Retaining Walls Go Beyond Just Practical Design in Landscaping
Retaining walls serve a dual purpose in any landscape design. Not only do they hold soil or dirt behind themhttp://www.landschaftsgaertener.com but they provide an aesthetic opportunity for any outdoor space. Done correctlyhttp://www.landschaftsgaertener.com they can increase a home’s curb appeal while serving a practical purpose.
Common Uses for Retaining Walls
Typicallyhttp://www.landschaftsgaertener.com you’ll see a retaining wall as part of the design of a yard or outdoor area when there is uneven elevation. Retaining walls serve to not only maintain the soil where it is but is also used by many retaining wall contractors to make a sloped plot of land more usable.
For instancehttp://www.landschaftsgaertener.com many homeowners have used retaining walls to create a terraced design in their yards when a hill is at a steep angle. Creating these cascading terraces allows the area to become usable. Many homeowners plant trees or other plants or create outdoor seating areas. This is a common design in suburban areas where land plots are smaller and more likely to be built with little to no flat outdoor space.
Another common use for retaining walls in backyard spaces is when they are used to create raised planting beds. This can be more common in areas where the soil has heavy clay or is heavily impacted and therefore too tough to dig and not hospitable to grass and other plants.
Retaining walls can be built in this instance to accommodate soil that is more workable. Oftentimes they can be designed to incorporate additional outdoor seating.
Advantages of Retaining Walls
Obviouslyhttp://www.landschaftsgaertener.com there are many advantages to incorporating retaining walls into your landscape design. For onehttp://www.landschaftsgaertener.com they are an integral part in reducing or preventing erosion. For multi-level landscapeshttp://www.landschaftsgaertener.com this is key. They can prevent run-off and landslides and secure plants and vegetation in place.
Not only this but retaining walls can act as a clear boundary between one property and another. They can be used to create a taller privacy boundary holding bushes and other shrubs off the ground so that the property boundary is not only clear but also aesthetically pleasing.
Another advantage is that retaining walls can do a lot to help prevent flooding and to direct the flow of water in an outdoor space. They are effective and built to keep things in placehttp://www.landschaftsgaertener.com so building them in strategic locations can help prevent damage to your landscaping by slowing down the flow of water and even diverting the run-off during storms.
Retaining Wall Designs
Natural stone
There is no doubt that natural stone retaining walls are a charming choice for any landscaping project. Because they come in a variety of shapeshttp://www.landschaftsgaertener.com colors and sizeshttp://www.landschaftsgaertener.com they tend to be more flexible in terms of matching the decor and style of your home. They add a more natural looking element to any design. They also can lend a more upscale look to your landscape design.
The asymmetry of the stones does lend itself to working more closely with the materials and planning the design. Not only this but natural stone walls can be a great way to build in effective drainage.
Unfortunatelyhttp://www.landschaftsgaertener.com natural stone walls are not recommended for larger retaining walls. Because these types of walls are not typically built with mortarhttp://www.landschaftsgaertener.com they can be damaged and present a hazard. That’s why it is recommended that natural stone is used for shorter walls.
Cinder block/Concrete Retaining Walls
The advantages to concrete or cinder block retaining walls are many. It is well-known that concrete is a durable material. It can withstand heathttp://www.landschaftsgaertener.com moisturehttp://www.landschaftsgaertener.com wind and more. Along with the fact that they are among the most affordable options for a retaining wallhttp://www.landschaftsgaertener.com that’s why it’s a top choice for retaining walls projects.
In terms of conshttp://www.landschaftsgaertener.com concrete retaining walls only have a couple. Onehttp://www.landschaftsgaertener.com they have less options in terms of aesthetic elements. Whilte they do have a variety of colors and sizes and even shapeshttp://www.landschaftsgaertener.com they don’t have quite the aesthetic flexibility that other materials do. Sohttp://www.landschaftsgaertener.com they may not fit into the design you envision for your landscaping project.
Wood
Wood retaining walls can provide a real diversity of design options for your landscaping project. For those who are looking to create retaining walls that have a more natural lookhttp://www.landschaftsgaertener.com wood is a good option. Not only thishttp://www.landschaftsgaertener.com but the lower price point is attractive too. Howeverhttp://www.landschaftsgaertener.com wood deteriorates over time and ultimately does not last as long as other common retaining wall materials unless you purchase wood that is rated to withstand heavy or extreme duty. Although wood used for retaining walls is treated with various preservativeshttp://www.landschaftsgaertener.com it can still erode over time due to the exposure to moisture. This should be something to keep in mind when planning out your landscaping projects.