How to Build a Rock Wall Out of Field Rock
Make a rock wall to enhance the landscape around your home using field rock. Field rock is a traditional building material for rock walls. It is ideal for country-style and cottage-style homes. Build rock walls around gardens, along pathways and to define areas of your yard space. Ground preparation and laying a sturdy foundation are the keys to building a lasting rock wall. Rock walls are traditionally dry-laid, and can last generations if they are constructed with care. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Spray paint the outside edges of the ground along the desired path for the rock wall with landscaping spray paint.
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Dig out the space between the painted lines to a depth of 8 inches with a shovel. Fill the first 6 inches of the dug-out space with gravel.
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Strike the surface of the gravel in an up-and-down motion with a hand tamper to compact the gravel. This is the foundation for the wall.
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Sort the field rocks by size into small, medium and large. This will allow you to work more efficiently as you build the wall up from largest to smallest rocks.
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Lay the largest rocks flat on top of the gravel foundation end-to-end along the length of the wall. Stack a second layer of larger rocks on top of the first. Stagger the joints of the bottom layer with the joints of the second layer for a more secure wall construction. Continue adding layers to the wall until you are satisfied with the overall height. Work your way up from largest to smallest rocks for the layers.
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Tips & Warnings
Build a rock wall along a raised flower bed to act as a decorative border. Backfill the wall with soil to create the raised bed.
Wear work gloves to protect your hands from abrasions on rough field rocks.
References
Resources
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