Create Multi-Level Planting Areas: Add a Retaining Wall for Beautiful Perennial Shows in East Grand Rapids, MI
In East Grand Rapids, MI, creating multi-level planting areas with a retaining wall enhances the flow of outdoor spaces and highlights seasonal perennial shows. By adding a retaining wall, you can turn sloping areas into tiered spaces that maximize every inch, creating a beautiful display of color throughout the year. A well-planned retaining wall acts as the backbone of a functional, visually appealing design that seamlessly integrates with walkways and other structural elements, adding depth and variety.
Choosing the Right Materials for Lasting Appeal
Using natural stone for your retaining wall brings a timeless, organic quality that complements any landscape style. Natural stone offers texture and visual interest that highlight the rich colors of perennial plants. Its subtle, earthy tones allow the vivid blooms and foliage to stand out, adding dimension and contrast to each tier.
Each stone has its unique color variations, which only enhance as the years go by, giving the wall a sophisticated, enduring look. Concrete paver walkways work beautifully with natural stone retaining walls. The smooth lines of pavers juxtaposed with the rugged textures of natural stone create a balanced, cohesive look that guides you through each level of planting without overshadowing the natural beauty of the area.
Design Elements to Enhance Seasonal Blooms
With the structural foundation of the retaining wall in place, selecting perennials that bloom in different seasons ensures the landscape remains lively and visually engaging all year. Your landscape designer can group perennials by height and color on each tier for a cascading effect that shows off their unique beauty. For late summer and fall interest, plants like black-eyed Susans and asters bring bold color, while hostas, coneflowers, and sedums provide lush foliage and texture.
Low-growing perennials, like creeping thyme or heuchera, add a carpet of color close to the stone, enhancing its appearance and contrasting with taller perennials that bloom above. This layered arrangement draws the eye upward through each level, showcasing the seasonal display and making the most of each plant’s natural growth habits.
Related: Outdoor Cinema Nights in Grand Haven, MI: Setting the Scene With Perfect Outdoor Lighting
Accenting With Natural Stone for Beauty
Adding larger natural stones as accent pieces between planting areas introduces additional texture and visual interest. These stones break up the greenery and add subtle focal points to the retaining wall, creating pockets of interest that feel both intentional and organic.
Arranging these accent stones thoughtfully can also help define spaces within the tiers, giving a sense of purpose and organization to the design. When integrated with a concrete paver walkway, the effect is a welcoming look that flows naturally across the outdoor space, enhancing the sense of depth created by the multi-level planting areas.
Adding Outdoor Lighting for Evening Interest
Low-profile outdoor lighting can transform a multi-level landscape, especially in autumn, when soft evening light enhances the warm hues of seasonal plants. By installing outdoor lighting between the perennials or along the edges of the retaining wall, you create a gentle glow that adds warmth and depth.
The effect of landscape lighting on a multi-level design is both practical and beautiful, extending the enjoyment of the landscape into the evening hours. This ambient glow highlights the textures and colors of each planting and tier, creating a visually striking landscape that feels inviting and thoughtfully designed.
Related: Designing a Backyard Escape: Landscaping for Relaxation in Cascade and West Olive, MI
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
As a faith-based, veteran-owned company, we are passionate about creating beautiful outdoor spaces where our customers can retreat to find peace and connection with friends, family, and God. With nearly six decades in business, we are known as the premier lawn and landscape contractor in West Michigan. Using only premium materials, our artisans built a stunning poolscape oasis where our happy customer now spends her sacred Sundays enjoying the tranquility and beauty of nature.
