The greenhouse retaining wall was built using natural material because we know that wood of the Black Locust tree does not rot quickly. We had 3 non-native locust trees cut for the intention of using the wood for retaining walls.
Please visit the blog pages and posts for a recap:
Last Black Locust Trees Cut for Lumber
The big, thick lower trunks were cut into 3′ pieces to hold back the hillside under the persimmon tree.
The thinner upper trunks of the trees and thick branches were saved for the upper retaining wall.
We decided to cut the 12′ longs in half in order to move them into place. A handyman friend, Ernest, suggested we place the logs first and then cement in the 6×6 redwood posts since the logs are heavy and curvy.
The posts are 8′ tall and we used 5 for the long row. Slowly but surely we dug the post holes and cemented in the posts, attaching the wood with long, self-driving screws. Not having enough locust wood made us think “outside the box” to find an alternative. We had paid $40 for redwood mill scrap bark, and decided to use it for this project. Instead of milled redwood lumber, we can use the natural look of redwood bark.
Wood chips are ready to be spread around the retaining wall. Once this pile is moved, then we’ll have a big pile of drain rock dumped there to put inside the greenhouse and behind the wall.
To Do:
Cement in smaller 6×6 for front short wall, make a seat
Cement in 8′ 4×4 for entrance arbor (build arbor)
Lay down cement wire and drain fabric inside greenhouse
Fill greenhouse floor with drain rock
Build shelves along wall
Build decorative farm fence at front entrance
Order metal, greenhouse shelves
Level hillside behind wall
Attach roofing felt behind wall
Fill back of wall with drain rock
Finish wall behind other greenhouse, cement in 2 6′ 6x6s
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