Landscape Design Tips for Using a Retaining Wall to Your Advantage in the South Middleton Township, PA, Area
A retaining wall is a useful masonry structure as it can prevent soil erosion and flooding water from adversely affecting your landscape. However, this type of structure can also add style to your South Middleton Township, PA, property when it is planned properly and built with care. Here are some ways to factor in the attractiveness of a retaining wall as plans for your landscape design are underway.
Add Outdoor Lighting
Your retaining wall will likely serve a primary purpose, but it can look nice while doing so. Add some outdoor lighting to the structure to brighten up your surrounding space. Your landscape contractor can install outdoor light fixtures on the top of the retaining wall or embed the lighting into the structure for a more evenly distributed glow. Outdoor lighting added to retaining walls is an especially good idea if your retaining wall surrounds your backyard patio as it will help to establish an ambiance for that area of your landscape.
Factor in the Look of the Paver Patio
Early on, it can make sense to consider how the look of your retaining wall will correspond with your paver patio. The wall could help to define your overall outdoor living space where the patio is the main attraction, and it may be possible to use materials that are very similar in terms of color and/or textures. The retaining wall can potentially provide some privacy to the patio and hellp to establish your ideal spot for relaxing and enjoying the outdoors.
Use It Within Your Outdoor Kitchen
Retaining walls can be constructed as part of your outdoor kitchen, to serve as the foundation for all your culinary delights. It’s here where you can place some of your cooking essentials or give a spot to prop beverage as you cook steaks and vegetables on the grill. If built to a particular height, the wall’s coping could also serve as a place for you or your guests to sit as you wait for the pizza to become bubbly hot in the wood-fired pizza oven.
Expand Your Entertaining Space
By helping to designate different spaces in your landscape, a retaining wall could help form where all the entertaining occurs. By acting as a seating wall, it can give parents a place to relax as they watch the kids run about the lawn or simply give you overflow seating when you send out extra RSVPs to your outdoor soiree.
Add a Natural Vibe with Plantings
You can make your retaining wall blend in with the natural surroundings by including plantings in the plans, such as by having flowers planted on top of a multi-tiered retaining wall structure or creating a planting bed at the base of the retaining wall. It may be possible to have flowering vines planted along the base of the retaining wall and have them grow upward along the top of the wall. If the retaining wall is built of natural stone, this landscape feature could provide a woodsy like feel to your outdoor living space.
Designate Property Borders
Retaining walls can also serve as borders between your land and that of your neighbors or between the roadway and your front yard. These sturdy structures give your property an elegant look while also drawing a clear line between what is yours and what is not. If you have retaining walls at your driveway entrance, a lovely wrought iron gate could be included for an exquisite look.