A garden retaining wall is a structure built to hold back soil and prevent landslides. Essentially the wall is meant to retain the soil- by holding it back on a sloping ground. Garden retaining walls make slope more usable as they allow for creation of level areas. While a slope can still be landscaped into a garden, a level ground gives you more options as what to plant and how you can use the garden. Equally important, a garden retaining wall serves both functional and aesthetic purposes; helping to prevent soil erosion, manage water flow and enhance the garden appeal.
Importance of garden retailing walls
You are lucky if your garden does not slope sharply. However even if it does, you can make your garden more interesting by adding a retaining wall. Here are 7 reasons why you should have a garden retaining wall.
Creating usable space
A garden with a steep incline limits the activities the garden can be used for. Children can’t play on a slope, neither will it be ideal to entertain here. A retaining wall will make the ground relatively level, enabling play areas, alfresco dining and seating areas. You cannot cultivate vegetables on a steep slope . However a retaining wall will enable you to create space for a vegetable patch.
Erosion control
A slope has the disadvantage of water run off that erodes away soil during heavy rains. A terraced garden holds ground best, preventing soil from being washed away or landslide occurring.
Improving drainage
Retaining wall can be built with breathers that direct and uniformly release water away from foundations or sections of the garden. This prevents damage to the foundation and water logging
Supporting other structures
Garden features like walkways, patios, gazebos and driveways are supported by retaining walls when done on a slope. Often decks and patios will be supported by retaining walls.
Adding privacy
If you live in densely populated cities like Nairobi, Mumbai and Los Angeles, tall retaining walls come in handy both as security and for privacy.
Enhancing aesthetics
The aesthetic appeal of the garden is enhanced when a well-designed garden retaining wall is used. I am always taken in by curvy retaining walls on a slope. The contouring is very appealing to the eye-making the wall an ornamental garden feature on its own.
Raised property values
The property value of your home will be raised significantly when a retaining wall is part of the bargain. You have made the garden more usable and therefore raised the functionality and aesthetic of the property which generates an added benefit.
Types of garden retaining walls
Stone retaining walls
These are re-known for their durability when well installed. Depending on your locality stones can be cheap. Easy to work and adapted to rhyme with the rest of the home in color scheme. Tall retaining walls are usually built by stones.
Brick retaining walls
Most brick retaining walls are usually short and highly decorative. Besides their decorative appeal, brick walls are also cheap, easy to lay and easily fit into the color scheme of the home
Wood retaining walls
Wood gives a very natural earthly look. It is also cost effective. However it requires regular maintenance like varnishing to preserve it. Normally wood retaining walls are short.
Metal retaining walls
Metal has the effect of giving off a modern appearance. Itskey advantage is that it is highly durable and withstand corrosion
Whichever type of garden retaining wall you go for, you can be certain that it will enhance your outdoor living experience. Whereas it may seem costly initially, it nevertheless compensates for its cost by the numerous added benefits that make the garden widely useable.
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