The University of Minnesota has a "Sustainable Urban Landscape Implementation Series" online. There is a section on how to build a boulder retaining wall. Open the link and click on Implementation, Hard Goods and Features, and Building Boulder Walls. The University of Nebraska also has a publication online entitled, "Rock Retaining Wall Construction." One tip not included is to line the back of the wall with landscape fabric to prevent the soil from washing through the spaces in the rock wall. Also, be sure to place your stones closely together and firmly pack the soil into place. It is a good idea to add plants to the wall, because the roots of the plants will help hold the soil in place. If you use a landscape fabric between the stone and soil, you can cut it away prior to planting the plant. Some people plant the plants into the spaces as they build the wall.
These resources are brought to you by the Cooperative Extension System and your Local Institution
Welcome
eXtension is an interactive learning environment delivering the best, most researched knowledge from the smartest land-grant university minds across America.
Have a question? Try asking one of our Experts
I want to build a rock retaining wall garden. How do I place the rock and prevent soil erosion?
Last Updated: November 06, 2011
Have a specific question? Try asking one of our Experts
Unlike most other resources on the web, we have experts from Universities around the country ready to answer your questions.
