It may come as a surprise, but a retaining wall can be one of the most useful and beautiful structures in a landscape. In a very true sense, a retaining wall will support a great deal of the landscape itself. It can also enhance the flow and size of the outdoor living spaces. Before you get started on your landscape redesign this spring, check out the six ways retaining walls can be multipurpose in Trenton and New Boston, MI.
Related: HOW RETAINING WALLS CAN BENEFIT A SLOPED BACKYARD IN THE WOODHAVEN AND FLAT ROCK, MI, AREA
Supporting the Landscape
The primary function of a retaining wall is to, quite literally, hold back the earth. On a landscape with any kind of slope, the natural tendency will be for gravity to take over. On raw land, erosion is normal, but it’s the last thing you want close to your home or outdoor living spaces. A well-built retaining wall will prevent landscape erosion and preserve the integrity of your landscape for decades to come.
Showcasing Masonry
The face of the retaining wall can be the perfect opportunity to show off masterful masonry techniques and create vertical interest. A retaining wall should complement the home as well as vertical and horizontal surfaces on your patio. Again, it’s an opportunity waiting for creative expression! It can be embellished with accents that help integrate it into the design.
After dark, the wall can become a focal point. Light fixtures embedded into the masonry and pointed directly up or down will highlight the textures of the wall with dramatic effect.
A Place for Features
Integrate a fountain or fire feature into the retaining wall. The effect will be much like an outdoor living room - except the view will include billions of stars overhead!
Expanding Outdoor Living Spaces
When a vertical retaining wall is built on a slope, it will create additional usable space. It can make your outdoor living space feel much larger, even without expanding your property boundaries.
The expanded space can mean a larger patio with a brand new hot tub; a cozy fire pit nook surrounded by seating built right into the retaining wall; a new outdoor kitchen that integrates the back wall; or, a more practical walkway or a more spacious driveway and parking area. Beyond just holding back the earth, a retaining wall can actually hold up a better outdoor lifestyle!
Defining Spaces
Between dining outdoors, lounging with friends, gardening, enjoying the pool, gathering around the fire, and more, each activity deserves its own space. The largest patios may feel grand and expansive, but it’s surprisingly easy for a patio to become cluttered if there is no clear definition of space - and more importantly, the kinds of activities that take place in each space. Use a retaining wall to define each space, effectively creating a series of outdoor rooms. For example, utilizing the corner of the patio to create a dining area could mean adding a seat wall (preferably with a high back for comfort) to both define the corner and the dining space. The use of retaining walls on the patio itself can make the space feel more permanent and intentional.
Easier Gardening
What can be better than tending plants that are at a more comfortable level? When tucked behind a seat-height or even a four-foot retaining wall, your plants will be easier to reach - and if you’re growing fragrant plants, the delightful aromas will be much closer to the nose.
