Retaining walls, which are typically used to support soil in places where it would normally erode, have come into vogue recently as tools which can improve the landscaping of your garden or yard. This article will discuss creative retaining wall ideas which you can leverage to shore up and cultivate certain areas of your property.
Retaining walls have been used for centuries both in an architectural capacity, as well as for agricultural purposes, such as terracing the side of steep hills to allow crops to grow. While many of the retaining wall styles used a thousand years ago may not be as applicable today, there are still many creative modern ideas for retaining walls which you can take advantage of.
The typical materials used for most retaining walls have not changed much over the years, but the techniques surely have. Stacked stones, slate, glass and pebbles are held in place with rebar and made permanent with mortar or concrete to create a solid retaining wall. Cedar railroad ties can be bolted into place to create raised walkways or patios. The rough ties make for a more rugged look and can blend in well in a wooded setting.
Another creative retaining wall idea is to utilize glass blocks to create a solid, waterproof wall with a space behind it, and then fill that space with water to create a natural looking pond, and finish with a few small fish. Lily pads and some tall pond grass can complement the look, and a fishing pole nearby will allow children some entertainment as they sit by the pond.
If you’re going for a zen type of creative retaining wall, then once again utilizing a material like cedar is ideal. Some rebar, cement and cedar planks can make for an attractive retaining wall, and the cedar can then be used as a canvas for hand drawings, inscriptions or other meaningful symbols. Add gongs, lanterns and other zen like decorations to complete the look of the wall itself. Backfill the area behind the wall with white pebbles, bark or special grass to complement the zen-like cedar that the wall is made of.
As long as you leverage basic construction principals when building your retaining wall, then the sky is the limit for the creative retaining wall ideas you can come up with. Try to imagine the finished product and then work backwards to figure out how to make your dream come true, and you too will end up with an amazingly creative retaining well.
