Installing A Retaining Wall

Begin by staking out the wall you are making. For curved sections, use a garden hose to layout the wall line. Dig a trench along this line. The width of the trench should be twice the depth of the block you are using (if your block is 8" deep, make your trench 16" wide). If you are going to use one, two or three courses of block, make the trench deep enough to bury half of the first course.

Prepare the base by firmly compacting the soil. Place 2" of paver base and thoroughly compact paver base in the bottom of the trench. For walls over 24" in total wall height, a minimum 6" of compacted paver base must be used.

Level the surface in both directions with a level.

Position the wall units side by side on the prepared base and level in both directions. Continue assembling additional courses by placing units in a staggered relationship to the course beneath, pulling each unit forward until securely in place.

To split a block use a hammer and chisel to score the block on all sides. Pound the chisel on the score line until the block splits. To build a 90º corner you will need to use a circular saw with a masonry blade. Cut a 45º angle, from a front corner to a back corner, on each of two blocks. Glue pieces together (with landscape block adhesive) so two block faces form the finished outside corner.

Place landscape fabric directly behind the wall extending from the bottom of the base course to the middle of the top course. Back fill each course with multi-purpose gravel. The multi-purpose gravel should extend 6" behind the wall. Compact the multi-purpose gravel. Organic soil or clay type soil is not recommended for back fill material.