This is an example of a mid-sized mediterranean front yard partial sun garden in Orange County with a retaining wall and mulch.

More of Our Work

Berkeley Design Group

Photo of a mid-sized traditional sloped full sun garden for summer in Cincinnati with a retaining wall and concrete pavers.

Modern Curb Appeal

katie_shoemaker23

Modern curb appeal using Techo-Bloc's Graphix wall & Blu Grande smooth slabs.
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern front yard driveway in Other with a retaining wall.

Guernsey Garden

Acres Wild

Relaxed Family Garden, Channel Islands, UK
Large country backyard full sun garden in Channel Islands with a retaining wall and natural stone pavers for summer.

Mid-Century Patio Makeover - Waukesha

Ginkgo Leaf Studio

'Summer Beauty' allium and 'Rozanne' geranium curve around the fire pit circle. Westhauser Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional backyard garden in Milwaukee with brick pavers and a retaining wall.

Schmitz Residence

Blessing Landscapes

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional front yard partial sun formal garden in Portland with a retaining wall and natural stone pavers.

Retaining Planter Walls

Kraft Custom Construction

After completing an interior remodel for this mid-century home in the South Salem hills, we revived the old, rundown backyard and transformed it into an outdoor living room that reflects the openness of the new interior living space. We tied the outside and inside together to create a cohesive connection between the two. The yard was spread out with multiple elevations and tiers, throughout which we used to create “outdoor rooms” with separate seating, eating and gardening areas that flowed seamlessly from one to another. We installed a fire pit in the seating area, built-in pizza oven, wok and bar-b-que in the outdoor kitchen, and a soaking tub on the lower deck. The concrete dining table doubled as a ping pong table and required a boom truck to lift the pieces over the house and into the back yard. The result is an outdoor sanctuary the homeowners can effortlessly enjoy year-round.

Sausalito Patio Remodel With Natural Stone and Built in Grill/BBQ and Fence

Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

The compact front landscape of this Sausaltio home underwent a major transformation. Much of the failing concrete retaining walls were removed to gain more patio space. Ledger stone veneer was installed on existing walls. A new built-in BBQ/grill with full range bluestone for counter tops, patio floor and stairs. I also designed a contemporary, stepped, horizontal redwood fence along both sides of the sloped driveway. Low water plantings including low light succulents were included in this contemporary facelift. Photos: © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

School House Road Project

Belknap Landscape Company

This is an example of an expansive country front yard partial sun driveway for summer in Boston with a retaining wall and gravel.

Boulder Retaining Wall

Above and Beyond Complete Grounds Maintenance

Inspiration for a large beach style backyard full sun garden in Omaha with a retaining wall.

My Landscaping Work

Dave Ryan Landscaping Nantucket

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional backyard full sun formal garden in Boston with a retaining wall and natural stone pavers.

California drought-tolerant garden

Kaiser Gardens

This is a California xeriscape succulent garden. Clients wanted color and texture with drought-resistant plant materials. They enjoy garden sculptures, so we included a Buddha and a Roman bust planted with succulents. The previous owners of the property left behind some old San Francisco cobblestones, which we incorporated into the new design, using them as garden steps. We built low, raised beds out of stone, also existing on the property, and used containers along steps and against existing concrete walls to soften the hard surfaces.

Somis Residence

CJ Paone AIA | Archipelago Workshop

Detail of cast-in-place, board formed retaining wall behind concrete mounted LED landscape light fixture, all flanked by agave blue glow | Kurt Jordan Photography

Cape Cod Inn with New England Stone Cladding, Retaining Walls, and Water Feature

STONEYARD®

Cape Cod is a vacation hot spot due not only to its vicinity to amazing beaches and seafood, but also because of its historic seaside charm. The Winstead Inn & Beach Resort located in Harwich, MA, is the perfect place to enjoy everything Cape Cod has to offer. If you are lucky enough to stay in the "Commodore's Quarters" prepare to be greeted with the soothing sounds of moving water and the rich textures of historic natural stone. This charming getaway reminds you of years past with STONEYARD® Boston Blend™ Mosaic, a local natural stone that was used as cladding, on retaining walls, stair risers, and in a water feature. Corner stones were used around the top of the retaining walls and water feature to maintain the look and feel of full thickness stones. Visit www.stoneyard.com/winstead for more photos, info, and video!

Rock wall with lush tropical plantings

Matthew Giampietro Garden Design

This rock wall was created to compensate for the grade change between the road and the driveway. These large volcanic rocks planted with tropical landscaping create a cave affect in the driveway. Waterfalls Fountains & Gardens designed and installed the hardscape and rock garden walls.

Willow Glen

HWH Home and Garden

Daniel Photography Ltd.
Inspiration for a large traditional backyard garden in San Francisco with natural stone pavers and a retaining wall.

Stone Block Retaining Wall

Personal Touch Landscape & Gardening

Stone blocks are a great retaining wall material! They come in a variety or sizes, colors, and even stamped! Give us a call for your Colorado Springs retaining wall needs!

6" Limestone Retaining Walls & Steps

Topeka Landscape, Inc.

6" limestone retaining walls and steps with plantings.
Expansive traditional backyard garden in Other with a retaining wall.

My Projects

User

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional backyard full sun formal garden for spring in Newark with concrete pavers and a retaining wall.

A Boulder Alternative

Mary Kirk Menefee, Landscape Designer

The boulder wall also becomes the bones of a lively garden. A mix of evergreens and perennials ensures year-round interest. Design by Mary Kirk Menefee; installation by Merrifield Garden Center. Photo: Mary Kirk Menefee

Garden Design Ideas with a Retaining Wall

Get Inspired by Gardens on Houzz

A lot of the time when you get home from a long day at work, all you want to do is wind down. Where better to do this than in your very own garden at home? If you do it right, a great garden design can send you right into holiday mode. But where to start? There’s so many styles to choose from when it comes to garden design. Whether you want to create a tropical, modern, contemporary, beach style or country garden - or something else entirely - the large garden image gallery on Houzz has got you covered. Get inspired and collect your ideas to narrow down your desired garden style and features.

How to Create a Garden for Your Home

Depending on which style you’re going for, be sure to know what makes a garden and if it’s appropriate for your climate. You may want to consider adding a deck or other landscaping features, but the plants you choose will mostly dictate your style and what kind of ongoing maintenance is required. Don’t worry if your backyard isn’t very spacious - there are many plants that can thrive even in a small space and allow you to turn your space into a little paradise of your own, regardless of size.

Decide which plants to use

The greenery you choose is critical to your look. For example, if you’re trying to create a tropical garden palm trees and bamboo are your go-to options. Other popular options are golden cane palm trees and fern for ground cover. From there you can add some colour with bright flowers like frangipani, hibiscus or bromeliads. All these are actually quite hardy plants, so once established, your tropical garden is actually quite easy to maintain. Use this structure and apply it to your style. Research which plants you need to set your base for a garden and go from there.

Add some decor

If the plants don’t quite do it for you yet, or if you want to add some extra wow-factor, consider adding some extra features. Even if you can’t accommodate a swimming pool, hot tub or pond, you could look at smaller water features. Simple rocks can also have a great effect, while statues and gnomes will add some extra character. Don’t forget to add some furniture so you have a nice place to sit and enjoy your garden!

Need some help?

Once you know what you want your garden to look like, it may be hard to make it a reality on your own. If that is the case for you, consider consulting a professional to help you with your garden design. Every photo you find on Houzz will lead you to the local pro that did the job, so you won’t have a problem picking the perfect person to help! Whether you need a gardener in Brisbane, a landscape architect in Melbourne or a fireplace installer in Sydney, you can be sure to find one on Houzz.