05 · Hardscape & Patios
Retaining Walls
Turn a slope you can't use into level ground you can.
What it covers
What retaining walls involves.
A sloped yard isn't just awkward to mow — it loses soil, sheds water across surfaces you don't want it on, and leaves you with ground you can't put anything on. A properly built retaining wall turns that slope into level, usable terraces.
Every wall depends on what's behind it: the soil, the height, the water and the load. We assess your site first, then recommend a wall type that suits it, and we'll tell you plainly when a project needs input from a licensed engineer.
Included in the scope
- Site, slope and soil assessment before any design
- Segmental block, natural stone and boulder wall options
- Excavation and compacted base footing
- Drainage gravel, filter fabric and weep provisions behind the wall
- Level terraces, planting pockets and step integration
- Tie-ins to patios, walkways and existing grades
Is this you?
When a retaining wall is the right answer
If two or three of these sound familiar, it's worth getting an assessment — most of the cost is in the underlying cause, and it's usually cheaper to fix before it spreads.
- 01A slope that washes out season after season
- 02Ground too steep to mow comfortably or use at all
- 03Soil creeping toward the house, driveway or a neighbour's lot
- 04An existing wall that's leaning, bowing, or visibly crumbling
- 05Beds and mulch sliding downhill with every rain
- 06An area you want flat for seating, planting or a shed pad
Why have it done properly
What you get out of it.
Doing this work well isn't complicated — it's just unforgiving of shortcuts, which is why the details below are the ones that matter.
Gains you usable ground
Terracing a slope converts wasted vertical space into level areas for lawn, beds, seating or storage.
Controls erosion properly
A wall built with the right base and backdrain holds soil in place instead of letting it wash out twice a year.
Reads as intentional design
Well-set walls give a sloped yard structure — they define levels and make the whole landscape look planned.
How it runs
The process, step by step.
Every estimate is free and every visit is on-site. Nothing is ordered or scheduled until you've seen the number.
- 01
Assess the site
We look at slope, soil, drainage, wall height and any loads above or below the wall before recommending a structure.
- 02
Design the wall
Type, batter, block or stone choice and drainage details are settled, along with anything requiring engineering input.
- 03
Build the base
The footing trench is excavated and compacted — the single most important part of wall construction.
- 04
Stack, drain and backfill
Courses are set, drainage gravel and fabric go in behind the wall, and backfill is placed with the terrace graded correctly.
Related work
Retaining Walls projects from our portfolio.
Photographs from real Jaramillo Landscape jobs where this service was part of the scope.
We're still adding photography from our retaining walls projects to this page. In the meantime, the full portfolio shows the kinds of outdoor work we deliver across the Treasure Valley.
Questions
Retaining Walls questions, answered.
The things homeowners ask us most about this specific work.
Often combined with
Services that usually come next to this one.
Landscaping work rarely happens in isolation. These are the services most often planned alongside this one.
Prefer to see everything at once? Browse all 16 services or look through the portfolio.
Service area
Serving Boise, Nampa, Meridian, Caldwell, Kuna, Eagle, Star and the surrounding Treasure Valley communities.
3500 W Pine Ave · We work on your property — we don't claim a walk-in office in every city we serve.
Free estimate
Get a number for your retaining walls project.
Tell us what you're seeing and we'll arrange a time to walk the property. Free, written, itemised — and you're under no obligation to go ahead.
In a hurry? Call 208-863-4371 and describe the problem — for repairs, that's often enough to get you a straight answer on the spot.
Retaining Walls · Treasure Valley, ID
Ready to get this sorted?
Free, no-obligation estimate for retaining walls anywhere in the Treasure Valley. We'll tell you honestly what's involved before anything is scheduled.