skip to main content

Landscape Design

Help with retaining wall landscaping

18 years ago

The following is a post I entered on the rose forum. I did this thinking of using some existing climbers I have. I decided to broaden my thoughts and consider plants other than roses. The rose froum post gives a good description of the garden layout. I am basically looking for something to soften a 4 foot high by 50 foot long retaining wall that is just blah. Tearing out is not an option.

I live in Georgia. As far as the New Dawns not thriving Im sure it is because of where they are. They get only dappled sun for about 6 hours a day. One gets more than the other. They are behind a lattice that was put up to hide the opening of our deck. We store the mower and other yard equipment under there. When our neighbors had cookouts that is all they saw. So, we put up the lattice and roses for them more than for us. Unfortunately they moved and we have non-caring garden people now. So, to the pool situation. The retaining wall is about 4 foot high and 50 feet long. On the pool side there is a space of about 4 feet that is pea gravel on top of concrete that butts up to the decking of the pool where chairs sit. I dont think the roses would endanger anyone. Besides, we are mostly adults and those that arent are old enough to know better than to get into a rose bush(teenagers). On the up side of the wall is what I call a semi circle plateau of grass that grows right up to the wall and is about 2-4 inches below the top of the wall. It is in full sun most of the day. At the back and along the sides of the semi circle are my flower beds of various cutting flowers and this is all bordered by lirope. To the left of the flower bed is a natural area that has mostly pinestraw and in the early spring 100's of daffodils. Our property is now bordered by Leyland cypress:(, my husband insisted on these for a privacy screen. Our property is on a slope, on one side neighbors are above us and on the other they are below us.

In the middle of the plateau we are having a center placed, over-flowing, water-pot put in with lights and it will be landscaped around with water plants. I just want something that will drape down over this long blah wall to soften it up a little. I dont mind buying new plants, I was just trying to put what I had that wasnt doing so well in a better place. I love the new Dawns, they were my Mothers favorite. So, I am open to any suggestions, roses or not. I would post pics but have never mastered that.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

karinl
18 years ago
Posting pictures is not difficult if you have a digital camera, and would make it far easier to give advice.

You need to open an account on a free webhosting site like photobucket.com. You upload your photos to your photobucket album from your computer. Each photo in your photobucket account will have a tag line. Copy the tag line into the body of your message here on GW, and when you hit preview, the photo should appear.

If you can't post a photo, then I at least would need a little more clarification in order to give advice. As far as I can tell, the top edge of the wall is all grass. So are you going to put a flower bed there, or do you just want to stick a couple of plants in the grass that will droop down and spread over the wall? Is there an opportunity to plant things at the bottom that would grow up the wall?

There are some drooping conifers that might work depending on the soil conditions at the top of the wall, and there might be some clematises that would work planted at either the top or the bottom, if they have something to climb up on. And of course dozens of perennials and annuals - alyssum and the like - that droop most fetchingly. But you don't want to put non-woody plants in if you're going to be mowing right to the edge.
diggingthedirt
18 years ago
You can also post directly to the gallery, from your home computer, skipping the photbucket step; then copy the link to the photo you've posted there into a follow-up message here, on this thread.

Like karinl, I can't quite understand what your question is because your post refers to several different things; lattice, deck, roses, water feature, pool and wall. The subject says you want to landscape the wall. Could you restate the description of the retaining wall, tell us where it is in relation to the pool, and what you want to do to the area? Do you want to plant below or above it? Is the pool on the up or down side of the wall?
Related Discussions
Landscape help - Retaining wall
Q
Comments (7)
I think that the wall needs to turn the corner back into the hill toward the path to reduce erosion from the bottom of the bed. Doing that now before planting, making it as as high as the top of the lowest tier of the main wall, will save considerable grief down the road. Think about how you are placing the landscape rocks in the bed to direct or retain water flow to reduce runoff and erosion. Get rid of the landscape cloth and use a highly textured mulch and well rooted groundcovers to retain soil and reduce weeds. If you doubt the problems with landscape cloth (for other than in subsurface drains and under paths), read a few of the threads here or here. Leaving it there will be something you are extremely likely to come to regret.
...See More
Ideas for a modern landscaping plan WITHOUT a retaining wall
Q
Comments (7)
"... would you do a straight line off of the front walkway or something more rounded? This is something you'd work out in plan view. We can't see enough detail in a perspective photo from a single angle.
...See More
Retaining Wall for landscaping
Q
Comments (5)
Veronica, given that you are in Georgia there are likely big thunderstorms? I would say that a wall would be useful. Bushes will only help control erosion a little bit and they'll take a while to get established. Other advantage of some kind of stone or hard wall is that it could help provide privacy plus act as seats (while people view and enjoy the fire). There's lot of materials available, including genuine stone blocks, cement (fake) stone, concrete wall, bricks, wooden beams, etc. Here's an idea with stone...
...See More
ideas re landscaping hill/retaining wall and backyard
Q
Comments (1)
In order to have pavers and walk that made sense, one would need to know destinations within the yard and the uses needed by the occupants. We know neither. For the sloping border, decide which is needed: screening, or screening and shade. Plant a row of small trees or large shrubs that extend above the fence to provide screening and/or shade. The plants can touch, as in a hedge, or they can be spaced out depending on the degree of screening desired. Grow groundcover below the trees/shrubs. Could add an accent plant here or there. The turf needs to be reestablished for appearance and as a functional space for activities & pedestrian circulation.
...See More
karinl
18 years ago
Saw some Bergenia cascading down a wall today. I've seen it droop before, but never this far. It can cover quite a bit of vertical territory.
spage1
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks for the input/questions. On the rose forum someone suggested I go to a site that showed cascading roses. At this site it shows a Red Cascade rose on a wall that is very similar to mine. I am thinking I will order 4 of those and give it a try. Maybe put a few clematis in for contrast. By the time they get here I will have gotten the beds ready for them and be able to plant them immediately.
I do appreciate your response and I will try and post a photo once they are in, the water feature is done and everything is in order. Thanks again

Related Stories

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Pile On Style With a Dry-Laid Stone Retaining Wall

By Katherine Caviness

Durable, natural and practical, this landscape feature is an art form unto itself

LANDSCAPE DESIGN What the Heck Is a Ha-Ha, and How Can It Help Your Garden?

Take cues from a historical garden feature to create security and borders without compromising a view

STANDARD MEASUREMENTS The Right Dimensions for Your Porch

By Steven Corley Randel, Architect

Depth, width, proportion and detailing all contribute to the comfort and functionality of this transitional space

PETS 6 Ways to Help Your Dog and Landscape Play Nicely Together

By Marianne Lipanovich

Keep your prized plantings intact and your dog happy too, with this wisdom from an expert gardener and dog guardian

REMODELING GUIDES Wisdom to Help Your Relationship Survive a Remodel

By Mitchell Parker

Spend less time patching up partnerships and more time spackling and sanding with this insight from a Houzz remodeling survey

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING 7 Out-of-the-Box Retaining Wall Ideas

Go Beyond Railroad Ties With Stylish Rock, Metal, Blocks, and Poured Concrete

MATERIALS Raw Materials Revealed: Brick, Block and Stone Help Homes Last

By Buckminster Green LLC

Learn about durable masonry essentials for houses and landscapes, and why some weighty-looking pieces are lighter than they look

LANDSCAPE DESIGN How to Help Your Home Fit Into the Landscape

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

Use color, texture and shape to create a smooth transition from home to garden

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Native Plants Help You Find Your Garden Style

By Oakley Gardens

Imagine the garden of your dreams designed with plants indigenous to your region

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Garden Walls: Gabion Evolves From Functional to Fabulous

By Olander Garden Design

The permeable rock-, concrete- or glass-filled steel cages are showing up as retaining walls, planters, benches and more

Sponsored

More Discussions

Help with curb appeal

12

Vines in Winter?

20

Is our dry creek eroding away?

10

Looking for advice on pavers and steps.

3

curb appeal help

2