Landscape Blocks
Landscaping your backyard can be a great project for your family to enjoy, and the results will enable you to enjoy the great outdoors and your beautiful design. You will probably want to add some plants or shrubs, embellish natural features, and downplay areas of your yard that are not the best, so you need to make sure that you are using the right materials for your landscaping project. An overlooked material when designing your outdoor project is landscaping blocks, which are a useful and attractive addition to your backyard. You can also turn plain blocks into decorative retaining walls, raised flowerbeds or wandering pathways. There is not a big range of options for landscaping blocks, so no one will suffer from option paralysis and not know which specific color, shape or size is right for them. While landscaping blocks can be different shapes and sizes, the fundamentals are pretty much the same – interlocking or plain.
Both kinds of landscaping blocks require a prepared foundation by creating a foundation for the blocks that is level. You may want to lay down a waterproof membrane to enable with water drainage, especially in the case of a large retaining wall on a slope. Most of the landscaping blocks available in present days are designed for outdoor use, although some can, and are, used for interior finishes. A retaining wall, with proper engineering and design can provide a wall of landscaping blocks up to 50’ high. A wall such as this may be used on a hilly landscape where protection of dirt from erosion may be required. The upper part of the terrace may be used for a flowerbed or a living room.
While many varieties of landscaping blocks are available, the one-sided block is best when used as simply a facing. This means that one side will be part of a hill or material that it fronts. There are two-sided landscaping blocks that are used when both sides of them will be seen, such as a single bull-nose block. Different widths, heights, and lengths of block are available to make every project using landscaping blocks fairly easy to complete. However, it is necessary to plan the project in detail before beginning. This ensures you have all materials needed available when you start the project so you do not have to run out for more to complete it.
Using landscaping blocks in two different heights can give the appearance of steps, particularly aesthetically pleasing around a slightly raised pond or flowerbed. They can be used to surround a swimming pool or hot tub. Depending on the size of the block, what it is being used for and how high they are stacked, mortar may be needed for added stability. Blocks stacked one or two high probably do not need any form of bonding, but any higher will need to be cemented together.
Whether the landscaping blocks you select are round, square, oblong or just about any other shape imaginable, the selection of earth tone color and durability can provide a handsome decorative landscape, which will last for many years.