In The Garden: Building a Retaining Wall

A retaining wall is a simple and aesthetically pleasing garden feature that allows you to turn steep banks of garden into easier-to-use space. While the safest bet is to ask a builder or landscape gardener to help you to build a retaining wall, it is possible to do yourself.

One of the most important elements is to protect your wood as much as possible from damp, both from the elements, and from the earth that it is retaining. We take a look at three simple steps that you can take to help your retaining wall to last longer. If you do employ someone to do this job for you, make sure you ask them whether they are taking these steps, too.

It’s all about quality

When it comes to choosing the wood for your retaining wall, don’t just consider price and looks. The quality of your wood will impact how long it lasts. Even if there is a wood that looks similar to a better quality one but costs half as much, if you can afford the better one, don’t be tempted by the cheaper version; the chances are that it will last half as long. Ideally, you want to find pressure-treated wood. This is wood that has been specially treated to survive the stressors of garden life. Reclaimed railway sleepers are a popular and attractive, but not cheap, option.

Add a barrier

The best defence is often prevention. Wood that is sitting next to wet soil around the clock is bound to be susceptible to wood rot, so it makes sense that one of the best ways to prevent that rot is to add in a waterproof barrier. One way to do this is to build an inner wall of stones and pebbles that will prevent the soil from coming into contact with the wood. However, a less green but quick, convenient and effective way is to use a tarp of damp proof membrane. This can be stapled to the wood or layered between wood and soil and trimmed back once the wall is completed.

Treat your wood – twice

Even if you buy great quality wood that has already been treated, there is no harm in treating it again. By adding your own coat of wood preservative, you are adding an extra layer of protection, helping your wood to hold off succumbing to moisture for longer. Before you start work, take the time to paint your wood with a good quality preservative so that you can get the most out of it.

Building a retaining wall is relatively simple – if you know how. If you are unsure, you could end up with a mess that is more expensive to fit than the job would have been in the first place! If you are in doubt, contact a couple of local traders to see what they would advise and how much they anticipate it costing. For more tips, follow Trust A Trader on X or Facebook.