Denician Angeleia

You can use a number of materials to build retaining walls; concrete, stone slabs, railroad ties, masonry blocks, uncut stones and limestone. Limestone retaining walls are great rage today, due to the fact that not only do they look good, but are easy to maintain as well. Having said that, it is important that it is well constructed and made leak proof, as water can seep through otherwise.

Limestone walls can be texturised to get many different looks, so it can look warm and appealing as a part of your garden or yard. The warm look also makes a great feature wall around which a great landscape design can be planned. As said above, if you want a long lasting wall, then it is best that you line it in the correct manner to get a weed free and non leaking wall. Here are some tips for the construction of the limestone retaining walls that are used for flowerbeds or decorative purposes. Please note, these are not support structures.

1. Dig out a level area in which you want to place your flowerbed and the limestone wall. Use a shovel to dig out this area in a shape that you desire. Make sure you shovel out any lumps or stones and also ensure that you fill out hollow areas to make the ground of level.

2. Then the next step is to begin by placing the limestone slabs to form the limestone walls for the wall. Make sure the slabs are placed end to end, against one another without using any mortar or concrete. Lay out the complete first level of the limestone wall. You could use a power saw with a concrete cutting blade to cut the limestone at the corners or where ever they meet some obstacles. (Note: Please be careful when using power tools and make sure you read the instructions correctly.)

3. Start then with the second level of the limestone wall by stacking the limestone slabs in a manner that they are laid out to form a brick wall pattern. Again, if need be, cut down the stone to size and then begin on the third level. Continue to do this until you have reached the desired height. If you are doing this for your flower beds, then build till at least a foot and a half.

4. Now this tip is for the flowerbed especially. Lay a plastic sheet in the bottom of the flower bed area. This plastic should come halfway up the wall. This sheet is placed so it prevents the flowerbed from leaking water and the soil out from the cracks in between the limestone slabs. This also prevents the weeds from growing through the flower bed.

5. After this, cover the bottom of the flowerbed with pea gravel and make sure that the layer is approximately two inches thick. This will help to hold the excess water from the root area of the flower that you plant in between the limestone walls.

6. After the pea gravel, add some potting soil on the rest of the flower bed, leaving approximately one limestone wall thickness from the top of the potting soil to the top of the wall.

7. You can then plant the flowers and other plants and then cover the top of the area with cedar wood chips that are level with the limestone wall. This will leave you with a great limestone retaining wall flowerbed.

If you are interested in getting a limestone wall constructed, then the stonemasons at Hardrock Stonemasonry can do it for you. For more information, please visit them at www.limestonewalls.com.au.

Some Materials that you will need:

• Work gloves

• Safety goggles

• Concrete cutting saw blade

• Limestone slabs

• Level

• Power saw

• Shovel

• Large sheet of plastic

• Pea gravel

• Potting soil

• Flowers and plants

• Scissors

• Cedar wood chips

NOTE: Please maintain all safety rules when using power tools in order to avoid injury.

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