How to Landscape With Concrete Block Retaining Walls

Dig a trench in the location where you want the retaining wall. On a gradual slope, put the retaining wall in the middle. Dig out the lower part of the slope until it is flat, and place the soil you remove nearby; you will use it as fill behind the wall, on the upper part of the slope, making it flat as well.

Compact the soil where the wall will be, using a rented soil compactor or a sledgehammer. Lay landscape fabric down on the ground, leaving enough extra on the uphill side to cover the height of the entire retaining wall after it is completed.

Lay an initial concrete block on the ground at one end of the planned wall. Seat it firmly by tapping on it with a rubber mallet. Be sure that it is level by checking it in both directions with a level laid on top of it.

Complete the bottom row of concrete blocks by laying more blocks in the same way that you laid the first one.

Lay another course of concrete blocks on top of the first one, being careful to alternate the joints between the blocks so you don't have one joint directly above another one.

Continue adding courses of blocks until your retaining wall has reached the desired level. Walls that are less than 3 feet high can be perfectly vertical. Walls that are higher than that should be built to lean slightly toward the soil that the wall is retaining, helping to counteract the force of the soil.

Place the landscape fabric against the back of the wall and backfill behind it.