7 (BEST) Retaining Wall Ideas for Sloped Backyard | Definition & Uses of a Retaining Wall
What is a Retaining Wall? Retaining Wall Ideas for Sloped Backyard | Uses of a Retaining Wall | Cheapest Retaining Wall
Have you ever walked around the corner of your home and found that it’s too easy for water to soil the side yard? What options do you have for preventing this problem?
One option is a retaining wall. If you are looking for ideas on how to build a retaining wall, read this article.
What is a Retaining Wall?
A retaining wall is a structure that’s built to support the soil behind it, so you can have a sloped front yard. There are many different types of retaining walls, but one common type is called the “dry-stack” or “low-profile” wall
Dry stack walls are made from concrete blocks stacked on top of each other and held together with mortar. Low profile retaining walls consist of concrete blocks that are set in courses like bricks and mortared together at their joints
Another option for creating a sloped front yard is to install an artificial turf lawn where it meets your home’s foundation
This would be more expensive than dry stacking or low-profile walls, but you may not need any additional landscaping work done since there will be no dirt visible underneath the turf
Uses of Retaining Wall
A retaining wall is an exterior structure made up of stones, concrete blocks, or other building materials that holds back earth or any other loose material. Retaining walls help construct a landscape and separate areas of a yard.
This can sometimes be used as a garden wall or for dividing property lines. Retaining walls are also used to grow plants in your garden. Retaining walls are not cheap, but they can create an attractive look to your yard.
When building retaining walls, you should consider the height and style of the structure that you want to build because some are more expensive than others.
The cost of retaining walls are usually determined by the height and style you want for your wall. The width of the wall is not really a factor in the price.
Retaining Wall Ideas for Sloped Backyard
Here are ideas for retaining walls in the sloped backyard.
1. Create Raised Garden Beds or Borders
Creating a raised garden bed or a border is a great idea to add height and beauty to your yard. A raised bed can be built in front of a fence to keep the grass out of the flower beds.
A raised bed in your yard that grows plants like tomatoes is also a great idea because you can grow tomatoes with less risk of disease and less tillage.
You draw the lines how high you want your bed, then add soil and plants below it.
2. Create an Island Flower Bed
Making a flower bed island in the sloped backyard is an idea that will make your yard stand out.
This is a great way to create a new section of flowers in your yard without disturbing the rest of it. You can also build a border around the island to keep it in place.
3. Build a Raised Strip Footpath
A raised strip footpath is an easy way to divide the grass and make a path to get from one place to another without walking on the grass.
You can build the path with rocks or bricks depending on the outside of your property.
Prune the branches of other trees to create a path in your yard, you can also add a border around the two sides of the path.
4. Create a Rockstone Retaining Wall
A rockstone retaining wall is a good idea for making an attractive feature in your yard. The wall is composed of round rocks that make the walls appear natural and not artificial.
The rockstone retaining wall works great for adding a focal point in your yard. You can have the walls go up to as much as 6 feet.
5. Combine a Retaining Wall and Water Feature
The combination of a retaining wall and a water feature is something that will make your yard stand out.
You can build small fountains or ponds on the wall and have them lead to an in-ground pool.
6. Build an Arc or Semi-Circle Retaining Wall
An arc retaining wall is the best retaining wall for creating a garden space on an angle.
The wall will curve around your yard with walls on each end and flat surfaces in the middle of the curve. You can also have stone or bricks for edges around the inside of the arch.
An arc or semi-circle retaining wall is a great way to add more beauty to your yard. The arc will curve around the backyard with flat surfaces on the side and back of the wall.
You will need to add concrete, stone, or bricks around the inside of the curve to hold up the wall.
7. Build a Tunnel Retaining Wall
A tunnel retaining wall is one of the easiest ways to keep your side yard from becoming a water hazard.
You can build a tunnel under your property and then use rocks, bricks, etc. for sides and back of the wall.
8. Build a Raised Patio
A raised patio is a great idea for your front yard. You can build the patio in the shape of a circle and have rocks or bricks edge it.
The stones or bricks will keep the dirt from falling off the sides while also adding beauty to your yard.
9. Build a Slope Behind Your House
The slope behind your house can provide a nice place to go for a walk, but it needs to be well-maintained so you don’t slip on grass or get something caught on your feet.
If you don’t build a retaining wall, a slope can also be a footpath that leads to the house.
10. Turn a Sloping Lawn into a Flat Grass Area
Turning a sloping lawn into a flat grass area is an easy way to create a flat area in your yard.
Just dig out the ground until it is the desired height and then fill it with dirt or rocks. You can also build walls around the area to make it more attractive.
11. Create a Fenceless Garden Bed
The fenceless garden bed is the best idea for using many small pieces of land in your yard.
You can create one garden bed in between each fence post to keep your yard looking natural and not artificial.
12. Create a Landscape with Trees and Plants
If you are looking for ideas on how to plant a garden, then this is an idea that is worth considering.
Creating a landscape using trees and plants is the cheapest way to add height and beauty to your yard.
13. Build a Backyard Shed Out of a Retaining Wall
A backyard shed built with retaining walls is a great idea for storing tools and other items.
The shed will cost more than a traditional shed, but the materials are cheaper and the structure is better built.
14. Build a Greenhouse wall
A greenhouse can be an inexpensive and simple way to create a new garden area in your yard. If you have the right number of windows, you can grow plants like herbs or tomatoes or even just those cute pineapples out of doors on your patio.
Steps and Ideas to Building Retaining Wall for Sloped Backyard
- Plan Your Retaining Wall
- Select the Type of Materials You Want to Use
- Prepare Your Site Properly
- Excavate the Area for Your Wall
- Design and Build Your Wall
- Build a Stairway in Your Wall
- Install Windows in Your Retaining Wall
- Build a Walkway on Top of Your Retaining Wall
- Decorate the Top of Your Box Retaining Wall with Plants
- Add a Frost Wall to Prevent Damage from Frost Heaves and Thawing Frozen Soil
- Add a Drainage Channel at the Bottom of Your Retaining Wall to Keep Water at Bay and Out of Your Yard and Garden Bed or Vegetable Garden
- Prevent Damage and Soil Erosion with a Snow Fence Retaining Wall
- Use a Raised Water Garden to Incorporate a Retaining Wall and Water Garden
- Use Edging for Your Lawn to Make it Easy to Maintain
- Build an A-Frame Retaining Wall with Rebar and Concrete
- Build an A-Frame Trellis with Rebar and Concrete
- Build a Backyard Shed Out of a Retaining Wall
- Build a Sizeable Rock Garden Retaining Wall with Concrete, Rocks, and Gravel
- Use Commercial Hardware to Build Your Wall
- Create a Log Retaining Wall with Logs Laid in the Bed of Landscape Fabric and Concrete
- Use Large Paver Blocks to Create an Attractive Rock Paver Stone Retaining Wall That is Also Easy To Build
- Build a Rock Retaining Wall in Your Yard or Garden Bed to Separate Gardens
- Build a Stone Retaining Wall with Concrete Blocks and Crushed Gravel
- Build a Concrete Block Retaining Wall with Blocks, Concrete, and Sand
- Build a Stone Retaining Wall with Blocks and Paver Stone
- Create a Flower Bed that Looks Like Stone with Flower Beds Made from Paver Rocks
Sloped Front Yard FAQs
1. What do you do with a sloped front yard?
A sloped front yard is going to be challenging if you want to do any gardening. If you have a sloped front yard then your choices will be limited to gardens that are near the house or large pots on the patio.
2. How to increase the size of a sloped backyard?
A sloped backyard is going to require some creativity in order to maximize space.
You can use a foundation for your home and build up from there with retaining walls, etc. You can also make a patio out of the slope with a retaining wall around it.
3. What are some ideas for covering a sloped backyard?
A sloped backyard is going to require some creative solutions to cover it up. The usual answer in this situation is to use a thick mesh material so that your plants don’t fall out of the pots and onto the ground. You can also add more plants on top of the retaining walls, there is always something that can be used for cover.
4. How do you build a retaining wall on a sloped yard?
A retaining wall on a sloped yard is going to need to be designed properly. The wall will need to be angled properly so water doesn’t collect on top or at the bottom.
You may also want to make sure that the walls aren’t close enough that someone can climb up them and fall off the slope.
This kind of design is going to require some creativity and a lot of work, but it can be done if there is enough space for it.
5.What is the cheapest type of retaining wall?
The cheapest type of retaining wall is going to be masonry or wooden one. It will need to be framed with treated lumber and then finished with stain, paint, etc.
You may not even need to build it at all and you can just use bricks or rocks to build your retaining wall.
- What is the easiest retaining wall to build?
The easiest retaining wall to build is going to be a retaining wall made out of stones. You can buy stone walls at many home stores and then just knock them into a retaining wall. It won’t take much to make a retaining wall for your sloped yard.
7. Can you put a retaining wall on top of patio pavers?
You can put a retaining wall on top of patio pavers, but you need to do it carefully or else you will damage the pavers underneath the layer of dirt and mulch.
You can also build a patio on top of the retaining wall to add more seating in your yard.
8. Can you use a retaining wall on top of a slope?
You can use a retaining wall at the top of a slope, but you need to make sure that it is built right. You need to make sure that the first few feet are at ground level so you don’t damage window wells below or decks above.
9. Do I need to lay a foundation for a retaining wall?
You don’t need to lay a foundation for a retaining wall if you are building it using stones or bricks. You do, however, need to do this if you plan on building it with materials like cinder blocks or you want it to be heavy duty.
10. What is the cost of concrete blocks?
The cost of concrete blocks varies depending on the size that you buy and where you buy them at. You can find them for as little as $1 a block and no more than $3 a block. The cost of concrete blocks should be less than taking out an old retaining wall.
11. What is the cost of bricks?
The cost of bricks varies depending on the size that you buy and where you buy them at. You can find them for as little as $0.6 a brick and no more than $2 a brick. The cost of bricks should be less than taking out an old retaining wall.
12. What are some retaining wall ideas for sloped front yard?
Some retaining wall ideas for a sloped front yard are going to have to be creative. Things that will work are planters, tips, etc. You can also add plants to the top of the retaining wall so you can add food or flowers right into your front yard.
These are some ideas:
- Install a retaining wall to help keep the front yard level
- Create a garden that slopes downward in an attractive way
- Plant grasses or flowers on sloping ground for interest and color
- Add boulders, rocks, or plants to add texture
- Build steps up from the slope so you can still walk there comfortably
- Use plants like ivy as climbing vines along your retaining wall to make it more natural looking
- Consider a dry-stack stone wall
- Reclaimed wood and metal panels are great for decorating the front of your home
- A brick or stone veneer can be installed on an existing concrete slab to create a level surface
- Stone steps leading up to the front door is another option for sloped yards
Be creative and think outside the box – there may be something you haven’t considered that would work perfectly in your yard!
