Better Homes and Gardens (Australia)
PROJECT LOW RETAINING WALL
Gather your supplies
• 200 x 75mm x 2.4m treated pine sleepers
• Concrete mix
• 150mm landscape screws
• 20mm blue metal
• River sand
• Turf underlay
You’ll also need Shovel; wheelbarrow; post hole shovel; spirit level; stringline; clamps; drill blend – over the surface to about 5cm deep.
Lay turf along a straight edge. Cut lengths with hedging shears or a flat-edged spade.
Stagger rows as if you’re laying bricks. Make sure there are no gaps between joins.
Water turf well daily for the next week or two and keep foot traffic to a minimum.
When you can’t li turf from the soil, this means its roots have taken hold.
Reduce watering to once a week (more during hot weather).
Aer a month, you can do your first mow. Put mower on highest se ing, then reduce the se ing as the turf gets stronger.
• • • • • •
STEP 7 the corner. Make post centres 1.2m apart to suit 2.4m sleepers. Dig holes for each post 700mm deep, using a post hole shovel.
STEP 3 Concrete the end posts in place, set at the level for the garden, here by the step off the deck and also with each other.
STEP 4 Run a stringline along top corners of end posts and concrete in posts between them so their top edges meet the stringline and they are plumb. Mix concrete thoroughly in the hole. Leave to set.
STEP 5 Place bo om row of wall sleepers level on inside of posts, 200mm from top. Clamp to hold, predrill and join using 150mm landscape screws. Lay second row of sleepers on top of the first.
STEP 6 Fill behind the bo om of the wall with blue metal to promote drainage.
STEP 7 Backfill behind the wall with porous river sand. Stomp over filled sections to lightly compact as you go. Follow with turf underlay then lay turf (see below).