A retaining wall is a structure that holds back onrushing land or water. Retaining walls are usually built to hold back earth and prevent it from erosion, to contain the soil in place and keep it from collapsing. This is particularly important for hillside development (home building). So let’s see how we can build a retaining wall on a slope…
Building a retaining wall is tough. It’s tough because you have to overcome a lot of physical challenges to build one, and it’s often not easy. Building a dirt retaining wall on a steep slope is one of the more difficult tasks for a home owner to do, but if you break it down into smaller easy-to-handle steps, then it should become easier.
🧭 Start with Your Slope
- Gentle slopes (< about 15°)
- Wood can work well: affordable, easy to build—but rots faster and needs more upkeep.
- Concrete blocks or engineered landscape blocks also work well here and last much longer.
- Steep slopes (> about 15°)
- You’ll need heavier-duty materials: stone, engineered concrete blocks, or gabions for stability and longevity.
🧱 Material Comparison
| Material | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure-Treated Wood | Low cost; fast to install; natural look | Lasts ~20–30 years; rots and decays underground; fewer design options |
| Concrete Blocks | Durable; easy to install; wide range of styles; ~50–100 yr lifespan | Higher cost; often needs engineering for walls over 4 ft |
| Natural Stone | Beautiful, unique; extremely long-lasting; suits steep slopes | Expensive labor/materials; needs skilled installation, deeper footing |
⚙️ Drainage & Engineering: The Real Deals
- Walls over 4 ft or on steep slopes require proper drainage:
- Gravel base, perforated drain pipe, geotextile fabric, and often geogrid or deadmen anchors.
- Gravity walls (stone, blocks, gabions) rely on mass and setback to resist soil pressure.
🛠️ Choosing What’s Best for You
- Measure your slope angle:
- Gentle → Wood is doable and DIY-friendly.
- Steep → Go with concrete block, stone, or gabions for real strength.
- Set your budget & aesthetics:
- Tight budget? Start with wood but expect replacements in 20–30 years.
- Long-term? Invest in engineered blocks or stone—they last a lifetime.
- Check local codes:
- Walls over 4 ft likely require an engineer and permit.
Build a lawn or garden retaining wall on a slope
Retaining walls are structures that hold back soil from sloping ground. They can be made from stone, concrete or timber. If you have a steep slope in your garden and want to flatten the land, you can build a retaining wall out of wood, rocks or even concrete blocks.
Retaining walls are often used to create flat areas for planting and growing plants in gardens. They can also be used on sloping areas in parks, playgrounds and sports fields.
A retaining wall is a structure that holds back soil and other materials. It’s often built to keep the soil from slumping away from a building foundation or other project. A wall can also be used to support a garden bed, walkway or driveway.
Your local building codes may have specific requirements for your retaining wall, so check with your city before you begin construction. Generally, though, you’ll need to follow this process:
Prepare the site by removing any trees, shrubs and other obstructions so the ground will be clear of debris during construction. Excavate your yard as needed to create a level base for laying concrete blocks or stones. Install metal stakes at each end of the wall area to mark out locations for installing posts and adding braces later on. These stakes should be set at least 4 feet into the ground and extend 8 inches above ground level. If you’re planning on using concrete block instead of stone, you won’t need these stakes because the concrete blocks themselves will serve as supports for the finished project
A retaining wall is a structure designed to retain soil, rock, or water behind it. Most retaining walls are made of masonry materials such as brick, concrete, and sometimes reinforced concrete.
Retaining walls can be freestanding or supported by adjacent structures. The latter may be necessary if the wall design results in undesirable loads and lateral pressures on the abutting structure.
A freestanding retaining wall is sometimes called a free-standing wall or gravity wall. A gravity wall is dependent on its own weight for stability (hence the alternative name). These types of retaining walls are subject to overturning if they are not anchored at a sufficient number of points along their length.
The earliest known examples of stone architecture (or at least where masonry construction methods were used) were ancient Egyptian pyramids built between 2800 BC and 2304 BC.[1] These massive structures used thousands of stone blocks that fit together with precision.[2] The Greeks refined the form with even more precision than the Egyptians by using squared stones that could be fitted together without mortar to make their famous fortified cities.[3]
This article will show you how to build a retaining wall on a slope with rocks.
Step 1: Mark the area where you want to build your retaining wall.
Step 2: Dig out the soil in the area where you want to dig.
Step 3: Create a trench that is about 3 feet deep and 6 inches wide at the bottom. Keep in mind that the trench should be deep enough so that when it rains water won’t reach the top of your retaining wall.
Step 4: Place heavy stones into the trench and level them out so that they form an even surface. Make sure you leave about 6 inches of space between each stone for drainage purposes.
Step 5: Assemble wood planks on top of the stones, making sure to leave at least 6 inches between each plank for drainage purposes as well. The number of planks needed depends on how high you want your retaining wall to be; however, typically one plank per foot is sufficient for most needs.
How to build a retaining wall on a slope with rocks
A retaining wall is a structure that helps prevent soil erosion and landslides. It does this by holding back the earth from the edge of a hill or mountain. The most common types of retaining walls are made from stone or concrete blocks, but there are also wooden and turf walls.
Retaining walls are usually built as additions or modifications for gardens or landscaping. They can also be used to stop runoff from entering into waterways or septic systems. In some cases, they’re put in place to prevent over-watering in lawns during hot months.
If you have a steep hillside that’s prone to erosion, it’s important to build a retaining wall so that it doesn’t slide down into your yard. There are two basic types of retaining walls: gravity walls and veneer walls. With gravity walls, gravity holds them together while veneer walls rely on pressure between layers of material to hold each other together.
The steps below will teach you how to build a gravity-type retaining wall using rocks as your primary material. It’s important that these steps are followed carefully in order for the wall to come out properly shaped and level at all times during construction
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
Wooden Posts | Size:4×4 or 6×6: The size of the wooden posts will depend on the height and weight of the wall you need to support. Thicker posts provide more stability and can better support heavy loads. |
Wire Mesh | Dimensions:2′ x 150′: The wire mesh will act as a barrier to keep smaller rocks and debris in place while allowing drainage. Material:Choose a rust-resistant material to ensure longevity in outdoor conditions. |
Drill and Bits | Purpose:Needed for: Drilling holes for the metal post anchors and securing the wooden posts in place. Bit Types:
|
Metal Post Anchors | Quantity:8-12 per post: To securely anchor the wooden posts into the ground, ensuring stability against the lateral pressure of soil. |
Stakes and String Line | Usage:Measurement and Alignment: Used to establish a straight line for the wall, ensuring even placement of posts and maintaining a level surface. Alternatives:Tape Measure: Can be used as a backup for longer measurements. |
Shovels and Hoes | Functions:
|
Hoses or Water Sprayers | Purpose:Cleaning: To wash off debris and keep the work area manageable, allowing for clear visibility as construction progresses. |
Rocks/Gravel | Quantity:At least 2 cubic yards per 10 feet of wall: Rocks provide drainage and stability. Make sure to choose rocks that fit well together. Types:
|
A retaining wall is a wall that holds back soil from sloping land, creating level areas for building or planting. Retaining walls can be built from many materials, but most use concrete or stone blocks as the principal material. The weight of the wall holds it in place as well as providing a base for your yard.
If you’re looking for ideas on how to build a retaining wall on a slope with rocks, we’ve got them! We’ll show you how to build a retaining wall step by step, so all you need is some basic DIY skills and tools to get started on your new project today!
The first step in building a retaining wall is to determine the slope of the land and how much soil you need to retain. You can do this by digging out soil from either side of your proposed wall location to see how much material you need.
The next step is to create a solid base for your retaining wall. This is done by pouring concrete around the base of your retaining wall and letting it set, which can take up to 24 hours.
You will then want to build up the sides of your retaining wall with bricks or blocks. To do so, lay out bricks on top of each other along one side of the retaining wall, using mortar between them as needed. Then, move over one brick’s length and repeat until you have reached the top of your wall’s desired height.
✅ Quick Decision Summary
- Gentle slope & low-cost → Wood (use pressure-treated or ground-contact, add drainage and deadmen).
- Moderate slope or desire for durability → Concrete (engineered) blocks.
- Steep slope or premium aesthetic → Natural stone or gabion solutions.