Retaining walls use a variety of materials: timber, concrete, and rock being three common ones. One possible way to use stone is in the form of rounded, free form boulders. Consider the following reasons to construct a boulder retaining wall in your garden.

Forms a Solid, Secure Barrier

These structures might look organic and free-flowing, but they're carefully planned. Far from heaping the rocks randomly in a pile, contractors handpick each one, scrutinising its shape and size, before carefully placing it within the whole structure. This naturalistic 'no makeup' look is carefully orchestrated boulder by boulder, to form an extremely stable and aesthetic barrier. Another form of a stone retaining wall is a gabion structure. These consist of a wire cage in any shape filled with rocks and boulders. 

Good Drainage

Another reason to build a boulder retaining wall is that they offer excellent drainage. Water can build up in the soil piled up on one side of these structures. If the moisture has no means to drain, the water-logged earth can pressure the wall. Some solid barriers, such as those using concrete or bricks, for instance, need special drainage channels built in. However, boulder retaining walls have natural gaps that allow for drainage because they don't fit tightly together, edge to edge. 

Durable and Low Maintenance

Once your retaining wall is in place, you won't have to do a lot of work to maintain it. These barriers typically last for many years, so long as they're built to be structurally sound. Once the earth settles around the rocks and plants spread within, the structure will grow even more stable. Boulders can handle all the elements such as sun, rain, wind, and hail, as they already have for many years in their wild state. Your wall won't need any particular care other than maintaining any vegetation that grows around the rocks.

Both Decorative and Functional

Boulder retaining walls can be both functional, holding back a mound of earth, and purely decorative. As well as making land more useful, you can construct ornamental raised garden beds and feature walls. Because boulders are relatively unmanicured themselves, being naturally rounded, you'll notice the beautiful colours and textures within the rock rather than being distracted by ornate trimmings and details. 

Thus, boulders create stable and sound retaining walls, which drain well and require little maintenance work. Plus, you can use them for many projects, ranging from creating levels to even out a slope to forming decorative garden bed walls.

For more information, contact a retaining wall contractor.