Designing a residential retaining wall with ornamental native plants

Overview

This residential design and management plan uses native plantings, local and sustainable materials, and high performance organic management. Locally sourced ECO-SAFE treated cedar is used for a retaining wall. Downy Arrowwood plantings provide native ornamental value and serve as host plant for Spring Azure butterflies and several nesting bird species. An organic and biodegradable weed barrier allows the plants to reach maturity without understory competition. 

The management plan incorporates a proprietary blend of organic inputs which improve the design’s health and its ecosystem services potential, including carbon storage and sequestration capacity.