While on holiday, Eric was reading through a magazine and came across an article about WoodBlocX. He was immediately impressed by the numerous design options offered by the modular timber system and the high-quality wood preservative used to keep WoodBlocX structures in top shape for at least 15 years. The decision to choose WoodBlocX for his garden project was therefore very easy for him!
Eric’s garden wall with semi circular raised beds
Eric’s garden needed to be brought up to date. One of the problems was an old fence (13metres length x 1.8m tall) that separated his outdoor space from the neighbour’s garden. The wooden fence had been standing for 30 years but was falling apart and needed to be replaced. Rather than build another fence, Eric challenged himself with the opportunity to create a structure that would transform the border to replace the fence whilst providing planting and seating space in the garden.
Planning the Garden
Eric and his wife Twirly were inspired to design a garden wall that provided raised bed planting space to soften the perimeter whilst offering their neighbour something aesthetically pleasing to replace the fence. Although WoodBlocX has been used to building many different types of retaining garden walls, due to the bespoke aspect of this project our Free Design Service was the ideal place to start.
Eric sent us a drawing and measurements of the garden area. Our design team got to work right away and came up with a design that not only fitted the garden length perfectly, but it also solved the issue of supporting the garden wall to ensure it was structurally strong and durable. The initial design of the 1.05m tall wall provided bench seating between three large semi circle raised beds at 0.75m tall. Eric was delighted with our free and quick service and received a Design Pack proposal that included several technical drawings and a fixed price including delivery and taxes.
Preparation and building
The first step before building any WoodBlocX structure is to prepare the ground to ensure it is level and compacted. For Eric and Twirly, this also included removing the old wooden fence and digging a shallow channel to install the first layer of their wall. As the structure was being built on soil, Eric’s kit included galvanised ground spikes which were used to pin the design to the earth.
Eric and Twirly only worked on the project on weekends, so it took several weeks to build the full design. As WoodBlocX is modular and built layer by layer, you can take your time unlike brick or stone alternatives. Eric said: “Everything worked perfectly and the design was very detailed. The building instructions were easy to follow”.
To maximise the lifespan of the semi circular planters, an internal liner was installed to further protect the wood. Eric also added a stone border around the WoodBlocX structure to create a clean edge for the grass.
Finished Garden
Eric and Twirly’s finished WoodBlocX garden wall with raised beds and seating is spectacular! Stretching the entire length of the garden it creates a practical boundary to the neighbouring garden whilst offering planting areas and seating space to enjoy the garden.
Featuring two benches tucked between three large semi-circular raised beds, the garden wall has been built to 1.05m in height (the maximum WoodBlocX can be built to for safety standards). The 0.75m tall raised beds makes planting and watering a back-friendly affair and have provided ample space for the couple to grow three trees surrounded by numerous shrubs and plants.
Finished with a chestnut timber stain, bespoke bench cushions and a corten steel fire pit, this WoodBlocX garden project really is a showstopper! Watch this video to see the build from start to finish.
A satisfied WoodBlocX customer!
Eric said: "The construction was reminiscent of building with LEGO bricks and was incredibly fun! The timber is also sustainable. The design freedom and long service life in particular convinced us to choose the WoodBlocX design for our new garden wall with planters. We thoroughly recommend trying the Free Design Service to create something bespoke for your garden."
Use WoodBlocX to build a garden wall
Eric's design is a great example of the versatility that WoodBlocX offers. We can easily incorporate various elements including raised beds, seating and even raised ponds to help you create something truly unique for your garden!
