How to Landscape Retaining Walls

Retaining walls often find use as flower bed borders.

Bland retaining walls transform your outdoor landscape into something reminiscent of prison grounds. Add personality to your outdoor spaces, and make the retaining walls on your property appear more attractive, by landscaping each structure. Landscaping retaining walls is as simple as planting flowers and vines in front of and above the structure to give it life and prevent it from looking boring and restricting.

Things You'll Need

• Rake
• Spade
• Landscape fabric or black plastic
• Potting soil
• Seeds
• Bulbs
• Seedlings
• Grafts
• Flower pots
• Landscape lights

Instructions

1. Prepare the ground above or below the retaining walls, depending on where you wish to place a flower bed. You may plant in one or both places, assuming a path does not exist in the locations. To prepare the soil, rake the area to remove twigs and stones on the ground's surface.

2. Excavate the location above or below the retaining wall, where you wish to place the flower beds. Excavate in the intended length and width of the wall, to a total depth of 1 foot.

3. Apply landscape fabric or black plastic to the bottom of the excavated trench to prevent the growth of weeds in the flower bed. Fill the space above the fabric or plastic with nutrient-rich potting soil to promote the growth of the flowers, shrubs, and ornamental plants you place in the garden bed.

4. Plant flowers, ornamental plants, climbing vine seeds, bulbs, seedlings, or grafts in the intended garden location to enhance the looks of your retaining walls. Follow included directions regarding the depth and spacing for each plant. Bear in mind that climbing vines produce best when planted below the retaining wall, but will also drape down over the wall if planted above the structure.

5. Plant small ornamental grasses, leafy plants, or flowers in small flower pots. Set the potted plants in front of or on top of the retaining wall. When harsh weather arrives, you can move these plants into your garage or home until fair weather returns.

6. Install patio or landscape lights in front or on top of retaining walls to mark their location and draw attention to the feature in low light. You may have lights installed, or buy small, solar-powered stake lights you need only drive into the ground.

References

• This Old House: Engineering a Retaining Wall