Building your own garden retaining wall can give you all the peace and satisfaction of knowing that you have created something yourself without having to pay anyone else to do it for you. You can also add attractive designs and decorative features to it, and you will have a lasting feature in your garden. It is possible to have the type that you see in pictures and on building materials catalogs. There are certain things you need to consider when planning to build this type of wall. It doesn’t matter whether you want to retain your grass or plant tall growing plants around it.
The size of your garden retaining wall
The size of your garden retaining wall should be based on the available space you have. If you have a large garden with a lot of space, you may want to consider a larger size than the ones available for smaller gardens. You should calculate the amount of weight you would be putting on each wall to make sure you get it built correctly. Materials for a garden retaining wall should also be researched properly to ensure you do not end up spending more money than what you intended. You may have to change the type of material if the one you originally picked doesn’t hold up as well.
Use concrete for your garden wall
If you decide to use concrete for your garden wall, the thickness is very important. Concrete can hold up to many years of weight and can easily last through a lot of wear and tear. The thickness of the wall will depend on how much the area you are retaining has to. An area the size of a football field would require more concrete than a small yard.
Building your own garden retaining wall is fun and you get to use your imagination. It can be anything from simple retaining wall to a rockery to an archway. When building a garden retaining wall, you can start by selecting a rough sketch of the wall you want. This will give you an idea about how thick you want your wall to be and if it will have any special needs such as an archway. You can always add extra supports where you need them.
Start to cut the concrete
After you have the basic sketch, you can now start to cut the concrete. Make sure that you have the material you need before you start. This will make cutting the concrete easier. If you plan to use a masonry hammer, you will also need a chisel and angle grinder to help make the ends of the walls smooth. You will have to make sure you leave a space between the wall and the house frame in order to allow for the concrete to set properly.
Once you have all of the materials cut, you can begin to set the concrete. Make sure that you have the right tools to help you. A level and a good quality tape measure are essential to help you build the retaining wall. A hammer, chisel and a level are also essential.
Take special care to level the back wall
When building the wall, you should take special care to level the back wall. If you do not, you risk the possibility of the concrete settling at the bottom of your garden. This will cause your plants to be damaged. The back wall should be two foot away from the house. If you have a small garden, this may not be a problem, but if you have a large garden, the back wall should be built about six feet away from the house.
It takes a little bit of work to learn how to build a garden retaining wall, but with the right tools and preparation, you will have no problem completing this task. Adding a retaining wall to your garden can be one of the best ways to preserve your garden’s natural beauty. You will also have a nice addition to your yard that will last for years. You should consider learning more about this interesting subject.