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  1. Garden & Outdoor
  2. Garden
  3. Speciality: Retaining Wall

Formal Garden with a Retaining Wall Ideas and Designs

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Steps thru stone terraces to outdoor retreat
Steps thru stone terraces to outdoor retreat
Home & Garden Design, Atlanta - Danna Cain, ASLAHome & Garden Design, Atlanta - Danna Cain, ASLA
This photo was taken late summer when the drought tolerant rudbeckia black eyed susans are in full bloom. See also nanho blue butterfly bush and russian sage combined with annuals. Note the stepping stone steps that provide access from the driveway to the middle terrace then all the way up the hill to a bench that overlooks this lush butterfly garden. From there, the paths meander thru the woods and provide hours of nature play and exploration. A very interesting pollinator garden that supports wildlife. Photographer: Danna Cain, Home & Garden Design, Inc.
Classic Courtyard
Classic Courtyard
Linden L.A.N.D. GroupLinden L.A.N.D. Group
Rebecca Lindenmeyr
Photo of a large farmhouse back formal full sun garden in Burlington with a retaining wall and natural stone paving.
Terraced Garden
Terraced Garden
Christine Krause Design StudioChristine Krause Design Studio
The owners of this charming in town home engaged Christine Krause Design Studio to solve the issue of a steep grade off of the back of their home that was the only access to the back yard and existing vegetable garden. The clients also wished to add additional outdoor living space for entertaining friends and family as well as enjoying summer evenings outdoors. The clients were keen to have a clean, symmetrical feel to the new space. The construction included softening the grade, building a native stone retaining wall, adding a gentle sloping side area for access, and functional yet aesthetic steps that lead you out into the lawn and gardens. The material for the new steps is reclaimed granite. We constructed a lower level, curved retaining seat wall with a built in “table.” The client is an avid gardener and has lovely, well-tended gardens. The client and I worked together to create a planting palette that reflected the existing textures and colors of the existing plant material.
Private Backyard
Private Backyard
Dixon ProjectsDixon Projects
A private backyard gives this home additional outdoor space with cedar fencing, stone pavers and room to garden.
This is an example of a medium sized classic back formal partial sun garden for summer in New York with a retaining wall and natural stone paving.
Courtyard Oasis
Courtyard Oasis
sticks and stones Landscape Designsticks and stones Landscape Design
Photo by Peter Brennan
Inspiration for a small world-inspired courtyard formal full sun garden for summer in Sydney with brick paving and a retaining wall.
Kirkland Retaining Wall
Kirkland Retaining Wall
Sunny Seattle ConstructionSunny Seattle Construction
Photo of a large traditional back formal partial sun garden in Seattle with a retaining wall.
Sunset Eclectic Modern
Sunset Eclectic Modern
Seed Studio Landscape DesignSeed Studio Landscape Design
photo by Seed Studio, editing by TR PhotoStudio
Design ideas for a medium sized modern back formal full sun garden in San Francisco with a retaining wall and natural stone paving.
Retaining Walls
Retaining Walls
Twin Oaks Lawn and Landscape, Inc.Twin Oaks Lawn and Landscape, Inc.
Photo of a medium sized classic back formal partial sun garden for spring in New York with a retaining wall and mulch.
Schmitz Residence
Schmitz Residence
Blessing LandscapesBlessing Landscapes
Inspiration for a medium sized modern front formal partial sun garden in Portland with a retaining wall and natural stone paving.
Retaining Walls
Retaining Walls
Creative Fences & DecksCreative Fences & Decks
Photo of a medium sized world-inspired back formal partial sun garden in Portland with a retaining wall and natural stone paving.
Abiquiu Courtyard
Abiquiu Courtyard
radicleradicle
Stepping stone pathway.
Medium sized side formal partial sun garden for summer in Albuquerque with a retaining wall and natural stone paving.
My Projects
My Projects
UserUser
Design ideas for a medium sized traditional back formal full sun garden for spring in Newark with concrete paving and a retaining wall.
Rock Garden–Glocester, RI
Rock Garden–Glocester, RI
Andrew Grossman Landscape DesignAndrew Grossman Landscape Design
Rock garden bordering stone wall and viewing terrace. Plantings include a variety of evergreen groundcovers along with heathers, flowering shrubs, and low-maintenance perennials.
Retaining Walls
Retaining Walls
Accent LandscapesAccent Landscapes
Retaining walls are a great way to create more enjoyable outdoor space. They can be used to create level spaces for patios and outdoor living areas, planting and gardening beds, play areas, or lawn space.
Walls
Walls
Hartman Companies, Inc.Hartman Companies, Inc.
Inspiration for a large traditional sloped formal garden in Minneapolis with a retaining wall and brick paving.
Terraced Gardening Space
Terraced Gardening Space
Masseo Landscape Inc.Masseo Landscape Inc.
Rosetta's Dimensional steps still have the natural stone texture that perfectly compliments the Kodah stone we used here.
Inspiration for a small rustic side formal garden in New York with a retaining wall.
Lake Of The Pines
Lake Of The Pines
Native Edge LandscapesNative Edge Landscapes
Photo of a medium sized classic sloped formal partial sun garden for summer in Denver with a retaining wall and natural stone paving.
Farmington, Ct. landscape 1
Farmington, Ct. landscape 1
Old Farms Landscaping Inc.Old Farms Landscaping Inc.
Inspiration for a medium sized traditional back formal partial sun garden for spring in New York with a retaining wall and mulch.
Buena Vista Color
Buena Vista Color
Kaiser GardensKaiser Gardens
Inspiration for a traditional formal garden in San Francisco with a retaining wall.
Front Yard Simplicity
Front Yard Simplicity
STC BuildersSTC Builders
Photos by Joe Murgel
Photo of a small modern front formal full sun garden for summer in Toronto with a retaining wall and natural stone paving.

Formal Garden with a Retaining Wall Ideas and Designs

A beautifully designed garden is as important as the emphasis we place on the designs of our interiors. After all, our grounds (however modest) frame our homes and contribute to first impressions not only of our houses, but also of the households within. Options for garden designs can be as elaborate or low maintenance as your lifestyle and preferences permit – consider both your aspirations for how it should look and how much time you can invest in garden maintenance. Consulting a gardener or landscape designer will ensure you have a garden that suits your lifestyle, the local climate and soil conditions. But don’t forget that with Houzz your first stop can be collecting images of garden ideas and designs you love in order to inspire your garden plans and potentially share them with a landscape gardening professional.

How do I come up with a front garden design?

The priority for a front garden is kerb appeal. Begin by considering the area immediately around and leading up to your front door. You may want to opt for front garden designs that blend well with the style of your home – for example, abundant foliage and flowerbeds will perfectly complement a period property, whereas man-made materials, geometric shapes and contrasting textures are great ideas for a contemporary garden design. Even if your front garden is a small space, keep it tidy – if you have more space, make the most of it with garden ideas and features such as a manicured lawn, gravel driveway, water feature or garden fencing. If you don’t have the time or commitment to devote to gardening, then neatly pruned hedges, statement paving, hanging baskets, garden benches and outdoor lighting are all decorative, low maintenance garden ideas for your front garden design.

How should I design my back garden?

Back gardens typically offer more space than front garden designs and serve a more recreational purpose, so it’s important to know how you want to spend time in your garden before you design it in order to build in the features that you will enjoy. If you love relaxing in the garden and dining al fresco, think about patios, decking, garden furniture and BBQs. For the more horticulturally-inclined, incorporate flower beds, greenhouses or vegetable garden designs. Your landscape gardening professional can help you install structures such as sheds, pergolas and gazebos that complement your garden design, and artfully-placed garden ideas such as lawn edging and lighting will add definition to your chosen design.

How do I create a low maintenance garden?

The great news is, gardens aren’t exclusively for the green-fingered. Whether you’re not horticulturally-inclined or simply don’t have the time for a bit of landscape gardening, you can still have a garden design that looks the way you want by making some smart design choices. While many of us favour low maintenance gardens like urban gardens, roof terraces and patio gardens, lovers of greenery don’t need to sacrifice grass for paving slabs. Whatever you want from your garden, there are a variety of gardening solutions that can be built in to make life easier. For example, labour intensive features such as vegetable patches, greenhouses and flower beds can be optimised with an automatic irrigation system. These can be offset with fuss-free garden ideas such as hard landscaping, including gravel, paving or decking, and hard-wearing evergreens that require minimal upkeep. You might even consider replacing your garden fencing with slow growing hedging, which can be maintained less regularly than wooden fence panels. If having a lawn is important, there are different types of grasses in varying degrees of durability and maintenance. You may choose to take a more relaxed approach to your lawn – “wild” garden designs can have great charm if the grasses and flowers are chosen carefully. If you prefer a manicured lawn, it’s a good idea to invest in a “mulching” lawn mower that will recycle clippings and remove the need for cleaning up. Finally, there isn’t a more low maintenance garden lawn than artificial grass which can look highly realistic and keep your garden looking green. Garden ornaments are a great way to add interest to your low maintenance garden design – go for smart garden ideas such as solar garden lights which are both decorative and functional. Find some of the most popular design ideas on Houzz.
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