By Joe Provey and Bob Vila | Updated Dec 28, 2020 8:16 PM

Walls, normally thought of as interior design elements, are useful in landscaping, too. A landscaping wall can be freestanding to define an area, to provide a garden backdrop, or to create privacy. Or a landscaping wall can be used to retain earth after an excavation, such as for a driveway or patio. In the latter case, they’re called retaining walls.

Retaining walls have to work a lot harder than freestanding walls. In addition to supporting their own weight, they must resist lateral forces due to the soil being retained. Sometimes that soil is saturated with water, which can build tremendous force, especially with slow-to-drain, expansive clay soils.

Consequently, special provisions are made—or should be made—when building a retaining wall:

If there is no batter, or the anchors were inadequate or missing, or if the drains have become clogged, or if the base is not firm, a retaining wall may begin to tilt, settle, or buckle. Tree roots may add to the pressure as well; so can the weight of items placed on the ground above and behind the wall (e.g., parked vehicles or an outbuilding).

Whether a retaining wall is built of stone, block, concrete or wood, it can begin to lean. When this occurs, the homeowner has two choices: either demolish the wall, re-excavate, re-install drains and rebuild, or call in a foundation repair specialist.

A professional can quickly stabilize the wall and in many cases pull it back into its original position. Foundation repair companies are accustomed to fixing foundation walls using similar techniques.

One method used by foundation repair contractors that has gained widespread acceptance is to use helical anchors.

When this is done with the appropriate number of anchors, the wall is stabilized. Depending upon the situation, the nuts can be gradually tightened to move the wall back to its original position.

The use of helical anchors to restore a retaining wall is significantly less expensive than tearing down the wall and starting over. It is also far less disruptive, especially if the wall is alongside your driveway!

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