[return to the red]

Originally Posted by Brotato

Thanks for all the replies everyone!

I might try doing it myself. I could rent the Home Depot pickup if I buy the Allen Blocks from there, so that might work, just need to scrounge up a wheel barrow from a neighbour!


So for laying the allen blocks:

I am not actually making a retaining wall so to speak, but more a 20" high (from ground level to top of bricks) raised planter / giant-ass shrub container. Do I need to do a layer down in the ground first? I imagine so, as a decent amount of earth will be contained inside the planter.

Rathji: That's a great point about easements, I will look into that before I do anything.

Well you don't have a ton of weight in behind it or on top. I built about a 30" x 18' planter out of allen blocks in the front of my place and excavated a trench about 2 inches larger on either side of the width of the blocks. I used some base rock that I picked up from totem. It's wet out of the bag so it compacts nicely just be sure to tamp it, Did about 4-6 inches of it but I live in Lethbridge and our soil here is clay so it's a pretty solid base in itself. It's been 2 years now and haven't noticed any sagging.

Here's a tip though that one of my landscapers gave me that not many people think about. After you are positive that you have everything the way you like it take some PL400 and put it underneath the caps. It is pretty annoying going out and seeing your caps all out of wack because the kids or animals have been walking across the top.