Choosing the Right Wall System for a Steep Yard

If your yard is sloped, hilly, or hard to use because of uneven terrain, you’re not alone. Many homeowners in Westfield and surrounding New Jersey towns struggle with steep properties that make landscaping, gardening, and even walking challenging. That’s where retaining walls come in.

At Haughey Brothers Landscaping, we help clients transform steep or sloped yards into safe, usable, and attractive spaces by designing and installing the right wall system for the terrain. But not all retaining walls are created equal. Choosing the right type of wall system is key to ensuring stability, durability, and long-term success.

Here’s what to consider—and how we help you make the right choice.

Why Steep Yards Need Specialized Wall Systems

Steep slopes create more than just landscaping limitations. They often cause:

• • Soil erosion after heavy rain
  • Water runoff toward the home or other structures
  • Usability issues like limited flat areas for patios or play spaces
  • Difficulty maintaining landscaping due to access and slope angle

Installing the wrong type of wall—or skipping the wall entirely—can lead to expensive repairs, drainage problems, or safety risks.

Our team specializes in engineered wall systems that not only hold back soil but also blend into your overall landscape and improve how you use the space.

Common Wall System Options for Sloped Properties

When choosing the best retaining wall system for a steep yard, it’s important to consider the function, aesthetic, longevity, and cost of each type. At Haughey Brothers Landscaping, we offer a range of retaining wall solutions tailored to your terrain, drainage needs, and design goals.

1. Segmental Retaining Walls (SRWs)

Segmental Retaining Walls are built using dry-stacked, interlocking modular blocks. These systems are engineered to handle soil pressure, making them a go-to solution for everything from small decorative walls to full-scale hillside stabilization.

Why SRWs are a top choice:

• • • Engineered performance – The interlocking design and ability to incorporate geogrid reinforcement allow these walls to retain substantial loads.
    • Design flexibility – They can be built in straight lines, sweeping curves, or multi-tiered configurations, adapting easily to your yard’s natural shape.
    • Aesthetic options – Available in numerous colors, finishes, and face styles, including modern, rustic, and natural stone looks.
    • Low maintenance – Since they’re mortarless and weather-resistant, they require very little upkeep after installation.

Our approach: At Haughey Brothers Landscaping, we use premium wall systems from Techo-Bloc and Cambridge, two of the industry’s most trusted names. Every SRW we build is installed with proper base preparation, drainage layers, and geogrid reinforcement when needed. We are NCMA-certified, which means our team follows nationally recognized standards for segmental wall construction.

2. Boulder Retaining Walls

Boulder walls provide a natural, rugged appearance that blends beautifully with wooded or rural landscapes. Instead of manufactured blocks, these walls use large, hand-placed stones to create a stable structure.

Boulder walls are ideal for:

• • • Large, open yards with dramatic slopes or elevation changes
    • Clients who prefer a rustic, organic look over a formal or polished one
    • Erosion control projects where the size and weight of the boulders help slow down water flow

Because of their size, boulder walls often don’t require mortar or reinforcement—gravity and proper placement do the work. However, they do require experience to build safely and effectively.

Our approach: We carefully source quality boulders and shape each wall for structural integrity and visual appeal. Proper drainage is always integrated to prevent hydrostatic pressure and erosion behind the wall.

3. Timber Retaining Walls

Treated timber walls are a budget-friendly option for homeowners needing short-term solutions or small decorative features. They offer a warm, natural look and are typically quicker to install than stone or concrete systems.

Timber walls are suitable when:

• • • You need a low-height retaining wall (typically under 3 feet)
    • The wall isn’t supporting heavy soil loads
    • You want a fast, affordable solution for temporary or lower-traffic areas

Important considerations:

• • • Timber is susceptible to rot, insect damage, and weathering, especially if drainage isn’t carefully managed.
    • Lifespan is generally shorter than concrete or stone options—expect around 10–15 years with proper care.

Our recommendation: If you like the natural warmth of wood but want greater durability, we suggest using wood-textured wall blocks from Techo-Bloc, which offer the aesthetic of timber with the longevity of stone.

4. Poured Concrete or Concrete Panel Walls

For properties that demand maximum strength or a highly contemporary style, poured concrete and precast panel walls provide a sleek, durable alternative to traditional block walls.

These walls are best for:

• • • Tall, structural walls required to hold back large soil volumes
    • Modern landscapes where clean lines and smooth surfaces are desired
    • Tight spaces where modular block systems may not be practical due to limited access or design constraints

Advantages of concrete wall systems:

• • • Extremely strong and long-lasting, with proper engineering
    • Minimal maintenance required once installed
    • Can be custom-formed or textured for decorative applications

Our approach: When we recommend concrete walls, we handle the site analysis, design, and engineering, and work with trusted concrete partners to ensure every project meets code and performance requirements. Drainage is always a key component of these builds to ensure the wall performs over the long term.

Site-Specific Factors We Consider

Choosing the right wall system isn’t just about the look—it’s about performance. During your consultation, we assess:

• • Slope grade and soil type
  • Drainage patterns and water movement
  • Space availability and access for equipment
  • Wall height and local permitting requirements
  • Aesthetics and overall landscape design goals

By addressing these factors up front, Haughey Brothers Landscaping ensures your retaining wall is built to last and look great for years to come.

Tiered Walls vs. Single Tall Wall

If your yard has a dramatic slope, building one tall retaining wall might seem like the obvious solution—but it’s not always the most effective or aesthetically pleasing choice. In many cases, tiered retaining walls offer a smarter, more practical approach.

Why we often recommend tiered walls:

• • Reduced pressure on each wall – By breaking the height into smaller segments, each wall retains less soil, reducing lateral pressure and lowering the risk of failure.
  • Improved structural stability – With properly spaced tiers, the load is distributed more evenly across the landscape. This makes the overall system more durable and resilient.
  • Opportunities for landscaping – The spaces between tiers can be used for planting beds, decorative rock features, or even built-in seating, adding visual interest and usable space.
  • More functional yard space – Tiered walls allow you to reclaim steep slopes by creating level areas for patios, play zones, or garden terraces.

While tiered systems offer many benefits, they also require expert design and precise construction. The walls must be spaced and engineered correctly to ensure drainage flows away from the structure, not between the tiers. Reinforcement materials like geogrid may also be needed to stabilize the soil between levels.

At Haughey Brothers Landscaping, we specialize in complex wall layouts like these. Our team handles everything—from planning and excavation to drainage and planting—so the final result is safe, functional, and beautifully integrated into your outdoor space.

Proudly Serving Central New Jersey

At Haughey Brothers Landscaping, we provide retaining wall design and installation services in Westfield, NJ and throughout the surrounding areas, including:

• • Berkeley Heights
  • Chatham
  • Cranford
  • Madison
  • Mountainside
  • New Providence
  • Scotch Plains
  • Short Hills
  • Springfield
  • Summit
  • Westfield

Let's Build a Yard That Works for You

Stop fighting with a steep yard—let us transform it.

Whether you need a small wall for erosion control or a large, multi-tiered system for a complete yard overhaul, Haughey Brothers Landscaping has the expertise, equipment, and craftsmanship to get it done right.

Call us today or request an estimate online. We proudly serve Central New Jersey with expert retaining wall construction, landscape design, drainage solutions, and more.