Three Level Front Yard Retaining Wall

Terracing ideas using retaining walls to help prevent runoff

This front yard retaining wall planter not only helps terrace the slope, but also adds some added interest to the landscape by creating more than one level.

Some of the most interesting landscape designs have more than one level. And with that in mind, for a less than interesting landscape, adding a second or third level is a simple design trick that can have amazing results.

While this front yard circular driveway design uses a retaining wall to create it's levels, it's not necessarily the only way to do it. Some yards can simply use a landscaping berm or two to create levels and interest.

Plants Around This Retaining Wall

• Diascia (red)
• Gold Lantana
• Verbena (purple)
• Mexican Elder - Two Small Trees
• Red Tip Yucca - Cactus In Front
• Lavender
• Feather Reed Grass - Karl Foerster

As I pointed out in the design plan, this front yard hillside landscape design slopes down from the house to the street and from right to left. From the house to the street is what makes the different levels necessary. And the slope from right to left is what makes the retaining wall different heights from side to side.

A common mistake that I see home owners make is that the top of their retaining walls follow the slope of the land.

It's important that the top of your wall be level with the world and that you make the footing and bottom of the blocks follow the slope.