How to Lay Landscaping Fabric Behind a Retaining Wall

A retaining wall adds beauty and architectural interest to a landscape, providing a support wall around planting areas or other features in a yard. Building a retaining wall does not require extensive skill or experience because the stones or bricks fit together tightly without mortar in many cases. After building a retaining wall, take the time to lay landscaping fabric behind the stones or bricks to contain the soil. By creating a barrier, you can prevent the soil from seeping through the wall to preserve the integrity of your wall for many years.

Keep a retaining wall strong with a barrier behind it.

Step 1

Unroll the landscape fabric the approximate depth of the cavity behind the wall.

Step 2

Place the edge of the landscape fabric down behind the retaining wall, allowing the edge to fall all the way down to the bottom of the cavity.

Step 3

Lay the landscape fabric still connected to the roll over the top edge of the retaining wall.

Step 4

Cut off the landscape fabric with the scissors so that the top edge of the fabric lies on top of the wall.

Step 5

Repeat the process with landscape fabric along the entire wall to create a barrier on the backside of the wall.

Step 6

Fill the cavity with gravel and soil. The Lowe’s website recommends placing a 6-inch layer of gravel closest to the wall if your wall is taller than 2 1/2 feet. Pour a layer of gravel about 6 inches wide and 6 inches deep and then add soil to fill in the same depth as the gravel. Continue adding gravel and soil in 6-inch-deep layers to fill the cavity until you fill it completely.

Step 7

Cut off the extra landscape fabric lying on top of the retaining wall, making the fabric even with the top of the wall.

Step 8

Cover the fill you poured into the cavity with decorative stone or mulch, if you desire.