In a previous blog, we went over the many hardscapes that you should consider on your residential property. One of those hardscapes was a retaining wall. Retaining walls are extremely common, and can be seen all over properties all across the country. Not only do retaining walls increase your property value, they offer many functional benefits. While most common in sloped or curved yards, retaining walls can benefit any homeowner, and are nearly universally accepted as a positive to any landscape. Many people worry about the cost and installation, but you will find that it is relatively affordable, when compared with the long term benefits. With that, let us go over everything you need to know about retaining walls.
Retaining Walls: The Functional Benefits
Hardscapes are known for being functional, and retaining walls are no different. They prevent soil erosion, by reducing the speed of water across the surface of your soil, through the leveling of previously sloped areas. This is typically referred to as “surface runoff” the culprit of most soil erosion. It also achieves this by packing the soil more tightly in place, as the retaining wall itself takes up space in your landscape, reducing space available for soil.
Additionally, retaining walls prevent unwanted flooding, by improving the drainage in your yard. They allow for easy integration with drainage systems, and increase the amount of water that actually soaks into your soil, versus running off.
Increased Safety
With these benefits of better drainage and less flooding, you allow for more comfortable usage of your lawn. Less risk, is more reward, and with less steep hills, and drier ground, you can send your kids out to play without the worry of a fall and injury. Don’t we all want to protect our children?
Easier Landscaping
While hills in your yard can be fun for a slip and slide, or a small sled, they typically do not allow for any easy landscaping. When you manage these areas in your yard with a retaining wall, you open up precious real estate to work with. This could be new plant material, more hardscaping, or even just a bench. Whatever it may be, you are going to have a much tougher time without a retaining wall, than with one.
How They Look
Now, past the functionality of the retaining wall, any homeowner is going to be concerned with how it looks. The aesthetics of any yard are typically going to be able to fit right in with any retaining wall. This has a lot to do with the design freedom available to the client when it comes to size, shape and even material. At Dream Greener, we offer Stacked Stone, Timbers, Bricks, Poured Concrete, Wood, Boulders, Stone Veneer, and Gabian. We even offer optional drainage at the base of the retaining wall, for an even better look, and increased functionality. Retaining walls look great and work well, so give Dream Greener a call today.
Dream Greener Lawn & Landscape is led by a staff of service experts, each with ten years or more of professional experience, focused exclusively on lawn care & maintenance, landscaping and snow & ice management. Locally owned and operated, we are proud to serve the greater Pittsburgh area. Give us a call today at (412) 835-1035.
