Building a retaining wall...by hand.

[Egon]

An ex backyard garden!

Have you considered terracing the retaining walls making room for things like flowers etc. so there will be a little more ongoing maintenance work to keep you looking slim and trim?

Might be less manual labour to install??

 

[N80]

Have you considered terracing the retaining walls making room for things like flowers etc. so there will be a little more ongoing maintenance work to keep you looking slim and trim?

Might be less manual labour to install??

I had not thought about it. I think it would be more labor, not less. But, I think from an engineering/structural standpoint that it might be a good idea. If it is terraced out a few steps the base will be wider and wall heights lower. Will definitely think about that, especially for the top terrace which would be the tallest.

 

[RobertN]

My wife does garden/yard design and consulting. If there is someone in your area, you might think about that; they may have some good idea's, and resources. Sometimes you would be surprised at the plants, colors, wall types they may recommend.

You might also look in to what the local Master Gardeners have going. they frequently offer free classes, and sometimes consultation( lots of consultations in the office...). My wife is in that program; it is an awesome resource. It is country wide in the US, and similar programs are in Canada.

I had not thought about it. I think it would be more labor, not less. But, I think from an engineering/structural standpoint that it might be a good idea. If it is terraced out a few steps the base will be wider and wall heights lower. Will definitely think about that, especially for the top terrace which would be the tallest.

 

[scoutcub]

Yes....that's a lot of work! These blocks are about 60lbs each. This is my retaining wall that was already installed when I bought the house. I had 5 pallets of retaining blocks that I had to move around a few times before I extended the walls around the garage.

What I've found out with retaining walls.....

To do it so it will last a lifetime, use the actual retaining wall blocks. They will not move if properly installed. They have a lip on the back that locks them together and has a setback for each row. The material goes in the middle of the row set back into the bank. The blocks are filled with gravel, and also backfilled with gravel behind the wall for drainage. And, a plastic drain line along the length of the wall. The caps are actually glued in place with landscape block adhesive.
Now granted, this wall is 60' long, and over 6' tall, so it needs to be built to last.

hope this helps!

 

[scoutcub]

I almost forgot the most important part, as someone else already said....the base. We we used 303 rock base, well compacted. The base is the key to a long lasting, even, straight wall.

Good luck!

 

[MarkV]

George I would sure be trying to find a way to access the area with a skid steer or maybe one of the walk behind units like the Toro Dingo. You are going to have hundreds of 60 pound blocks to move and an unbelievable amount of gravel fill to move. Your a better man than I taking that on by hand and wheelbarrow.

MarkV

 

[arrow]

Where we purchased the block gave complete writtrn and illustrated instructions on how to construct the wall. Once the first level was put down, it went very fast. These are the pin type and the blocks were purchased from a masonry/cement store where they made these blocks.
Its been 3 years and these haven't moved.

 

[hr3]

Why is the OP doing it by hand,, He has a tractor right..

 

[N80]

Why is the OP doing it by hand,, He has a tractor right..

The OP's tractor sits on a 237 acre tract of land in the country. The OP's backyard is in the middle of downtown in a small city.

As far as moving material, I can have blocks and gravel set down at the end of the driveway. From there it would have to be hauled maybe 30-40 feet, slightly down hill fortunately. But yes, a small (tiny) skid steer would help, or one of those walk behind deals. But rental costs add up fast and so it would have to be rented for maybe a couple of days at a critical time, maybe after the base and first course are laid.

 

[N80]

You might also look in to what the local Master Gardeners have going. they frequently offer free classes, and sometimes consultation( lots of consultations in the office...). My wife is in that program; it is an awesome resource. It is country wide in the US, and similar programs are in Canada.

Thanks Robert, that's kind of what has us thinking about this. We have a neighbor who is a Master Gardener and there is a city garden one block away that is tended by Master Gardeners. They have already volunteered their services in hopes that we could get the garden up to snuff to be part of the city garden tour. I can hardly imagine that. First, because it is so over run and formless right now and second, I can't imagine what this is likely to cost me over time.

I'm kind of thinking it is a hobby I might ought to avoid.....kind of like tractors, photography, RC trucks, sports cars........:laughing: