This bed has a small retaining wall that has become loose.  It was replaced with one using larger blocks with a different color.

The old blocks were removed.  I used stone screenings to set the wall block.  Now I use rice stone with a little concrete sand.  This has less chance of sinking over time.  The new blocks are 12" (tan castlewall) retaining blocks.   A Home Depot product.  They were set using a ballast mallet.  Work began at the lowest part of the foundation and was built up. 

If the first row is set correctly, then other rows are easily added.  The customer was so happy with how it turned out that he wanted the work extended to the other end of the bed, and, capstones added over the whole structure.  

Blocks will be added from the pre-existing work area over to the right side of the bed. The back side was to remain open.  After extending the wall over, capstones will be cut on a wet saw and glued into place. 

When the wall was finished, I back-filled any area that needed topsoil to cover the stone screenings.

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In the front of this house, I built small retaining walls to hold in mulch and accent the border.

This photo shows a very short stretch that could use a little  character. 

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Another job required a small wall built so that the driveway could be extended up against it.  I built the wall with rebar supports to hold back the weight of the asphalt.

The ground is excavated for the foundation and holes made for the rebar supports.   After the supports comes the sub-base.

The blocks are set with the rebar going through their center.  There is no chance they will move due to force.

The blocks are carefully placed so that they are level and overlap. Small plastic pins are used to prevent sliding between block layers.

After the wall was finished.  The driveway was later expanded over to it.  The owner added his own touch by putting a fence on the lower side of the wall.