How to Landscape With Trees, Plants & Retaining Walls

Create your retaining walls with materials that fit in with your home's décor. Although poured concrete is a common and basic material for many types of retaining walls, other materials may provide more curb appeal. For instance, use brick and mortar to build retaining walls that match your brick home, or build low retaining walls out of native stones that match your stone walkways or contrast nicely with your patio pavers. Even cinder blocks and railroad ties can provide attractive materials for retention purposes. Use walls that curve and fit into your landscape, rather than straight, angular walls that stand out sharply.

Disguise the blunt top of retaining walls with attractive foliage. Incorporate compost and mulch into the soil behind the top side of your retaining walls to create a loose, well-drained growing medium. Smooth the area so it provides a level surface for planting. Place small vines and trailing ground covers, such as rock cress, ivy, sedum and creeping phlox, near the edge of the walls. To create bright bursts of color that seep over the front of your walls, select plants that contrast with the wall materials. Plant larger, mounding plants, such as asters and zinnias, directly behind your front row of trailing plants. This second row helps to create a lush cover of foliage that balances the visual weight of the retaining walls.

Place one or two small trees or shrubs in front of your retaining walls to add depth and interest. Plant ornamental trees to the sides of your retaining walls to draw attention toward the entryway or other attractive structures in your yard, such as fountains and pathways. Use small trees with compact root systems that won't disturb the structural stability of your retaining walls. Small ornamental trees and shrubs, such as crabapples, redbuds and lilacs, help to disguise the retaining walls while adding color and interest to your landscape.