How to Prepare the Ground for a Rock Wall

Rock walls can look gorgeous as part of an outdoor landscape. When building a rock wall, one of the most important steps is the preparation of the ground the wall will be sitting on. The base for the first layer of rocks must be firmly compacted. If the ground is not properly prepared, your rock wall will be unstable and could fall. If laid correctly, your rock wall can last for many years.

Things You'll Need

• Spray paint
• Rope
• Shovel
• Tape measure
• Gravel
• Tamper

Instructions

1. Use spray paint or rope to mark where you would like to build your rock wall. Take into consideration the drainage of the area where you will be placing your wall. It may be necessary to shape the area around the wall to help divert water away.

2. Dig a trench where you will be placing the rock wall. This trench should be about 2 feet wide and 12 to 18 inches deep.

3. Fill the trench with 8 inches of gravel. Compact the gravel using a tamper.

4. Begin laying your first layer of rock.

Tips & Warnings

• Instead of using gravel, you can tamp the soil down to a depth of at least 12 inches. However, this will not be as stable a base as using gravel.

References

• Bemidji State University: How to Build a Block Retaining Wall
• University of Callifornia: Rock Retaining Wall Construction
• Ask the Builder: Rock Retaining Wall