Look what I get to do today

[Dav4]

So, I live on the side of a small mountain and my property is very sloped. When we moved in back in '09', I installed small retaining walls along the perimeter of my bonsai area as a means of terracing the ground and creating a flat area for placing benches. Well, I apparently used the wrong kind of "landscape timber" as they've all started to rot...lesson learned. Any way, today I get to rip out the old walls and install the new ones...and it's snowing.

 

[JudyB]

Looks like fun, at least it's not the middle of summer and humid! We have 6 new inches of snow this morning, so I get to ignore all the stuff like that around here that needs done for a while longer...

 

[JudyB]

BTW the big cascade is looking good!

 

[Dav4]

Looks like fun, at least it's not the middle of summer and humid! We have 6 new inches of snow this morning, so I get to ignore all the stuff like that around here that needs done for a while longer...

Yeah, doing this in July would kill me...its blizzarding out!

 

[Adair M]

So, I live on the side of a small mountain and my property is very sloped. When we moved in back in '09', I installed small retaining walls along the perimeter of my bonsai area as a means of terracing the ground and creating a flat area for placing benches. Well, I apparently used the wrong kind of "landscape timber" as they've all started to rot...lesson learned. Any way, today I get to rip out the old walls and install the new ones...and it's snowing.
View attachment 94090 View attachment 94091

You're going back with wood?

Agreed that the 4x6 pressure treated looks better than railroad ties, but that castle block stuff is a more permanent solution.

But, I see you've already purchased it, so you probably already considered that.

Is it snake proof?

 

[Cadillactaste]

Share finished job photos...liking the trees you have there. It will look great as well. A great face-lift.

 

[Nybonsai12]

A little freshening of the bonsai area is always fun. Should look nice when you are done.

 

[Dav4]

You're going back with wood?

Agreed that the 4x6 pressure treated looks better than railroad ties, but that castle block stuff is a more permanent solution.

But, I see you've already purchased it, so you probably already considered that.

Is it snake proof?

I'd much prefer stone or cement block, but it's more expensive and harder to install...so...yeah...I'm going with the wood.

 

[Dav4]

Well, I broke my bit extender so work is stalled for now. Hot chocolate first then off to hd

 

[Cadillactaste]

You putting any drainage in behind the wall? It may extend its life to some degree.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Hmmm... well as you are finding out, putting wood, ANY wood, in direct contact with soil is going to give you only temporary benefits. Proper backfill and drainage will help, but Mother Nature will always have the final say.

Landscape pavers are going to be more expensive, yes, but "more" is a relative term if you are ripping out your pressure-treated lumber every five years. And for what it's worth, the same processes are used whether building a block wall or a building a retaining wall out of pressure treated lumber, so I don't see a labor difference one way or the other. In fact, having built several block walls by hand, I think they are an easier material to work with because they allow you to easily work with curves and follow natural contours.

You probably don't want to hear all of this... but better late than never?

 

[Cadillactaste]

We (husband and I) have used the block you used Greg. Very easy to install. Prepare work...but once you get going it goes together quickly.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

We (husband and I) have used the block you used Greg. Very easy to install. Prepare work...but once you get going it goes together quickly.

Oh that isn't a photo of my yard, LOL! Not enough weeds Here is one of the walls I constructed. I didn't bother capping it, but a nice course of wall caps would give it a more complete look. There is another wall in front of it with bonsai shelving, so I have bark between the two to give me a walkway that doesn't grow weeds (as much). The top of this paver wall is actually above your head when you are down at ground level.

 

[Adair M]

Oh that isn't a photo of my yard, LOL! Not enough weeds Here is one of the walls I constructed. I didn't bother capping it, but a nice course of wall caps would give it a more complete look. There is another wall in front of it with bonsai shelving, so I have bark between the two to give me a walkway that doesn't grow weeds (as much).

View attachment 94110

I would agree with this assessment. The hard work is digging the footer and getting it level. I would think the bulk of that was already done.

But Dave is from New England. It's hard for him to take advice from us Southern Rednecks! Lol!

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I would agree with this assessment. The hard work is digging the footer and getting it level. I would think the bulk of that was already done.

But Dave is from New England. It's hard for him to take advice from us Southern Rednecks! Lol!

Yup! Once that first course is down, it's off to the races! I laid that wall in one day. Just a lot of carrying block back and forth.

 

[bonsaiBlake]

Plastic sheeting between the wood and soil, plus a good heavy deckstain prior to install will help you get a couple more years for minimal cost, esp the plastic sheeting. . .

 

[jriddell88]

I would agree with this assessment. The hard work is digging the footer and getting it level. I would think the bulk of that was already done.

But Dave is from New England. It's hard for him to take advice from us Southern Rednecks! Lol!

Pour it wet and let it level itself !

 

[GrimLore]

In New England it is far less common to plant a house at the base of an incline, far more common to build a house on higher ground and let the property drain away from the foundation...
Where I live a good quality treated landscape timber sells very inexpensive and lasts a long time. Dave is on the right track but I would suggest he furrows out a small gutter under them every few feet and fill it with rocks so there are drains every few feet. Once established you won't even see it...

Grimmy

 

[Dav4]

Too late....

 

[Dav4]

Adair, you've seen my yard...and my driveway. Not an easy property to work on or around. My driveway is so steep, a truck with a pallet of stone or block won't make it up. Id have to hoof it up from the bottom myself then get it around the house and into the back yard...ugh!