Lay high quality stones and use a geotextile backing to ensure the wall lasts a long time.
Building a dry stack stone retaining wall.
For dry stack walls the base should be as wide as the wall is tall.
Even if you don t plan to sit on your wall 3 feet is about as high as i would recommend building any dry stacked wall.
Try to cut the ditch into native soil rather than loose added soil as the former provides a more stable foundation for the wall.
Dig a ditch the length of the wall that is about a foot wide and 8 to 12 inches 20 5 cm 30 5 cm below the ground level.
Plan for good drainage proper width height ratio and distance between tiers.
Draw the wall to scale and measure the length and height.
Use a hand or power tamper to level the base.
This ditch will act as the wall s footing and prevent the rocks from sliding forward due to pressure from the earth behind.
Higher walls should be engineered for stability.
To build a natural dry stone retaining wall prepare the site.
Here are the basic steps involved in building a dry stack stone wall.
The ideal height for a dry stacked retaining wall is 18 to 22 inches so you can sit on it when your gardening chores are done.
Each layer of a dry stack wall is called a course.