Retaining walls play a major role in your garden design, not just only because they can contribute to the atmosphere, but also because they can help you shape surrounding grounds.
Questions that many homeowners ask when they start to consider garden construction is whether they need a retaining wall and, if they do, which one should they choose. If you are one of them, we are here to help you find the best options. But first, let’s see what does the retaining wall serve for, and what are the benefits of having one in your backyard.
Purposes of Retaining Wall
These walls are one of the common solutions in garden design and landscaping projects, and though in some instances it might seem that they are purely decorative detail, they can be useful in multiple ways. They have been used for centuries to level the ground and protect from the erosion. Incas used them to adjust the land where they planted their crops, and in Egypt, they were a crucial part of the irrigation system. Nowadays, they are still an important part of both corporate and private gardens.
Benefits of Retaining Walls
Knowing the purpose of the retaining wall, you will come to see all of the advantages that come along with having one in your backyard.
The first benefit of having a retaining wall is that it will help you protect your garden. Depending on the type of the surrounding land, a retaining wall will be there to stop the ground from collapsing into your backyard.
Since it stops the erosion, you will not have to clean and repair your yard as often, which means that retaining walls will ensure easier garden maintenance.
Picking the right type of material, pattern and design of the wall will greatly influence the entire visual experience of your garden, so another benefit of retaining walls is an aesthetic contribution.
Types of Retaining Walls
Another thing you should know before making your pick is what kinds of walls are popular at the moment. Modern landscape architecture includes many variations, however, here are three types that designers love to use in garden construction:
- Wooden retaining walls
These are the ultimate solution for all of those who are looking for something cost-effective and beautiful. They make a gorgeous detail in almost any garden, and if kept up properly, they can last long. One of the favourite materials for this type of wall is treated pine, which can endure the outdoor conditions for up to 20 years.
- Retaining walls made of natural rocks
If you would like something that blends in with the landscape, natural retaining walls might be the right choice. They are usually made of stones, and the beauty of it is that you can combine their different types in a way to match perfectly your home and surroundings.
There are also options to create stone wall panels and cladding a substrate with natural split stone and others. You can do that by using brick or concrete as a base, and you cannot go wrong with that.
- Concrete retaining walls
Though these aren’t as blendable as natural rock walls, they are less pricey and more durable. Now, to make them an integral part of the garden setting, you cannot leave them in their natural state. So, you will need to give them a fine finish, and the best thing you can do is to hire a professional. For that reason, our garden experts stand at your disposal. They will help you with your wall construction and pick the right design.
Conclusion – Which One to Choose?
The choice of a retaining wall depends on many different factors. First of all, what is the type of land you want to build it on? Second, which material will most efficiently serve your purpose? And third, how will it fit into your backyard setting? If you are not sure what the answers are, we are here for you. We will not only give you the right suggestion but also create for you a garden design that will turn it into a place of utmost pleasure.
Owner/operator of Artview Landscapes, Brian Baker is a talented landscape designer who has been managing, designing and building structured landscapes in Sydney for twenty five years. He has personally built or managed over 800 landscape construction projects ranging in value from $5,000 to $250,000 for residential projects and between $10,000 and one million dollars for commercial projects.