Retaining Walls Add Curb Appeal
The best investment you can make in your home - both for your pocketbook and your personal enjoyment - is in landscaping. Real estate experts agree that every dollar you put into your yard eventually will return one to two dollars when you sell. And at a time when home values are sagging, that's something to consider.
You can add some amazing features to your yard with a modest amount of skill and labor. Fire pits with paver patios, retaining walls, columns, sidewalks and driveways all are within the capabilities of most do-it-yourselfers. Or, you can bring your ideas to a professional landscaper and leave the design and installation to them, no matter how complex.
In recent years, segmental retaining walls have become one of the most important tools in the hands of landscapers.
Segmental retaining wall systems lend themselves to phased landscaping projects built over a period of years, says O'Donahue. That's a trend landscape designers are seeing more of as homeowners have become more cost-conscious.
Some customers have a grand idea of what they ultimately want, but may not be able to afford all at once. So we work up a master plan for them, they start out with one phase, perhaps a circular paver patio with seat walls and a fire pit in the back yard. And that evolves over a period of years to a full-blown entertainment area, maybe an outdoor kitchen or bar, along with other features such as gardens or gazebos.
Sustainable, or "green," landscaping, also rapidly gaining in popularity, can add value to your home in other ways.
Low-rise retaining walls can be used in such features as rain gardens to significantly reduce storm water and pollutant runoff from surface areas. Plantable retaining walls provide earth stabilization while softening the appearance of a traditional retaining wall with vegetation.
Plantable wall systems essentially create a vertical garden while performing the function of a retaining wall. You can get really creative with the color and textures of plantings you use in the wall to achieve whatever look you want.
From "lifestyle landscaping" to "green landscaping," there's a retaining wall that can add appeal and value to your home. Whether you're a do-it-yourselfer or looking to hire someone, you'll be able to add a new dimension to your outdoor environment in time to entertain guests this summer.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
John Irwin is a professional landscaper in the Sacramento area and has been in business for more than 18 years. For more tips and strategies on creating the yard of your dreams visit www.royalgardenlandscaping.com.
