#Concrete landscape blocks how to

Garden edging to separate the lawn from the garden bed can be achieved with a single row of edging brick pavers but to create a visual feature and a distinct level change in the garden, build your edge to two or three courses high. This product can be laid either way up, providing a small edge with a mowing strip or a higher edge for planted out gardens.Ĭurves can be a great way to create movement and life in the garden, and in many garden styles, a curve will suit the concept but beware, the turf will grow up to your garden edge and lots of curves can be problematic for mowing so consider curves carefully and be prepared to spend more time maintaining your edges. Stop turf runners and create a defined look with the versatile Lawn Edge. Contact one of our representatives today to discover how you can customize our precast concrete wall systems products to build your retaining wall.For garden bed and edging ideas, read on as multi award winning landscape designer and DIY expert Jason Hodges shares his top Garden Edging ideas for great garden beds in any backyard. We Make Building a Retaining Wall EasyĪmerican Precast Concrete can make it easier for you to erect a retaining wall on your property. Doing so might require more infill material than you initially planned, but packing the material will be necessary for the wall’s integrity. You’ll need higher backfill to support the wall on the same side as any terrain you want to protect.įinally, make sure the backfill and the infill in the blocks are compact. As you fill in the blocks in sequence, make sure to add backfill as support behind the retaining wall.

#Concrete landscape blocks how to

Know How to Fill Hollow BlocksĪs you fill the hollow blocks of your precast retaining walls, avoid using products like soil and sand, as these materials can absorb moisture and expand, causing the same issues.

The area is already filled with matter, so rainwater and snow will be unable to amass inside the blocks, instead running off of them and accumulating on the ground. You can avoid a situation like that entirely by filling your hollow blocks with gravel or other stones. You may end up with entire sections of a retaining wall that need replacing. As temperatures drop and the collected moisture freezes (and by proxy, expands), the added stress on the concrete will cause it to crack. Rainwater, snow, and ice can all accumulate inside precast retaining walls composed of hollow blocks.

Filled Blocks Promote More Efficient Drainage Heavier blocks sit more securely, ensuring the interlocking pattern will remain fixed and tight. Filling each block will provide it with a greater surface area and increased weight. A solid block will have a larger surface area for interlocking with the other blocks surrounding it, whereas a hollow block will lack that surface area, resulting in a less adhesive lock. When you construct precast retaining walls that consist of concrete blocks, you’ll do so by using an interlocking pattern. You can increase the wall’s stability by filling the blocks with some form of infill, such as gravel. When you use precast concrete retaining walls that consist of hollow blocks, however, it’s important to recognize that the wall won’t be durable enough for your needs. In some cases, a block retaining wall may use negative spaces for design purposes, which also counts as a hollow retaining wall. There are a few advantages to erecting a hollow retaining wall, such as its lower manufacturing cost and greater insulation against sound. The following factors should encourage you to fill those negative spaces with materials like crushed rock or pea gravel: Hollow Precast Retaining Walls Are Less Stable

If you have installed a precast concrete retaining wall that is made of hollow blocks, you might consider leaving them that way, but doing so can be a costly mistake that can affect the longevity and durability of the wall.