What Is The Cheapest Retaining Wall To Build For My Garden?

The cost of retaining wall materials varies from relatively low to exceptionally high. Treated pine is the cheapest alternative, costing $250 per square foot, but it comes with its own set of disadvantages.

Retaining Walls Alternative

• Wooden Timbers – For retaining wall alternatives, wooden timbers and railroad ties are common choices. They’re particularly useful for terracing hillsides and building raised flower or garden beds. Treated wood gives a landscape design a natural look and adds durability. A wooden timber wall costs between $15.00 and $25.00 per square foot to build.

• Gabion Walls – Gabion walls are retaining wall alternatives that use cages filled with rock, stone, or sand to allow water to flow freely down the slope while still providing protection for the slope. These cages are connected by wires and positioned so that they are angled back into the slope rather than stacked vertically. Installation costs for Gabion walls range from $4.00 to $40.00 per square foot.

• Soil Bioengineered Walls – Living materials are used in the design of soil bioengineered walls, which are relatively new to the landscaping industry. To provide immediate support that will develop into the soil, cut branches are combined with either a geotextile or rocks. The wall will be covered in a natural covering and texture as the vegetation grows. The most common use for this form of retaining wall is to help preserve and restore fragile watersheds. Installing a soil bioengineered wall will cost anything from nothing to thousands of dollars for the do-it-yourselfer.

• Natural Stone Walls – Natural stone walls are a form of retaining wall that can be used for a variety of purposes. Natural rock walls are often used in raised gardens, but they can also be used as retaining walls to avoid landslides and along coastlines to prevent land falls and protect the coast from high tide. When large enough rock slabs are available, they are often used for seating in some cases. A natural rock wall construction costs between $8.00 and $12.00 per square foot on average.

• Reinforced Soil Slopes – Reinforced soil slopes are a simple and fast construction method that involves using a geotextile, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, to lock existing soil into place and create a reinforced mass. Reinforced soil slopes can withstand larger settlements and movement caused by earthquakes due to the resilience of the geotextile used in their construction. A reinforced soil slope costs between $3.00 and $27.00 per square foot on average.