Building a Rock Boulder Wall
A rock boulder wall can offer one of the most naturalistic and eye catching features to any garden. Although boulders are certainly heavy and a certain amount of structural knowhow is required, it is quite possible to build your own rock boulder wall by following a few easy steps. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Measure the height you would like the finished wall to be. As a general rule any boulder wall over about three feet tall should be referred to a professional, so ensure that your boulder wall is shorter than this; otherwise the final structure may not be as stable as you would like.
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Select your rocks. Go to a landscaping store and choose a varied selection of rock boulders. Make your choice based on the aesthetic value of each boulder as well as their design and shape, as you will have to be conscious of how they will fit within the final wall structure.
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Create a solid base. It is vital that the first layer of boulders is absolutely firmly planted, so you have to create what is known as a "footing". To do this firmly compact soil or very fine gravel along the path of your wall.
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Place the first boulder into the footing. Initially just place one boulder on to the footing and allow that to settle in place. Once it has settled it should be very firmly in place--try and budge it with your foot; it should stay absolutely solid.
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Complete the rest of the first row. Place the boulders as close to each other as possible and select the boulders that fit together the best. Keep checking the solidity of each boulder as you go, because if there is any structural weakness in your first row it could bring down the whole wall.
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Place the second row of boulders. This row should be placed in the gaps on top of the first row. Select stones that fit well into those gaps. If there are any noticeable spaces left over use smaller boulders or rocks to plug the gaps.
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Repeat this process for the next row, and the next if you wish to go higher. Bear in mind it is not advisable, as an amateur, to build a wall taller than about three feet.
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References
- Photo Credit Drystone Wall image by Nigel Cole from Fotolia.com
