#### **Current Situation:**
1. **Backyard Changes**:
– my backyard used to have a downward slope, with the highest point being the last step of the deck, sloping down to the fence (a difference of about 2 feet).
– I have raised the entire backyard by about 2 feet by installing pavers, resulting in the pavers ending with a retaining wall about 2 to 3 feet tall.
– The area between the retaining wall and the fence is about 2-3 feet wide, and the soil level is below the level of the pavers.
#### **Questions Asked:**
1. **Soil Near Fence**:
– Should i remove the big chunky clay soil near my fence?
2. Growing plant s
– Can any plants be grown in a place with lots of water and clay soil?
– Can you grow those plants very close to pavers and retaining walls?
3. **Plants for Specific Conditions**:
– Which plants tolerate water and can be planted close to pavers and retaining walls?
– Considering the area is mostly shaded due to the fence, what are the suitable plants for that condition
6. **Soil and Fence Considerations**:
– Can you put soil directly against the fence? Would it put too much pressure on the fence and block water drainage?
– for now I have put rock underneath the fence.
7. **Drainage and Erosion Control**:
– Would planting ground cover near the retaining wall, such as Creeping Jenny, help with drainage and soil erosion?
Thank you for contacting Toronto Master Gardeners regarding your significant backyard change. From your email I gather you now have a patio that is supported by a retaining wall which rises to a height of two feet at its end. This wall follows the original slope of your yard. The property is bordered by a wooden (?) fence which also follows the original slope of the property. There is a potential planting area of soil/gravel mix between the retaining wall, and the fence which is 2-3 feet wide.
Some parts of your questions are very specific to your space and growing conditions, but we will do our best to help you out. If you wish to add soil up against the fence, you may find value in discussing the strength of your fence with the installer of the fence, or a person from the store where you bought, or a landscaper. Here is a link to discussion about issues related to building up large amounts of soil against a fence Soil against a fence . This link contains some real food for thought about whether, or not, it is wise to add significant amounts of soil up against a fence.
My suggestions to your questions are as follows
- #6. If you plan on planting between the fence and retaining wall, I suggest you remove or breakup the large clay balls and remove the gravel. Clay has many nutrients in it, which become available when it is blended with soils with finer textures. I suggest you top dress this area with 4-5 inches of triple mix with a bit of digging in to break up the clay. You may wish to add a barrier between the soil and your fence. Something like a 6″high piece of cement board should work to protect your fence from moisture. Adding the weight of the small amount of additional soil against the fence should not be a problem.
- #3. Here are some links to suggestions for annuals, perennials and shrubs that might be suitable for the area which may be shady, sometimes very moist, sometimes dry, and with amended clay soil. The plants recommended in these articles should be able to survive in this situation. These plants should be planted in the middle of the border allowing a space between the plant and the fence and the retaining wall. Read their labels for spacing requirements. It is always wise to plant a cluster of three of the smaller plants like the annuals, then one of the larger plants, rather having only one of each type of plant in a long row. hardy perennials perennials annuals evergreens in pots. If you don’t want the trouble of climbing into the garden and amending the soil, you might consider securing several very large pots (plastic or fibreglass are light weight) and spacing them evenly along the garden. Place bricks under the pots so they all appear at the same level. Fill the pots with good potting soil and with bright annuals and perennials, or with a single shrub. You can even plant roses in large pots! The links above also discuss planting in pots. If you choose pots, you would need to heavily mulch the soil in the garden with something like large bark chips to avoid soil erosion if water runoff is a problem. Pots would be easier to deal with as they lift the plants into the sun, and you are better able to regulate their moisture. And I like your idea of a ground cover such as Creeping Jenny. You could plant a large number of the golden Creeping Jenny plants along the border and not bother with any other plants or pots, for an easy-care garden: or a smaller number mixed with the pots or among the dug-in plants. They would help with erosion too.
Hope your garden works out for you.