Natural rock retaining wall...

[JerryK]

Got most of my retaining wall project done. Still need to figure out what I want to do to the top, and if I want to 'chink' it with redwood chips. Started with a 4-6" deep trench and a row of larger rocks on the bottom, with the top layers leaning into the hill some. Backfilled and packed down the dirt by driving over it with a JD 420 garden tractor that is about 1000 pounds. The wall is about 30" tall at the tallest spot. Was thinking of doing it with preformed blocks, but ended up just using rocks off the property. Big rocks moved with a set of QA forks, with final position on some of them using the backhoe and nylon straps/chains.... LOT's OF FUN MOVING ROCKS.... !!!!

 

[DKCDKC]

Looks good. I'm about to do the same thing here in Virginia. But the rocks are jagged and irregular. I'll be a real puzzle to get them to fit together.

 

[JerryK]

Looks good. I'm about to do the same thing here in Virginia. But the rocks are jagged and irregular. I'll be a real puzzle to get them to fit together.

It's kind of like doing a puzzle that is all white. You get a feeling for what will fit where, go get it, flip it every which way, toss it down, go get another, repeat..... over and over and over...... Then, after you are done with a section, decide that is not good enough, tear it down, and start over..... Excellent exercise and leather glove test ....

 

[Thomas]

Looking good..flowers or greens,better than diging hole or pushing stones down bank.

 

[Bob77064]

Good job.

 

[crbr]

Thanks for the pictures

 

[kootch88]

Looks great. I hope the frost doesn't raise **** with it though.

 

[cycle_gator]

What does the wall retain fill for? I built a similar wall, shorter and not as long to level out an area for my fire pit. I used small jagged rock chips to chink it. Photos to follow.

 

[Groo]

My Dad did tons of those growing up. He always mortared the rocks as he placed them.

 

[JerryK]

What does the wall retain fill for? I built a similar wall, shorter and not as long to level out an area for my fire pit. I used small jagged rock chips to chink it. Photos to follow.

There is a big sugar maple at the top of the slope, and the slope was steep enough that you had to sit sidesadle on your mower when you mowed. The wheels of the mower degrade the slope/grass, and this wall will allow me maybe to save the big sugar maple. And maybe be able to go to a larger riding mower someday or ZeroTurn .... Besides, I had all these rocks.... and.....