Types of Retaining Walls for Residential Landscaping

Retaining walls can solve some of the most challenging landscape problems. They hold back soil, stabilize slopes, help manage erosion, and create more usable space on properties with changing elevations. They can also become attractive landscape architecture features when incorporated into a larger residential landscape design.

For homeowners around the St. Louis area, proper retaining wall design is particularly important. Missouri's clay-heavy soils, heavy rainfall, changing grades, and freeze-thaw cycles can place considerable pressure on a wall. Understanding the different types of retaining walls can help you determine which solution may work best for your property.

Key Takeaways

• Different retaining walls manage soil pressure in different ways, making some designs better suited to certain heights, slopes, and applications.
• Gravity and reinforced block walls are common residential options, while cantilever, anchored, and pile systems may be used for more demanding applications.
• Consider drainage, soil conditions, wall height, and structural requirements before installation.

What Is a Retaining Wall?

A retaining wall is a type of hardscape in landscaping that is designed to create elevation and keep soil, rock, or water from collapsing or eroding into a slope. Many times, they also support a home's foundation to prevent it from shifting or sliding over time.

Types of Retaining Walls

Gravity Retaining Walls

Gravity retaining walls rely primarily on their mass to resist lateral earth pressure from the soil behind them. The wall is typically wider at its base to retain the surrounding soil.

For residential landscaping, gravity walls can provide a durable structure while complementing different architectural styles.

Typical use: Residential landscaping, garden walls, raised planting beds, terraces, and smaller elevation changes.

Common materials:

• Concrete blocks
• Natural dry or builder stone
• Brick
• Precast concrete

Installation generally involves excavation, a compacted base, proper structural backfill, and a drainage zone behind the wall.

Cantilevered Retaining Walls

Cantilevered retaining walls use a reinforced wall connected to a footing, creating a structure that uses the weight of the retained soil to help resist pressure.

Typical use: Taller walls and areas where significant amounts of soil must be retained.

Common materials:

• Reinforced poured concrete
• Reinforced masonry

Design and installation may require calculations involving bearing capacity, lateral earth pressure, sliding resistance, groundwater and pore pressure, and allowable soil pressures.

Mechanically Stabilized Earth Walls

Mechanically stabilized earth walls, or MSE walls, combine a facing system with layers of reinforcement extending into the soil behind the wall. Smaller versions of this approach are common in residential landscaping. Segmental block retaining walls frequently incorporate geogrids when additional reinforcement is required.

Typical use: Larger slopes, substantial grade changes, and applications requiring additional soil reinforcement.

Common materials:

• Geogrids
• Geotextile sheets
• Other forms of geosynthetic reinforcement

Because the reinforcement extends behind the wall, installation requires adequate excavation space and carefully compacted structural backfill.

Anchored Retaining Walls

Anchored retaining walls, specifically tieback walls, can be especially useful where space constraints make building a wide gravity wall impractical.

Typical use: Tight spaces, taller walls, and areas experiencing significant soil pressure.

Common materials:

• Cables
• Rods
• Tiebacks for additional resistance to the forces pushing against the wall

Installation is considerably more complex than a typical landscape retaining wall because anchoring must be designed around soil mechanics, loads, and site-specific conditions. These systems are generally better suited to professionally engineered applications.

Choosing Retaining Wall Materials

The structural system isn't the only decision you'll need to make. Materials influence the wall's appearance, durability, maintenance needs, and cost-effectiveness.

Natural stone creates a timeless appearance that blends particularly well with established St. Louis area landscapes. Modular concrete blocks offer versatility and can accommodate curved or terraced designs. Poured concrete provides strength for structural applications, while stone veneer can give reinforced walls a more natural appearance.

Material selection should ultimately support both the engineering requirements and the visual appeal of your landscape.

Why Drainage Matters

Regardless of wall type, water management is critical. Water collecting behind a retaining wall increases pressure against the structure. Without proper drainage details, that additional force can eventually contribute to cracking, bulging, leaning, or complete retaining wall failure.

A properly designed wall may incorporate free-draining structural backfill, drainage pipes, gravel drainage zones, or other solutions based on the site.

This is especially important around St. Louis, where heavy thunderstorms and clay soils can create challenging drainage conditions.

Signs Your Retaining Wall Needs Attention

Existing retaining walls should be periodically inspected for changes. Cracking, leaning, bulging, sagging, or separating blocks can indicate declining structural integrity. Erosion around the base or persistent water buildup may also point to improper drainage.

Addressing problems early can sometimes prevent a more extensive repair or replacement wall project.

Find the Right Retaining Wall for Your Property

With so many types of retaining walls available, the right choice depends on much more than appearance. Wall height, slope, soil conditions, drainage, available space, and the amount of earth being retained all influence the design.

Contact us to discuss your retaining wall or landscape project.

FAQs

What is the most common type of retaining wall for residential landscaping?

Gravity and segmental block retaining walls are common residential choices. They work well for many garden beds, terraces, slopes, and moderate elevation changes. Taller walls or challenging soil conditions may require geogrid reinforcement or a different engineered system.

What material is best for a retaining wall?

The best material depends on wall height, soil conditions, drainage, budget, and desired appearance. Common options include natural stone, concrete blocks, poured or precast concrete, reinforced masonry, and stone veneer.

How do I know which type of retaining wall I need?

A landscape professional can evaluate the slope, soil, drainage, wall height, available space, and intended use to determine an appropriate system. Significant grade changes or walls supporting substantial loads may also require engineering and compliance with local building requirements.