Building a successful landscape can prove to be quite challenging whenever there are slopes and high grades. Not only is it difficult to move around on a steep slope, but the landscape itself is actually more vulnerable than you might imagine. A retaining wall is a structure - most often masonry - that helps support a sloped landscape; but beyond its practical uses, it can actually become one of the most beautiful features of your landscape. Here’s how retaining walls can benefit a sloped backyard in the Woodhaven and Flat Rock, MI area.
Supporting the Land
Sloped landscapes are naturally predisposed to the harsh forces of erosion. The topsoil on a sloped surface is in danger of washing downstream or even being pushed away by people and animals while walking. Retaining walls have been used for thousands of years to work against these forces of erosion. They will break up the sloping and create a system that disperses the erosion energy. Rain runoff and snowmelt will be diverted to a safer place and newer walking surfaces will be created. The trees and other plant life on this sloped landscape will enjoy a much more secure and healthy existence all with the help of a retaining wall.
Creating Useful Space
When a slope is cut away to install a retaining wall, the space becomes far more usable. Retaining walls create horizontal spaces that didn’t exist in the landscape before; these spaces can be used for an extension of your patio, for a walkway that traverses the hillside, or for other landscape features such as benches, planting beds, and more. This expansion of usable space will make your outdoor living space far more versatile and visually striking.
Defining Spaces
A very large outdoor living space without clear definition as to the type of activity zone, can quickly become messy and chaotic. A retaining wall makes an excellent physical barrier that can separate spaces of use, making each one that much more special and purposeful. For example, a curved retaining wall that hugs the contours of the land can make a natural nook for a cozy fireside sitting area. Or, a straight wall that cuts across a slope can feature various built-in elements such as an outdoor fireplace, a water feature, or even the back wall of an outdoor kitchen to help maximize space and clearly define uses.
Improving Outdoor Lighting
The retaining wall can also be a sturdy support for light fixtures. This will reduce the amount of wires criss-crossing your landscape as well as vulnerable light fixtures that can be damaged by lawn mowers or snow plowing. Placing unobtrusive light fixtures into your retaining wall will be a fantastic strategy for lighting your walkways and other outdoor living spaces, making a sloped landscape much safer. It will even call attention to the beautiful textures of the wall itself - especially charming if the retaining wall is natural stone or clad with a faux stone veneer.
Relaxation and Enjoyment
Retaining walls help a sloped landscape feel more lived-in and permanent, helping to create a relaxing and welcoming feeling in visitors. The structure of the retaining wall can even be modified to provide additional seating areas. Place these seats facing a gorgeous view so you and your loved ones can enjoy a quiet spot for conversing or contemplation. Be sure to add things to your seating area that make you even more comfortable.
