3 Natural Ways to Use a Stone Wall in Your Landscape

Many stone walls exist in different environments, such as holding back a slope, creating a safe play area, and dividing a garden from a lawn.

Maybe you’re even dreaming of installing one in your yard. That’s a good idea because adding a stone wall to your outdoor living space creates a usable and eye-appealing area.

So, what are the different types of stone walls, and how can you use one to improve your landscape?

Stone Wall #1: Retaining Wall

A retaining wall is a sturdy structure often made of stone or brick. It is meant to hold soil in place, and it’s frequently used on hills or slopes to separate soil at two different elevations.

Retaining walls also help water-saturated soil that might otherwise slump and slide away from a foundation or damage the surrounding landscape. Retaining walls is necessary on many properties and can make lovely spots to sit, increasing your functional yard space.

Are you ready to build a retaining wall in your yard? Learn How to Build a Retaining Wall or How to Retain a Steep Slope.

Stone Wall #2: Garden Wall

Do you envision installing a short retaining wall? If so, you are likely thinking of a garden wall.

Garden walls are two to four feet tall. They can be built as purely decorative touches to your landscaping, or they may be built to hold flowers or vegetables. Garden walls can also be built low to the ground to separate grass and mulch (although this is most often considered edging).

Garden walls don’t have to be engineered; they can be stacked and glued. If you want more details on how to DIY one for your yard, building a garden wall is like building a stone planter. The only difference is instead of building a rectangle; you’ll create a line.

Stone Wall #3: Seating Wall

A seating wall is a retaining wall or garden wall that also doubles as useful seating for your outdoor area. If your patio construction requires a retaining wall due to grade, a seating wall will double the usability of your space.

The average height of a wall that doubles as seating is 18” to 21”, but this can vary. If you want to ensure that you have a safe and comfortable surface, the top of the wall where you will sit should be a minimum of 12” high.

A well-designed stone seating wall is a desirable feature that can increase the overall value of your home. One attractive option is to pair it with a fire pit—it’ll take the shape of a large circle around the pit or another such outdoor gathering area. A seating wall can also be ideal as the edge of an outdoor kitchen, or as a way to separate grass from mulch.

Download the Paver project design and planning guide

If you are ready to start your paver project, we have a guide that might help. Download our free Project Planning Guide so you can be prepared before you start your project.