A Retaining Wall Tutorial

Apparently, some additional explanation of the retaining wall process is in order.

This is a segmental retaining wall block.  It's a modular system, so it doesn't need mortar like a regular CMU (aka cinderblock) wall does.  The left side that's most visible is the bottom of the block.  See that lip at the bottom?  It hangs over the back of the block below it and the pressure of the soil behind holds it in place.

For more hold, I use a few dollops of masonry adhesive under each block.

Once the blocks for one level are in place, I pull the landscape fabric up--it serves as a barrier behind the blocks--and put gravel behind it.  The gravel helps with drainage, and there is a French drain pipe at the bottom of the run to help direct water.

Voila! A retaining wall!

There are still a few more layers to go, but it's definitely taking shape.

Special thanks to my helpers, who sunned themselves while watching me today and occasionally tried to mark the blocks.