“Built a 2-3 foot retaining wall across our back yard. Great work!”
Walls built on solid bases with drainage behind them.
Green Acres builds block and natural stone retaining walls across Wilmington and New Castle County to stop erosion, level a yard, and add terraced beds or seating.
Tell us a little about your yard. We’ll reply within one business day.
🔒 Your info stays private. We never share contact details.
A retaining wall holds back soil on a slope, creates level ground for a lawn or patio, and controls erosion. A wall that lasts depends on its base, the material, and the drainage behind it.
Green Acres is a retaining wall contractor in Wilmington, DE that builds block and natural stone walls for slopes, terraces, planting beds and seating. We plan the drainage first, then the wall.
The material affects the look, the height you can build, and how the wall is engineered.
| Material | Look | Strengths | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Segmental concrete block | Uniform, many colors and textures | Interlocking, common for residential walls; good with geogrid on taller walls | Needs a compacted base and drainage; height limits apply |
| Natural stone and boulders | Irregular, natural | Blends into planted landscapes; built tight and stable | More labor and heavier equipment; see our natural stone page |
| Poured concrete | Smooth or finished | Rigid and strong for specific structural uses | Needs engineered design and good drainage; can crack without control joints |
Ask about financing for larger wall projects.
Rules vary by municipality, but a common line is around 4 feet of retained soil: taller walls generally need engineered plans and a permit, and shorter walls often do not. Tiered walls, walls with a driveway, building or slope above them, and walls near property lines get extra scrutiny.
We confirm requirements for your address, bring in an engineer when the project calls for it, and call 811 before digging.
We measure the slope, check soil and water, and talk through the goals.
We choose material and height, and confirm permit and engineering needs.
We dig to depth and compact a stone base.
Courses go up with backfill and a drain pipe to an outlet.
Caps, steps and plantings go on and the site is cleaned up.
“Built a 2-3 foot retaining wall across our back yard. Great work!”
“They did a great job and we are very happy with the work as well as the professionalism of the team.”
Recent reviews from homeowners, HOAs and property managers, pulled live from our Google Business Profile.
Many municipalities require a permit for walls above about 4 feet that retain soil, and tall walls, terraced walls or walls near structures, driveways or slopes commonly need engineered plans. Short garden walls often need neither. We confirm the rules for your address and tell you early if engineering is required.
The common choices are segmental concrete block, natural stone and boulders, and poured concrete. Block is the most common for residential walls, stone gives a natural look, and poured concrete suits specific structural needs. The best material depends on wall height, the soil behind it and the look you want.
Water adds pressure to the soil behind a wall, and in freeze-thaw weather it can push the wall over. A proper wall has compacted base, clean stone backfill and a perforated drain pipe leading to an outlet. Most failed walls are drainage failures, not material failures.
Wall length, height and face area are the main drivers, followed by material, site access for machines, excavation and haul-off of soil, drainage requirements, engineering and permits, and any steps, caps, lighting or railings. We provide a written quote after measuring the site.
A wall built on a compacted base with good drainage can last for decades. Lifespan depends on the material, how well water is managed behind it, soil conditions, and Delaware’s freeze-thaw cycles. Skipping base preparation or drainage is the fastest way to shorten a wall’s life.
Yes. Walls can be tiered into planting beds, topped with a seating cap, or built with integrated stone steps and lighting. We plan these features into the design at the start so the structure, drainage and finishes work together instead of being squeezed in later.
Tell us about your property and we’ll get back to you with a plan and a transparent estimate. No pressure, no obligation.
Tell us a little about your yard. We’ll reply within one business day.
🔒 Your info stays private. We never share contact details.
Our crews run out of 978 S Market St in Wilmington and serve homes, HOAs and businesses across northern Delaware.
Green Acres has cared for lawns and properties around Wilmington since 1998. We offer all-inclusive landscape maintenance packages so you can be sure your property is looking its best all year long!
Using our years of creative experience to achieve beauty is what sets us apart. Landscape material that is healthy, well-branched, and well-formed is used to create the best first impression.
