregate, ranging in size from 0.25 in. to 1.5 in. (6 to 38 mm) is the ideal wall rock size.

How do you build a hillside retaining wall?

Shovel at least a 4-inch layer of gravel onto the landscape fabric. Grade this layer so it slopes 1 inch for every 4 feet, allowing water to drain away. Then lay in 4-inch perforated PVC drainpipe at the base of the wall and cover it with gravel. Shovel in backfill as you build the wall, one tier at a time.

Can you DIY a retaining wall?

Choose a DIY-friendly building material. Retaining walls can be made from wood, bricks, natural stones or concrete blocks. For DIYers, it's best to use concrete retaining wall blocks, which can be interlocking and are heavy enough to stay in place without cement or other adhesive.

How long will a pressure treated retaining wall last?

Pressure-treated timbers are typically what you use for a timber retaining wall. The fun fact about pressure treated wood is that it is warrantied – but putting it in continuous contact with the ground voids the warranty. Even so, you can reasonably expect to get anywhere from 10-20 years out of a timber wall.