Retaining Walls That Hold Strong & Look Stunning

A retaining wall is a structural element designed to hold back soil and manage grade changes. Its primary function is engineering. It prevents erosion, creates level usable areas on sloped properties, and protects landscape beds and hardscape surfaces from undermining. A seating wall is a lower, flat-topped wall typically built around a patio or fire feature to provide built-in seating and spatial definition. Both are frequently combined in the same project: a retaining wall levels a sloped yard and creates a terrace, and seating walls then define the entertaining space that results.

Apple Landscape Design builds retaining and seating walls using brick, natural stone, and Unilock wall systems, with material selection guided by the project's structural requirements, aesthetic goals, and budget. Unilock wall systems offer a wide range of finishes including natural stone textures and contemporary profiles, and are engineered for long-term structural performance in Illinois's climate. Natural stone and brick options suit properties with existing stonework or traditional architectural styles. All options are discussed and selected during the design phase.

Properties with sloped terrain, significant grade changes between the yard and the street or neighboring lots, or erosion-prone areas near landscape beds are strong candidates for retaining walls. In the western suburbs, many properties with split-level or raised yard configurations use retaining walls to create flat, usable outdoor areas for patios, fire features, or play spaces. Apple Landscape Design assesses each site's grade and drainage conditions during the consultation to determine whether a retaining wall is the right solution and what type of wall system the site requires.