Need A Retaining Wall Because Of Soil Erosion? Materials Used And Types Of Plants To Dress It Up
If you need to build a retaining wall on your property because you have soil erosion, there are different materials that can be used. Once the retaining wall is built, there are also ways you can dress it up to make it look beautiful, one of which is using plants. Keep reading to learn much more about this.
Retaining Wall Materials
Concrete blocks can be used to build a retaining wall if it is not very tall. One benefit of using concrete blocks is you can create a curved retaining wall. Because this retaining wall cannot be tall, footings are not used. This may affect the strength of the wall so it may not last as long for you.
Stone veneer is another material that can be used. If you choose this, you should hire a contractor or landscape architect to install it for you because it must be well designed. You can use stone veneer to create any look that you want, and the stone looks natural. You can find stone veneer in a variety of colors and styles. If you want all the stone to match, make sure you purchase enough stone at the same time.
Poured concrete can be used but must be done by a professional with experience to ensure the wall is formed correctly. There are a variety of options when it comes to design but one thing to consider is concrete can crack. This type of wall looks great with modern landscaping.
Brick is often used to make retaining walls. Brick is a durable and strong material and looks great if you have a brick home or traditional landscaping. Drainage must be provided if you choose a brick retaining wall, but you can expect this wall to last a very long time.
Use Plants to Dress Up the Retaining Wall
Once the wall is constructed, there are many things you can do to dress it up. You could plant cascading plants that over time may even cover the entire wall. You can place planters atop the retaining wall and plant morning glories that will cascade down. Morning glories have beautiful purple flowers. The Chinese trumpet creeper also works well and has peach-colored flowers that look like trumpets. The Virginia creeper is another type of cascading plant that has large, green leaves that turn into beautiful fall colors when fall arrives.
Plant flowers in front of the retaining wall. You could plant a few rose bushes that you can train to climb up a wall or hydrangea bushes to provide big, beautiful blooms. Plant some annuals along the front of the wall to give pops of colors. Create a small gardening area in front of the retaining wall and place flowering plants in.
Talk with the contractor that installs your retaining wall and they can help you choose the best material to use.
For more information, contact a company like Quality Lawn & Landscape