A handheld tamping tool can really help in getting the gravel level but you re right one stray stone can throw off the entire operation.
Retaining wall base gravel.
Retaining wall base trench.
Dig a base trench 24 in.
This is standard for all.
Next compact it and level it using either a hand or mechanical compactor.
Fill the trench with a 2 to 3 inch layer of paver base.
To keep the blocks on your retaining wall level and structurally sound you need a base layer of several inches of well compacted sharp gravel.
25 mm for each 1 ft 300 mm of wall height for the amount or buried block that is needed.
A retaining wall must have the strength to hold back the weight of the soil plants and sometimes small structures behind it.
Lay a 4 6 inch layer of the crushed base material in the trench.
More information on retaining walls where the base trench steps up a slope.
600 mm wide the length of the wall the depth of the trench will be 6 in.
Crucial for supporting the rest of the wall a good base is made of compacted soil and at least a six inch layer of compacted sand and gravel.
Round rocks such as pea gravel rolls and dislodge under pressure resulting in failure of the retaining wall.
150 mm plus an additional 1 in.
The taller a wall is the further below ground level it should be set.
Below is an overview of the different types of walls and these common components.
Retaining walls are designed to hold up a surcharge of soil such as a sloping hill or raised planter box.
Choose a paver base with landscape rocks between 1 2 inch and 3 4 inch in size.
A level base on which the wall sits.
Retaining walls can be constructed using a variety of materials from poured concrete and large timbers to natural stones even bricks.
Similar to gravel paver base is a form of construction aggregate that contains crushed rocks such as limestone.
All retaining walls share some common building components in their construction.
Also called drain tile at the base of the wall.