Retaining walls are often necessary for holding back soil and preventing erosion, but their utilitarian nature can leave them looking stark and out of place, especially if they are constructed from concrete blocks. However, a dull and uninteresting retaining wall doesn’t have to remain an eyesore. With a little creativity and effort, you can transform your retaining wall into a feature that complements and enhances your outdoor space.
Natural Stone for a Rustic and Timeless Look
Covering a block wall with natural stone is an effective way to blend it with its surroundings and achieve a more polished appearance. This can be done by attaching sheets of stone veneer directly to the wall’s surface, creating the illusion of a full stone construction without the high cost or weight. Stone veneer comes in a variety of colors and textures, making it easy to match your wall to other features in your yard, such as patios or pathways.
Alternatively, you could use individual stones and mortar to create a more rustic, hand-crafted appearance. This approach is particularly appealing for those aiming for a naturalistic or cottage garden aesthetic. Beyond aesthetics, stone coverings add durability and weather resistance to your retaining wall, ensuring it stands the test of time.
Incorporating Plants for a Softer, Greener Aesthetic
Plants are an excellent way to soften the harsh lines of a block retaining wall and introduce a vibrant, organic element to your outdoor space.
Garden Beds at the Base
Frame the base of your retaining wall with a garden bed made from treated lumber or railroad ties. Fill the space with a variety of shrubs, perennials, or ornamental grasses to create visual interest. Flowering plants such as hydrangeas, azaleas, or lavender can add color and fragrance.
While cascading and container plants enhance the top and face of a wall, the base of a retaining wall is an ideal place for more structured greenery. “Think of foundation shrubs or mounding plants,” Thom Peck, Johnson’s Landscaping’s purchasing and materials manager, suggests. “Something that will fill in and stay green year-round.”
Thom recommends using evergreens like junipers, compact Japanese holly (Ilex crenata ‘Compacta’), or Emerald Green Arborvitae. These plants provide stability in winter months and keep the garden looking full when deciduous plants have gone dormant.
Vertical Interest
Attach rods, hooks, or a trellis to the wall itself. Hanging baskets filled with trailing flowers like sweet peas, petunias, or begonias can add color and texture at eye level. A trellis planted with climbing roses, clematis, or ivy creates a lush, cascading effect over time, making the wall feel alive.
Living Wall
For a truly unique look, consider creating a “living wall” by installing planters directly onto the wall’s surface. These planters can hold succulents, herbs, or small flowering plants, creating a vertical garden that turns your wall into an artistic feature.
Container Gardens for Practical and Decorative Use
If your retaining wall has a flat top, it can serve as the perfect base for a container garden. Not only does this add a decorative element, but it also makes efficient use of the space.
“That’s the challenge with containers,” Thom Peck, a certified horticulturist, says. “Because they’re not in the earth, the soil heats up and cools down faster—especially in winter. You’ve got to pick really hardy plants.”
Resilient native perennials like echinacea, black-eyed Susans, and coreopsis handle these conditions well. Compact evergreens such as ‘Gold Mop’ false cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera) also hold up under temperature changes and provide color throughout the year.
Cascading Vines
Plant trailing vegetables like cucumbers, zucchinis, or watermelons in pots placed along the wall’s top. The vines will naturally spill over the sides, creating a lush, draped effect that softens the wall’s edges.
“The wall itself is usually a hard, flat line—straight and sometimes stark,” Thom explains. “What you want to do is soften that edge. The best way to do that is with plant material that cascades down the front.”
Ground-hugging perennials like moss phlox and winter jasmine are ideal. These plants naturally tumble over the face of a wall, blending the hardscape with surrounding greenery. Other options include ornamental grasses like Hakonechloa, which forms soft, spilling tufts that drape over the wall face, creating a lush, natural look.
Support for Tall Crops
Use the vertical structure of the wall to your advantage by planting pole beans, peas, or even espaliered fruit trees in the space below. These crops can climb the wall, making harvesting easier while maximizing space in your garden.
Edible and Ornamental Mix
Combine practicality with beauty by interspersing herbs like basil, thyme, or chives with ornamental flowers in the containers. This creates a visually appealing, multifunctional display.
Additional Ideas for Enhancing Retaining Walls
- Lighting: Install outdoor LED lighting along the base or top of the wall to highlight its features after dark. Up-lighting can create dramatic shadows on a stone wall, while string lights hung along a trellis add charm.
- Murals or Artwork: For a more creative approach, consider painting the wall with a mural or attaching outdoor-friendly artwork. This is an excellent way to add personality and a pop of color to your space.
- Water Features: Incorporate a small water feature like a cascading fountain or waterfall that uses the retaining wall as a backdrop. The sound of flowing water creates a tranquil atmosphere, while the movement draws attention away from the wall’s utilitarian origins.
- Seating: Transform the top of your retaining wall into a seating area by adding a smooth stone or wood cap. Pair it with cushions for a functional, inviting space to enjoy your garden.
By integrating these enhancements, your retaining wall can become a central feature of your outdoor design rather than a necessary but unattractive structure. Whether you opt for the timeless appeal of natural stone, the vibrancy of cascading plants, or the practicality of a container garden, the possibilities are endless.
A block retaining wall doesn’t have to ruin the looks of your landscape. At Johnson’s Landscaping Service, we have hundreds of ideas that will help you turn an ordinary concrete wall into a resource you’ll be proud to show off to visitors. For more information on our landscaping services, you can contact us for an initial consultation.
