The Benefits of Retaining Walls
Retaining walls are a common sight on homebuilding sites and in landscape design. They’re used to hold back earth and prevent erosion, but they also serve other purposes, like providing privacy or enhancing the appearance of a yard. While retaining walls are not complicated structures, they do require careful planning and installation so that they don’t cause problems down the road. In this article, we will discuss some of the benefits of retaining walls so you can decide if one would be right for your property!
What are retaining walls?
You’re probably familiar with the concept of a retaining wall. These structures are used to hold soil in place, preventing erosion and keeping hillsides from sliding down. Retaining walls can also function as decorative pieces, giving your property a fun and interesting look while also solving some of your landscaping problems.
Retaining walls are most often made of concrete or brick, but they can also be constructed using wood or stone. Concrete is the most popular choice because it’s strong and durable enough to withstand heavy rainstorms and prolonged exposure to the elements without breaking down over time. The downside is that a concrete wall may not be as attractive as other materials would be if you want a more natural-looking effect on your property. However, concrete has its advantages too: it’s cost-effective and easy to install once all necessary permits have been obtained.
Retaining walls are also great for adding value to your home. Not only does it make the property more attractive, but it can also be used to hide unsightly things like air conditioning units, rubbish bins, or anything else that you don’t want to see from the street.
Some good uses for retaining walls:
- A retaining wall is a perfect way to create a garden bed that is attractive and low maintenance. Retaining walls can be used to plant flowers, shrubs, and other plants together in one place. They will grow together to form an attractive garden bed while they benefit from the soil retained by your retaining wall.
- Another benefit of retaining walls is that they can be used as seating. Incorporate benches into the design or use stone pavers where the wall meets grass!
- When designing your retaining wall, don’t forget to consider how it will connect with your lawn and other landscaping features. You may want to add a low wall alongside the garden area for easy access from one side of your yard to another. Or build a terrace overtop of your retaining wall for an elegant look that doubles as extra space for entertaining guests outside!
- While a retaining wall can be used to hide many types of eyesores, it’s best known for its ability to effectively hide air conditioning units. If you’ve got an unsightly unit sitting off in your yard somewhere, consider installing a retaining wall around it so that it won’t be visible from any angle. A simple block or stone structure will do the trick nicely!
- Another popular way people use retaining walls is as a means of hiding ugly trees grown with no regard for aesthetics or landscaping trends in mind. Tall bushes and trees might look cool from afar but up close, they’re an eyesore! Luckily there’s one surefire way we’ve found works every time: install an attractive-looking retaining wall around those pesky plants so no one ever has to see them again.
With so many benefits to retaining walls, it’s time to consider installing one in your garden. They’re not only a great way to enhance your property but they can also help prevent erosion and are easy to maintain. So, if you’ve been thinking about putting up some new walls in your garden, then get out there and do it or better yet contact the experts at Fishtail landscaping.