How to Landscape Around a Retention Wall

Plant ground cover plants or shrubs that are vigorous at the top surface of the retention wall to aid the wall and hold the soil in place. Creeping juniper and ivy can drape over the edge of the wall for appeal, while boxwoods, rhododendrons or holly can prevent children or pets from coming too close to the edge of the wall.

Determine the use of the area in front of the wall to place only small trees, shrubs and plants, or plan to leave room for a seating area or decorate the space with large boulders, statuary or birdbaths. Place these accessory items around the area as desired.

Select a variety of plants you enjoy that can grow in the sun or shady areas depending on which way your wall faces. Any plants you choose should be able to grow in damp soils, as the retaining wall may be redirecting runoff from the slope to its base.

Choose plants that come in different heights. A mix of plants that are nearly as tall as the wall, medium 1- to 2-foot-tall plants and creeping plants can provide visual interest and allow the eye to scan the area in front of the wall up and down without necessarily noticing the wall itself. For example, pair tall hydrangeas, medium hostas and creeping phlox.

Pick plants that display a variety of leaf colors, shapes and sizes to make each plant distinct rather than having all the plants blend together in a mass of green. Choose flowering perennial plants to add pops of color in front of the wall, or plant herbs like rosemary or lavender to add evergreen fragrance around the wall.

Plant the area in front of the wall once you’ve chosen your plants by placing the taller items closest to the wall and planting in front with the medium and short plants. Mix the plantings, depending on how much width you have in front of the wall, to avoid running the plants in formal rows.