6 Ways You Can Include a Retaining Wall in Your Landscape Design in Naperville, IL
A sloped property can feature amazing views, but challenges such as erosion and flooding - as well as limited outdoor living space. A retaining wall can solve many problems on your property. Here are 6 ways you can include a retaining wall in your landscape design in Naperville, IL.
1. Create Gorgeous Outdoor Living Spaces
Outdoor living space is sometimes hard to come by on sloped properties. Excavating part of the hillside and using a retaining wall to hold back soil is a way to significantly add to your usable space. Once the space is carved out, here are some great design ideas.
Incorporating built-in seating into the retaining wall can create a cozy spot for a fire pit with a view. A masonry retaining wall will reflect the heat from the fire pit, keeping the space cozier than an exposed fire pit, which will be much appreciated in colder weather.
Built-in seating creates a park-like atmosphere; and when you’re hosting a larger gathering, everyone will have a place to sit without the clutter of additional patio chairs.
Incorporate other features into the retaining wall to save space and integrate the wall into the living area. An integrated outdoor fireplace and pizza oven will quickly become the hub of outdoor living. An integrated water feature will help create a soothing atmosphere for relaxing and entertaining. A retaining wall also makes the ideal “back wall” of an outdoor kitchen.
Landscape light fixtures can also be incorporated into a retaining wall. This will accentuate the texture of the wall, and create a clutter-free approach to landscape lighting. You could even add a few illuminated niches to the wall to display interesting objects.
2. Extra Space for Gardening
If you’re a fan of gardening, retaining walls can make the experience even nicer. Terraced gardens are found everywhere in the Mediterranean, making the best use of incredibly steep slopes. A terraced garden can be used to grow edible and ornamental plants on land that would otherwise be extremely difficult to cultivate. And, it puts your garden at a comfortable and easily accessible level.
3. Prevent Erosion and Flooding
The main function of a retaining wall is to prevent erosion and flooding. A shorter gravity wall can be used for gentle slopes; steep slopes will need a taller wall that’s engineered and reinforced to withstand the incredible forces of waterlogged soil. Drains installed behind a retaining wall can also divert water to where you want it to go, which will also help prevent soil movement that results from the freeze-thaw cycle.
4. Safety
Retaining walls can be used to add a finished look to your landscape. A wall alongside a walkway or driveway makes an elegant statement and presents an opportunity to integrate landscape lighting in a beautifully unobtrusive way. As well, if the wall is upslope of the walkway or driveway, it will help prevent debris from washing onto the surface.
5. Defining Spaces
A retaining wall positioned between your front entry walkway and the landscaping creates a welcoming “embrace” to your visitors and makes it clear which way you want people to go.
6. An Artistic Statement
Create a bold statement with a retaining wall by embracing the use of different materials on the retaining wall and other patio elements - and turn this otherwise utilitarian feature into a stunning focal point.