Spring is the time of renewal—we look forward to the warming temperatures, blooming flowers, and green grasses. It’s the perfect time of year to work on residential landscaping projects that were on hold through the winter.

When we think of spring, we think of all the things we could plant and grow, but the season isn’t just for foliage additions—it’s also prime time for structural projects such as retaining walls, patios, and residential drainage systems. This is the opportunity to set your property up for an enjoyable summer and fall, as well as prepare for any weather ahead.

With the rain that spring will bring, especially in Nashville, one important point to consider is how best to protect your yard from excessive standing water and the erosion of ground that occurs with heavy rainfall. You don’t want your newly planted bushes and flowers washing away, after all. There are several approaches to ensuring adequate stability and drainage on your property, but some are more effective than others. Structures known as retaining walls are important tools for ensuring adequate stability and drainage of the ground around your home.

What Is a Retaining Wall?

A retaining wall is a structure built from block, concrete or another material that operates as a barrier to the movement of soil away from where it should stay. When the ground is wet, it has a tendency to follow the path of gravity downhill as the water rolls that direction. Excessive rainfall hastens this, leading to your property washing away. Ultimately, you could end up with large changes to your landscape, including holes, lost grass, and uneven surfaces.

A retaining wall is usually several feet in height and is backed by gravel that creates a sieve for water to flow into the ground. The wall itself helps to keep the soil in place instead of washing away. The footing of the wall must be secured deep into the ground to help improve the stability of the structure so that the counterforce doesn’t tip it over. The design of a retaining wall requires expert precision like that provided by Greenway of Nashville to create the correct height, angle, and design. If a stairway needs to be built to allow easy access to the area below the retaining wall, especially if there are several tiers of walls built, then additional safety concerns must be a part of the design. Partnering with experts who’ve built retaining walls of all kinds is key to ensuring yours is built to the specifications that your property naturally dictates.

Many times, behind the wall and below the gravel, there is a French drain that runs parallel to the retaining wall. This drain pipe, made from PVC, helps carry the water that has trickled down through the gravel away from the area to somewhere that it will more easily disperse. This reduces the pressure behind the retaining wall by taking extra water content out of the soil. It’s an excellent way to make the retaining wall more durable. French drains are tricky, though—you have to place them just right in order for them to be effective. If they don’t slope appropriately, then the water won’t drain away. If they’re not deep enough, the French drain won’t be able to accommodate the water volume or may miss water running below the surface. Choose the wrong material, and you could end up needing to replace them—meaning you have to dig everything up and do the work all over again.

Retaining walls can be made of several different materials, including interlocking stacked blocks, poured concrete, or even wood. Most people recognize retaining walls as being made of laid decorative blocks that add an eye-catching appeal in addition to function. The type of material best for the area is dependent on the climate and how severe the drainage issues are. If you’re looking to tie together multiple aspects of your landscape, Greenway of Nashville can help design and build hardscapes such as patios and firepits so that they match the color and style of your retaining wall. Having complementing designs will increase the beauty of your home as well as the value.

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Is it Necessary to Have a Retaining Wall?

Having a retaining wall on your property could prevent a lot of damage down the road. Erosion of the ground can be a slow process—a little this year, a little more the next. You may not notice it much at the time, but in the course of a few years, what your land looked and felt like could be significantly different. What used to be a lush green yard may turn to a barren or patchy eyesore.

This loss of ground can lead to concerns about the stability of your home, driveway, patio, and any other structures on your property. As it continues to move away, the ground supporting your hardscapes and buildings lessens. A shifting foundation is a problem no one wants to face (or pay for).

If the land you live on is naturally sloped, the risk of ground shifting without a retaining wall is even greater. The more of a grade there is to the land, the easier it will be for it to erode without a retaining wall. Having a retaining wall installed will help secure everything on your property if done correctly.

A retaining wall could also help to increase the value of your home. A measure that’s both preventative and actionable (that also has curb appeal if done right) can be an excellent investment in your home and can increase the functionality of your yard.

How Much Does a Retaining Wall Cost?

The cost of a retaining wall is variable based on the dimensions needed, the material used, and any special considerations. For example, if additional effort is required to work around extensive tree roots or buried cables, the job will be more complicated. Necessary components such as a French drain impacts the cost as well. While investing in a retaining wall isn’t cheap, it is far less expensive than paying for repairs to your property, foundation, and driveway later on. Using high-quality materials has a higher expense up front but will offer greater durability and effectiveness in the long run.

Greenway of Nashville is the local expert in retaining wall design and installation, along with a number of other landscape services such as residential drainage, patios, and driveways. They’re happy to help you protect your property by evaluating your landscape, recommending the appropriate solutions, and installing them with guaranteed success. Hiring an expert will save you the effort of calculating how much gravel you’ll need, how many bricks to buy, and how deep to dig. With Greenway of Nashville, you can have all of your spring projects done together without having to piecemeal the services from different providers. Don’t wait until spring is here to plan your projects—request a free quote today on our website or contact us by phone at (615)-238-4574.

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