ABSTRACT
The retaining walls built in landscape work and to be described here are most likely to be of brick or stone, set in mortar on a concrete foundation or in situ or precast concrete on a concrete base; there are many different profiles which are selected according to the landscape design, and some of the most common profiles are shown in Figure 3.1. No one design is intrinsically better than another, since the strength of the wall depends on the selection of material and the correct design of the walL Other materials that can be used include dry stone and timber walling, while bags filled with aggregate, concreting sand and cement may also be used where they can be disguised with ground cover. Very low walls, particularly those to flower borders along the edges of informal footpaths and whose main function is to prevent the soil spilling on to the path, are made of timber sleepers or peat blocks. Composite walls made of more than one material usually consist of a structural reinforced concrete wall for stability, with a finish fixed to it that will enhance the wall and help to make it blend into the surrounding landscape; these finishes include tile, brick or timber.
