How to Lay Landscaping Fabric Behind a Retaining Wall

A retaining wall adds beauty and architectural interest to a landscape, providing a support wall around planting areas or other features in a yard. Building a retaining wall does not require extensive skill or experience because the stones or bricks fit together tightly without mortar in many cases. After building a retaining wall, take the time to lay landscaping fabric behind the stones or bricks to contain the soil. By creating a barrier, you can prevent the soil from seeping through the wall to preserve the integrity of your wall for many years.

Roll of landscape fabric
Scissors
Gravel
Soil
Decorative stone or mulch (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Unroll the landscape fabric the approximate depth of the cavity behind the wall.
- 2
  Place the edge of the landscape fabric down behind the retaining wall, allowing the edge to fall all the way down to the bottom of the cavity.
- 3
  Lay the landscape fabric still connected to the roll over the top edge of the retaining wall.
- 4
  Cut off the landscape fabric with the scissors so that the top edge of the fabric lies on top of the wall.
- 5
  Repeat the process with landscape fabric along the entire wall to create a barrier on the backside of the wall.
- 6
  Fill the cavity with gravel and soil. The Lowe's website recommends placing a 6-inch layer of gravel closest to the wall if your wall is taller than 2 1/2 feet. Pour a layer of gravel about 6 inches wide and 6 inches deep and then add soil to fill in the same depth as the gravel. Continue adding gravel and soil in 6-inch-deep layers to fill the cavity until you fill it completely.
- 7
  Cut off the extra landscape fabric lying on top of the retaining wall, making the fabric even with the top of the wall.
- 8
  Cover the fill you poured into the cavity with decorative stone or mulch, if you desire.

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