Retaining walls are often synonymous with hills and slopes. And for good reason! They add visual interest, texture, and color in residential and commercial landscapes. More importantly, a well-designed retaining wall helps to stabilize soil and fight erosion as well as define spaces for different uses. For example, retaining walls can turn a slope or hill into more functional space for gardening, patios, or play structures, not to mention how much easier flat grade is to mow than an incline.
Walls can be built from many materials, but both natural stone and interlocking, manufactured concrete blocks are two widely used options that are versatile and aesthetic. Even if your yard is flat, there are still plenty of ways to incorporate retaining wall blocks into your landscape, as you’ll see here.
Even with a perfectly flat yard or other outdoor space, there are still many ways to use retaining wall blocks, wall stone, and pavers to create features that are as functional as they are decorative. Here are some clever ideas for retaining wall blocks that work in nearly any yard:
Retaining wall blocks are easy to configure into a low square or rectangle shape for a flower or vegetable bed. Another option is building a long, low planting or rock garden area along a fence, house, or other structure. With a raised bed, you can control the size and shape, and avoid the sod cutting, digging, and soil prep associated with starting a traditional garden plot.
Keyhole gardens are similar to raised beds but also entirely different. These compact, eye-catching raised beds are usually taller than typical square or rectangular beds. The basic shape is a circle with a wedge removed from the center to the outer edge, forming a pie shape. A central bin or basket is filled with compost and serves as a central watering point. Keyhole gardens also simplify planting, weeding, and tending plants, because the entire surface of the bed can be reached from a single point inside the wedge.
These can be as simple as assembling a short stack of blocks with a basin or bowl set on top, or built into a raised bed or other hardscape feature.
These popular features are compatible with wood-burning or gas fire kits, and can be built in various sizes (be sure to check your local municipal code for size and placement requirements before you build). Fire pits can be designed in a variety of shapes, including square, rectangle, round, hexagon, and octagon. Topping the structure with coordinating or contrasting wall caps adds a finished look.
From a mini-pond to a waterfall, water features can elevate a yard or garden as well as provide needed water for wildlife. Surrounding a water feature with retaining wall blocks helps to secure the basin, hide the pump and other hardware, and create a built-in, natural look.
Retaining wall blocks can be used to create benches and individual seating around a firepit, adjacent to a water feature, against a raised patio, or along a walkway. Blocks can be incorporated into an existing hardscape feature like a patio or path, or designed to be freestanding, when properly secured.
Section off a space by building a low wall, then trim the turf low or remove the sod to create a level playing area that’s perfect for a personal putting green, bocce court, horseshoe court, or even a sandbox.
Any time you’re working with retaining wall blocks, prioritizing safety will improve the success of your project (and your ability to enjoy it when it’s finished). Some of the ideas above are suitable for a DIYer, but a good rule of thumb is that any wall over about 3 ft. should be built by a professional. And if you’re in doubt about the scope of the project, or the best materials or structural design, consult a contractor or other qualified expert first. Always call 811 and have underground utilities marked before digging for any landscaping or hardscaping project.
Larger walls and structures that are over 3-4 ft. tall, very long, or just more complex may need to be anchored or reinforced. They may also require you to dig below the frost line and install the foundation below the frost line to prevent heaving in freezing temperatures. Depending on application, such as planting beds and keyhole gardens (and actual retaining walls build into slopes), proper drainage is also critical.
At Minick Materials, we are dedicated to providing high-quality, commercial-grade retaining wall blocks and natural stone blocks as well as soil, compost, pavers, mulch, crushed stone, and other products. Since 1958, we have worked hard to serve our customers locally and nationwide, and to help strengthen our central Oklahoma community with service and support. Contact us today to learn more about transforming your yard, garden, or other space with retaining wall blocks or to discuss your landscape material needs.