DLG Retaining Walls

With over two decades of experience as a full service landscape contractor in Minnesota, Douglas Larson Gardens has become a perennial choice for those that seek "Affordable Excellence".
A project installed by DLG is always one of quality, creativity and lasting beauty that adds to your enjoyment of life as well as to the value and functionality of your property. Our landscapes are naturally unique, with personalities that befriend their surroundings and compliment local topography. Our knowledge and experience, coupled with that of industry affiliates when needed, gives us a range of skills and services that can see any size project to a timely and satisfactory completion.

We offer free, on-site initial consultations. Call us Today to schedule yours. (612) 702-3569

Retaining Walls

This slope, steep as it is, will be retained with plantings

  The three main things that I tend to point out to clients regarding retaining walls is that they are not always necessary, they can be quite costly and there are often other options. Typically people believe that if they have a steep slope somewhere on their property that it needs to be contained or else it may collapse and damage surrounding structures or even worse, cause injury to someone. The fact is that most slopes are held together quite well by root systems from trees and plants that make their home on a slope. In addition, even freshly placed soils on existing or newly formed slopes can be managed by the introduction of erosion control type plants.

A low wall for seperation
 

When steep slopes end at a border such as a driveway, sidewalk or lawn, consider installing a low wall made of stone, timbers or boulders that is just high enough to be visible through your cars rear view mirror or at a height comfortable for sitting. This approach can cut your cost of a retaining wall by 50-80% allowing you to either use more costly and elegant materials and/or to focus more on your hillside planting budget.

  If you're at the point where you have your heart set on adding a retaining wall but you are sure that you don't want it to overpower it's surroundings such as the one shown below, try terracing.

Too big-will fail

Terraced walls can provide space for plantings, vegetable gardens or other more functional uses such as patio's or walkways. Terracing breaks up the visual impact that a large wall may impose on its surroundings. It can also reduce the need for back-fill soils as the walls are installed only as high as the grade demands at each interval. In addition to these benefits, terraced walls tend to be more stable, cost efficient, safer and also easier to repair.
To decrease the amount of retainment material that you'll use, you can also slope soils between walls.


Boulder Walls

Terraced walls are beautiful






 

Boulder walls are the most common retaining wall installed today. Boulders are everywhere and easily attainable. The application of their use compliments our natural topography and balances well with most types of home construction. Boulder walls are stable when properly installed but can be subject to erosion by heavy rains.
Because boulders are all different in size and shape, boulder walls are built more as a puzzle than as a pattern.  Although boulders within a wall are connected together in a limited way, they are not as durable in their construction as that of a modular block wall.

Modular Block Walls

Modular blocks are solid concrete blocks that interlock with one another through overlapping and alternating seams while using built-in mechanisms such as lips and protusions or external mechanisms such as pins and clips to lock them together and secure them in place. Modular blocks come in different heights, lengths and styles. The latest technology in modular block development has been in the use of colors, facia textures, patterns (such as ashlar) and freestanding wall blocks that have two or more outward facing sides. The height of the wall determines the size of the block needed.

Modular walls are very stable and durable when properly constructed. The recent introduction of resins and fibers to the concrete mixture has added to the longevity of modular blocks as compared with the introductory product models of the1980's.
Modular blocks are priced to be a mid range choice for retaining wall applications. Because of the advancements in modular block technology and its ever increasing popularity due to its resemblence to natural stone, modular block has found a permanent place within the landscape construction industry.

Ashlar Pattern

Douglas Larson Gardens uses brands such as Belgard, Anchor, Interlock and Rockwood in it's applications. A well-constructed retaining wall should have a deep, well compacted base and good drainage.
With the advent of the multi-faced block has come the pillar block. Pillars are quite easy to assemble and can also be affixed with lighting or used as footings for posts in the construction of pergolas and arbors.

Natural Stone Walls

Natural stone walls differ from boulders in that they are sedimentary stones rather than glacial. These natural stones such as limestone, bluestone and sandstones are harvested out of quarries in Minnesota, Wisconsin and New York.  Most natural stone types come in flagstone (thickness less than 3") which is used for patio's and other flooring applications and block stone, which is used for constructing walls, natural steps and masonry applications such as veneer.

Chilton Limestone (Full Color)

Walls constructed with natural stone follow the same construction guidelines as modular block walls. Stone walls comprised of stones that are five inches or less in thickness should not exceed 4 feet in total wall height unless terraced. With natural stone wall construction there is only minimal interlocking of the stones as they are placed upon one another in a zig-zag, overlapping pattern. There are no pins or clips to hold them in place. They are virtually free-floating as the lean gently back into the hillside.

Oftentimes sand or other more permenant materials such as mortar or concrete is used to bind the stones together. We find that using a sealer binding agent in the sand beneath and between the stones creates the nicest look and provides good annual protection.

Natural stone can be expensive in its applications. However, nothing proves its longevity like natural stone that has stood the test of time.

Natural stone wall construction is only limited by availability of product. Constructing stone walls requires an artist who has advanced training in constructing walls of this nature.



Bigger stone means faster installation

 

Alternatives to Retaining Walls

  Earlier in the article we mentioned the idea of planting a slope with erosion control type plants.  Another method is to randomly place boulders known as "outcroppings" into a hillside and incorporate plantings in and among them. The photo (left) shows outcropping stone being effectively used as wall stone.
Outcropping applications are beautiful and very natural looking-costing just a fraction of what a retaining wall would cost.


Some of the greatest plants for erosion control are; Sumacs, Elderberry's, Gray Dogwood, Euonymus and native grasses. To see more plants for erosion control click here.

Basalt Outcropping

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(612) 702-3569