5 Ways a Retaining Wall Can Be Included in a Landscape Design in Cornwall NY

Retaining wall and paver patio in Cornwall and Chester, NY

Retaining wall and paver patio in Cornwall and Chester, NY

A retaining wall can be a surprisingly versatile landscape feature that can be incorporated in a number of outdoor spaces. Including a retaining wall in your Cornwall, NY, landscape design just might turn out to be your favorite part of the plan.

Related: Landscape Design Ideas for Small Backyards in Monroe and Washingtonville NY Areas

Control Erosion 

For a sloped yard, a retaining wall can be a lifesaver when it comes to erosion control. When the storm water rushes through your landscape, taking the new grass seed, mulch, and exposing the plant roots, a retaining wall can serve to divert the water to a better outlet near a municipal storm drain. Because effective drainage is part of a retaining wall design, the water is no longer a problem and your landscape can flourish.

Create Patio Space

If your backyard leaves very little space for a patio, then a retaining wall can be the solution you need. A beautiful retaining wall in natural bluestone or concrete paving stones can carve out as much space as you want for an outdoor patio. 

Once you have established the patio, you can add features such as a firepit to bring warmth and ambiance to your yard or an outdoor grill space to cook your favorite foods. Adding a pergola for a comfortable place to relax on a gorgeous afternoon can be the perfect accompaniment to a smaller patio.

Make a Transition

Some homes have a wonderful driveway that can hold several cars but the access to the front entry is somewhat difficult because of a hill. This can be the ideal spot for a transitional retaining wall that makes it possible to landscape the space between the front or back entry and the driveway. 

Incorporating wide, flat steps can make moving from the car to the door so much easier and safer, especially when you add in low level landscape lighting that is hidden from plain view but provides ample light after dark. 

Access the Street 

When the slope of the front yard makes it difficult for guests who park on the street to enter your front door, a retaining wall with steps can remedy that problem in the most amazing way. A retaining wall can follow the lines of your terrain or it can be linear or curving with steps that ascend from the sidewalk to your front entry, making the path from the street to the front door a breeze. An added bonus can be that the top of the wall and the sides of the steps can become a spot for your flower garden or some specially selected plants to make your landscape shine.  

Define Flower Beds

When you want to keep weeds and grass out of your flower beds and draw the attention to the blooming colors, a low retaining wall can do that. A landscape plan should be composed of both definite lines and free-flowing choices and adding definition with walls for your flower beds can visually establish boundaries. 

A landscape specialist has even more ways to incorporate a charming retaining wall into your Cornwall, NY, landscape design to maximize the ways you can use your outdoor spaces better.  Using visual interest and textured dimension, a stone retaining wall can bring more intimacy to a specific area, provide extra seating for large parties, or create a multi-level planting space. 

Related: The Many Uses of a Retaining Wall in Goshen and Monroe NY Areas