Retaining walls are a landscape feature that can increase the usable space of a property. Retaining walls do this by decreasing the slope of a yard and holding back soil that would otherwise wash away with rainwater. Retaining walls can be a DIY project, and you can even incorporate garden design into them. You can use cinder blocks, concrete, or even build a wooden retaining wall. Below, I’ll explain exactly what a retaining wall is and difference landscape ideas to incorporate a retaining wall into your home and garden design aesthetic.
What Is a Retaining Wall?
At its most basic level, a retaining wall is a landscape design structure that holds or retains soil behind it. Along with their functional purpose, retaining walls serve aesthetic purposes. They’ve become increasingly popular tools for creating visual interest in landscaping design. Some homeowners even consider a retaining wall the focal point of their front yard.
Retaining walls are also used in businesses. Sometimes, civil engineers use them to make roads easier to use or to stop erosion risks in homes. You can easily create a DIY retaining wall, but just make sure to check your local building codes before starting a project.
The Soil Science Society of America defines four basic types of retaining walls:
| Type | Description |
| Gravity Wall | This is a standard kind of retaining wall commonly used in home gardens. It holds the earth back with its weight. They’re usually under three feet tall. |
| Piling Wall | This type is a long columnar wall that’s driven deeper into the ground for added support. The soil holds the lower portion of a piling wall in place, allowing it to withstand a heavy backload. The piles, or “poles,” are typically metal or lumber. |
| Cantilever Wall | A cantilever, or horizontal arm, extends back into the soil and “uses the same earth pressure trying to topple it to stabilize itself,” in this wall. |
| Anchored Wall | As its name suggests, this wall uses expanding anchors through the wall held in place by cables. This is the strongest type of retaining wall. |
Do I Need a Retaining Wall?
You might be interested in improving your home’s curb appeal with a beautiful retaining wall — but do you need one? The answer depends on your yard and the location of your home.
You may need a retaining wall if:
- Your property is on a hill: A retaining wall increases the usable space on your property by reducing the slope. The wall will hold back soil from a hill to create flat, functional ground for patios, driveways, gardens, etc.
- Rainwater flows across your property: Excess rainwater runoff can flow around your home and cause leaks, flooding, and foundation damage. Retaining walls function as drainage systems that divert runoff away from your home.
- You’re noticing soil erosion: If your home is on a slope, soil erosion can pose a significant problem. As soil erodes from your yard, it can also shift out of under your house. A retaining wall holds back shifty soil, leaving your home’s foundation on solid ground.
Tips For Building Retaining Walls
Whether you’re building a DIY retaining wall or hiring a professional, there are a few things to consider.
You should hire a landscaping company if your yard has a sharp slope that declines one foot for every three feet of distance (or has a slope greater than 3:1). Trying to excavate the area by yourself could cause more harm than good.
Be sure to consider the purpose of your wall. You can use any material if you’re building a retaining wall for decorative purposes. But, your wall fulfills a structural purpose — blocking erosion or stabilizing a hill — use a durable, well-established material.
The Oregon State University Extension Service offers tips for building long-lasting retaining walls:
- Wall height: Use geogrid fabric for walls over four feet tall. Geogrid fabric is a lattice of durable composites that supports the structure of a wall.
- Block designs: You may need to select a retaining wall material based on the anticipated height of your wall. Some block designs only work for specific sizes.
- Compaction: Build your retaining wall on heavily compacted soil to prevent it from shifting or sinking.
- Drainage: Ensure your wall isn’t negatively affecting drainage in your yard. Add drain piping, filters, or weep holes to help the water drain properly. Check out other effective yard drainage enhancements.
- Backfilling: Backfill each layer of your retaining wall by packing in gravel or other aggregate. Backfilling improves stability and drainage.
10 Retaining Wall Design Ideas
With these retaining wall basics in mind, you’re ready to explore some designs that will amp up your home’s curb appeal and expand your outdoor space. Whether you need front or backyard landscaping ideas, I’ve got you covered with these 10 retaining wall designs.
1. Wooden Retaining Wall
Building a retaining wall for your property could be as simple as installing a wooden fence.
Wood is one of the most affordable retaining wall materials on our list, but it’s also one of the least durable. Wood retaining walls aren’t well suited for runoff prevention purposes. Wood can rot when it stays wet for too long, causing the material to crumble.
However, aesthetically, wood walls can be beautiful. Choose treated timber to give your landscape a rustic touch. This lumber variety is treated with preservatives to deter damage. Line your timber retaining wall with a gravel aggregate or plastic moisture barrier to help it last longer. Waterproofing the wall will keep it strong against pressure and prevent rot and fungus from causing deterioration.
2. Gabion Wall
A gabion retaining wall is another cost-effective option for your property.
These strong structures will add a unique touch to your landscaping.
These retaining walls consist of gabion baskets — wire containers filled with stone, concrete, or rocks. The history of gabion baskets is a testament to their strength. Ancient Egyptians used the structures to prevent flooding, and World War II soldiers used them as barricades from bomb explosions.
Consider stainless steel gabion for a modern retaining wall design. Or, choose galvanized steel gabion for a low-maintenance, rust-resistant structure.
3. Railway Tie Retaining Wall
Wooden railway ties are another inexpensive retaining wall idea for your yard.
Railway ties — also known as “sleepers” and railroad ties — are the wood planks that sit under steel train tracks.
Before they’re used, railway ties are inspected for several features like decay, holes, knots, and splits. Professionals dry and treat them with preservatives to improve the wood’s life span. These ties are “engineered to perform under heavy load conditions,” making them an excellent choice for an erosion control wall. Create a railway tie retaining wall by stacking the planks horizontally and staking them in place with rebar or steel spikes.
You can find sleepers at home improvement stores or online. If you’re lucky, you’ll find authentic ties to give your wall a touch of vintage charm.
4. Concrete Retaining Wall
Build a DIY concrete block retaining wall out of pavers for an easy landscape makeover.
Pavers work well for retaining walls less than four feet tall. I suggest doing it yourself for short retaining wall projects. For tall retaining walls with heavy weight, you may need help from a professional.
Build your paver retaining wall by stacking concrete blocks in rows to form a barrier. The key to creating a strong concrete wall is to build it on a heavily compacted base. I recommend renting compaction equipment from a home improvement store to get the job done.
If you’d like a cheaper option than concrete blocks, try a retaining wall made of poured concrete. Build a mold out of wood planks and pour concrete in to build blocks. You can use these retaining wall blocks to form a wall that looks similar to pavers.
5. Tiered Retaining Wall
Add a tiered retaining wall to your property to increase your home’s curb appeal and usable space.
Tiered walls cut into a hill or slope in a stair-like pattern, creating different levels of flat ground. They’re an excellent way to add dimension to your landscape. I recommend turning your tiered retaining walls into a multilevel garden.
Add mulch to the space between each wall to support proper drainage and create a spot suited for plant growth. Then, level up your garden space by filling each tier with flowering plants and shrubs. You can even create a stunning design with a water feature that cascades from level to level.
6. Planter Retaining Wall
A planter retaining wall is the perfect choice for those seeking enhanced garden space without a multitiered wall.
Use a small retaining wall to create a raised garden bed. The area your wall is holding back will serve as your garden space. Once you’ve built a strong retaining wall, plant flowers, shrubs, succulents, and greenery on the elevated level. Add mulch around the plants to improve soil drainage behind the wall and prevent erosion (you might want to try other alternatives to standard mulch).
Some people see the area behind a retaining wall as wasted space, but this landscaping idea turns it into an eye-catching flower bed.
7. Brick Retaining Wall
Brick is a strong, long-lasting material perfect for retaining walls.
If you’d like a classy, traditional landscape feature that can withstand pressure, I recommend building a brick retaining wall.
Bricks adhere to one another with mortar, making them a sturdier option than freestanding wall blocks. You can build a DIY brick retaining wall using the same process you would for other block walls. Ensure you compact the ground under the wall before building.
Brick walls can be pricey (around $20 per square foot), but they’re likely to last through conditions that damage other materials. In addition to its durability, brick is also low maintenance.
Use a leaf blower to remove dust, pollen, and dirt, and then rinse the surface with a watering hose. With this simple cleaning routine, your brick wall can easily last for decades.
8. Natural Stone Wall
Add a natural stone retaining wall to your property for added curb appeal and functionality.
Stacked stone is commonly used to build gravity walls through dry stacking. Dry stacking involves building a wall out of heavy stones that retain the earth with their weight, angle, and backward force.
You can choose many different materials for your rock wall. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension suggests using natural rocks that have been buried in the ground.
Flagstone, like bluestone and limestone, are optimal building materials because they form in layers that make flat, straight rock surfaces. Their even surface makes them popular materials for walkways, stepping stones, or sleek retaining walls.
Fieldstone is another option for your rock wall. These stones form in rougher, rounder shapes that work well in dry-stacked formations.
9. Stone Veneer Wall
Stone veneer is an affordable, durable option for your retaining wall design.
Masonry veneer is a thin layer of artificial brick or stone that rarely serves a structural purpose. Instead, veneer pallets are adhered to structurally sound walls to give the appearance of solid masonry.
According to the National Concrete Masonry Association, manufactured stone veneer is a durable, long-lasting option for nearly any construction project. It’s a much cheaper option than its authentic counterpart.
Refresh an existing retaining wall by resurfacing it with stone veneer to cover any stains, blemishes, and cracks on the old wall surface. You can also cover poured concrete with a layer of stone veneer for a cost-effective retaining wall design. Stone veneers give you the deluxe aesthetic of natural stone without blowing your budget.
10. Vertical Garden Wall
Improve your retaining wall’s appearance and functionality with a vertical garden wall.
Create a vertical garden by building planters or shelves into your retaining wall. Alternatively, attach hanging containers to the wall once it’s complete.
One option is to turn your wall into a vertical vegetable garden. This way, a structure that’s already reducing erosion, preventing harmful runoff, and increasing your home’s appeal can also provide you with fresh produce.
While other options on my list have been DIY-friendly, I recommend calling a pro to build your vertical garden retaining wall. The structure will need proper anchoring to restrain soil on one side and support plant containers on the other.
Final Thoughts on Retaining Walls
Whether you need to stop erosion or want to increase your outdoor living space, a retaining wall will do the trick. These versatile structures improve the functionality of your yard while increasing curb appeal.
You can use a retaining wall to utilize more space on your lawn or for decorative purposes. Depending on the material you choose to use, you may even consider building a fire pit with leftover material.
If you want a retaining wall but don’t know where to start, call a landscape engineer for the job. A pro will give you a retaining wall that improves your property and looks good. For minor projects, opt for a DIY retaining wall. These 10 retaining wall ideas help you design your dream outdoor landscape for a prettier, more functional backyard.
FAQs About Retaining Walls
What is the cheapest retaining wall to build?
DIY projects can often exceed our budgets quickly. Building the cheapest retaining wall will likely depend on local prices, material availability, and labor costs (if you need some help).
Generally, however, pressure-treated railway ties are cost-effective for shorter walls. Concrete blocks are interlocking blocks that require no mortar, saving you some money as well. Gabion walls are wire cages willed with rocks or recycles materials, and you can gather these materials locally and often for cheap.
You can use dry-stacked stone with no mortar, though this is best for short walls as well. For larger walls, consider using poured concrete as a cost-effective method to building a retaining wall. You can pour your own blocks to build a wall with, or hire professionals to come make a mold and pour a single wall of concrete.
What are some creative ideas for decorative retaining walls in a garden?
There are many creative ways to make your retaining wall both functional and decorative.
Living walls incorporate pockets for plants like succulents and can create a vertical garden effect. Mosaic designs can be used to create designs in your wall, or you could used colored materials in your gabion wall.
You can integrate LED lighting, a water feature, sculptures, or a stone mandala into your wall design. Using repurposed materials can give your wall an eclectic look, or you can use texture to enhance the wall. Another option is to build benches or ledges for seating into the wall.
Can you DIY a Retaining Wall?
You can DIY a retaining wall sometimes, but not always. You’ll need to consider the height of the wall you want to build. I recommend calling a professional for help if your wall needs to be above four feet tall.
Think about the soil conditions of the building site, the materials you are good at using, tools, and equipment you have. Additional things to consider are the time and effort you are willing to put in, cost considerations, and local regulations.
To build a retaining wall yourself, you need to plan and mark the area, dig and make a level base, and add a gravel base for drainage. Then you can start laying your first layer of material, followed by the other layers.
Make sure that your wall is level as you build it and that you include drainage behind the wall as well. Backfill with soil and compact the soil down as you go to prevent erosion.
