When considering landscaping for your property, one of the more significant features that you may wish to discuss with our landscape design team is retaining walls. Whether you are considering one retaining wall or more, they require careful thought to ensure that they are both structurally sound and add to rather than subtract from your garden's aesthetics. Let us explore what those retaining wall considerations are. Location It is first important to know that there is more than your preferences to consider when choosing the location of any retaining wall within your landscaping design. This is especially true if your garden borders a neighbouring property and your wall could, in effect, be facing their property as well as yours. As such you should discuss the wall with them in advance as well as any other neighbouring properties to ensure there are no objections. In addition, you will likely be required to comply with local building regulations that may be a factor in determining where you can locate a retaining wall if it is going to be higher than 1 metre. Other issues which may affect where you can locate the wall are nearby public utilities such as drainage systems. Type There are four main types of retaining walls, although variations of them can be created meaning that your choices are considerable. The four types are Anchored, Cantilever, Gravity, and Sheet. Anchored: These, as their name suggests, are anchored directly to the ground using cables. Rarer than the other types, they are often used for difficult or awkward spaces and scenarios. Cantilever: These are normally made from stone or concrete and are normally strengthened internally by steel bars. Often configured in an L-shape, they are extremely strong and ideal if you wish to create taller walls. Gravity: The name for these walls is derived from the fact that they are used to stop soil movement within a landscaped garden. They are made from concrete or stone blocks and are the perfect type if you want a short wall. Sheet Piling: This is a simple wall constructed using a thin sheet of either timber or steel at its core and these are placed into the ground. They work well in small spaces, but on occasion may require some anchoring....