A retaining wall is designed to help keep soil in place, preventing erosion and mudslides. Typically, they’re used along driveways and on the sides of roads to keep soil from washing away. Because they usually don’t follow curves, most people assume that you can’t build a stone retaining wall around a corner—but you can! Below, we’ll walk through the steps for building a corner with block-based landscaping materials.
When building a retaining wall on a corner, use the same building methods used to build a straight wall.
When building a retaining wall on a corner, use the same building methods used to build a straight wall. Use the same materials and tools that you would when constructing straight walls. If you are working with landscaping blocks and using them to build your corner retaining wall, then it is important that they are laid out in the same way as they would be laid out if they were being used for a straight wall.
If you have decided to use cinderblocks instead of landscaping blocks, then it is important that these are placed in exactly the same manner as for any other type of block or brick retaining wall construction project. You will need to make sure that each row of blocks overlaps by at least one half inch with each consecutive row after it has been laid down so as not to leave any gaps between rows where water could enter and cause erosion or damage to your brand new retaining wall structure over time.
Level the ground slightly higher where the wall meets the existing soil.
To make sure your wall is at the right height, you need to level the ground just outside where it will be attached to the existing soil. This can be done with a shovel, but if you have access to a large enough flat surface, use that instead. First, measure how high your wall will sit in relation to its surroundings by using a tape measure or level tool. Once you have this measurement for each corner of your future garden area (including where it meets up with existing soil), use a marker to mark this height on the ground around where each corner should go.
Next, use your shovel or other leveling tool and gently scrape away any dirt that might be above these markings so that only dirt below them remains visible. Take care not to disturb too much surrounding dirt during this process; just remove enough so that none of those areas are higher than where they should be when finished building up later on.
Level each block as you stack it.
- The first step is to level each block as you stack them. You can use a string line, laser level, carpenter’s level, or plumb bob to check your work.
- The second step is to adjust the corner once the foundation is laid and filled in with dirt.
Place additional blocks on top of and at both ends of the block you just set to help support it.
Next, use a level to check that the block is level. If it isn’t, reposition it so that the top of your block sits squarely on top of the grass. Then place additional blocks on top and at both ends of this one to help support it.
By now, you’ve probably realized that if you don’t have enough blocks to finish creating your wall in one go, you’ll need some kind of plan for how to keep track of where you left off when returning later with more materials. The easiest method is simply marking each row with stakes as you create it—which will be especially helpful if there are any shifts or funny angles along the way (and there almost always are). You can also secure pieces together by drilling holes into adjoining ends and inserting bolts through them; however, this option requires tools not included in most landscaping block kits (though they should be easy enough to purchase separately). Once all your rows are complete and secured with bolts (if necessary), fill any gaps between walls with gravel or stones before moving onto drainage systems (more detail on which coming soon).
Backfill soil between the blocks and against each side of the wall.
Backfill soil between the blocks and against each side of the wall. This will help support it, prevent soil erosion and make a more stable structure.
When backfilling, continuously check the level of your blocks by placing your level on top of them in different spots.
As you backfill, it is important to check the level of each block. To do this, place your level on top of them in different spots. Also, check the wall as you build it and then again after it is complete. Finally, after backfilling is complete and everything has settled for a few days, re-check the level of your wall one last time before planting anything in front of it.
Water down your soil after placing each block to create cohesion around it.
Watering down your soil after placing each block will create cohesion around it, making the corner more stable. You don’t want to over-water your soil because this will cause it to settle and compact, but you also don’t want to under-water it or else it won’t stick together well enough. The key is to add just enough water so that the blocks are damp when placed in position. If you live in a dry climate, watering down the soil can be a challenge; however, if you have rain barrels available or access to municipal water during wet seasons (such as spring and fall), this shouldn’t be too much of an issue.
Once all four sides of your retaining wall have been laid out and connected with landscaping blocks, fill in any gaps with soil until everything is level again — just like when building a garden path! It’s important not only for aesthetic reasons but also for stability: if there are large gaps between retaining walls where water can collect after rainstorms or melting snow runoff, those areas could shift over time which would eventually cause instability throughout the entire structure. Once again remember not only how high up these should go vertically but also how far out horizontally they must extend beyond existing fences etcetera so they don’t get damaged by plant growth over time while still providing adequate support underneath them at crucial points (such as corners).
You can create a corner for your retaining wall using landscaping blocks.
When you build a retaining wall, you will want to consider adding a corner. A corner is where two walls meet, and it creates an enclosed space for your landscaping block. You can create this space by placing the blocks diagonally across from each other and then covering them with dirt or mulch. This will make sure that there are no gaps in your wall that could cause water damage to your home.
If you have any gaps in between the blocks of your retaining wall, they could potentially lead to problems such as water damage and erosion over time. This is because rainwater can get into these open spaces and cause erosion and leakage through cracks or small holes in your retaining wall structure
Conclusion
Building a retaining wall using landscaping blocks can be a great way to add structure and definition to your yard. Whether you’re building on a corner or straight along the ground, using landscaping blocks is an inexpensive and easy way to complete such projects.
