How to Use a Retaining Wall to Maximise Usable Space in Your Garden
A sloped garden has character – or, at least that’s what we tell ourselves when we’re 10 viewings deep into a house search, and finally ready to compromise on some of those ‘non-negotiables’ we started the search with. We all know that it’s less than ideal, whether you want a manicured lawn with carefully designed flower beds, or a space for the kids to run around on with a football on summer afternoons, a sloped garden doesn’t really lend itself to…well…anything. Sheds, summer houses, swing sets, footballs, picnics…nothing really suits a garden that is three metres higher at the boundary than it is at the back door.
Whatever you want your garden for, the slope creates a significant amount of space you’ll never be able to use. It’s hard to mow, to plant, to lounge. The slope is interesting until it becomes inconvenient. That’s usually within about a month of moving in.
There are plenty of options available to you – some far more disruptive and expensive than others. For some homeowners, creating a garden that is split over multiple levels and turning that slope into a series of deep steps, all with a different purpose, is the best option. For others, utilising a retaining wall is more convenient and cost-effective.
Here’s what you need to know about retaining walls in your garden.
What retaining walls actually do
A retaining wall holds back earth on one side, which lets you cut into a slope and create a level platform on the other side. That platform becomes usable land, protected by a wall that literally holds the earth on the other side back – a little like a dam, but for earth instead of water.
From there, you can create a terrace, a lawn, a kitchen garden, or simply a flat section that makes the rest of the garden more manageable. How deep you cut into the land will effect how high the wall needs to be, and what load it’s expected to carry.
Concrete is the best option for retaining walls. It’s versatile, can be cast to a high degree of precision that accommodates the unique needs of your site, and it’s also incredibly strong and durable. It will bear a lot of weight, so opting for something that can actually withstand that much pressure is absolutely essential.
Once the retained height starts climbing past around a metre, or the ground behind the wall is carrying significant weight, the engineering requirements shift. Cantilever retaining walls are suited to this range because they use the weight of the retained earth to provide stability, which means they can handle greater heights and loads without needing the same mass a gravity wall would require. They are also very easy for the manufacturer to install, since the modules can fit together without the need for drilling or fixings.
How many levels?
A lot of people want to opt for one single level cut into the earth, but there’s also the option of using precast concrete retaining walls to create several defined levels rather than one large terrace.
This tiered approach also lets you manage the cost over time: the lower wall nearest the house is often the most substantial piece of work, and building it first means the upper levels can follow when budget allows.
