How to Build a Stone Garden Wall

Building a garden wall with stone is one of the best ways to boost your curb appeal and create a landscape that brings you joy. It can also be a profitable service to offer to your customers.

So in this article, I will walk you step-by-step through the process of building a stone garden wall the right way, so it stays flat and level for decades with zero maintenance.

You can use this design for garden bed edging, or you can use it for a small retaining wall if you are building a raised garden bed.

Let’s jump right in!

Tools

• Metal rake
• Spade shovel
• Flat nose shovel
• Digging bar (only needed for hard-packed rocky soil)
• Pickaxe (optional – same as above)
• Wheelbarrow
• Torpedo Level
• Standard level
• Line Level
• Mason line
• Measuring tape
• Stakes (wood or steel)
• Caulking gun
• Rubber mallet
• Mini sledgehammer
• Masons Chisel
• Hand tamper

Safety Equipment

• Gloves
• Eye protection
• Earplugs
• Knee pads

Materials

• Concrete Blocks (I used the Rumblestone by Pavestone)
• Construction Adhesive (one or two tubes is plenty for most walls)
• Paver Base (aka crushed stone base) – See below for the amount needed.
• 3/4″ rough gravel for drainage (optional)
• Leveling Sand (1 bag is all you need)

Step 1 – Design and Plan Your Wall

There are three main things you’ll want to know before you get started: the height, the location, and the type of blocks you’ll be using.

For the height, you may want the top of the wall to line up with a feature on your home or landscape. Or you may just want it to be a brick or two high. Do whatever makes sense for your situation.

Once you know the height, the location (entire path and length), and the blocks you’ll be using, you can figure out how many blocks to purchase.

How many blocks do you need?

In this tutorial, I’ll be using the Rumblestone series by Pavestone. I like these because they come in a variety of sizes, so I can create interesting patterns with my wall. They are also readily available and many home stores. I purchased mine from Home Depot.

To replicate the design shown in the video and pictures, here’s how many blocks you’ll need to build one row ten feet long.

• 6.3 large blocks (10.5″ x 7″ x 3.5″)
• 5.3 medium blocks (7″ x 7″ x 3.5″)
• 8.8 small blocks (1.75″ x 7″ x 3.5″)

So, if you wanted to build a wall that was twenty feet long and three rows high, then you would need 38 large blocks, 32 medium blocks, and 53 small blocks.

How much paver base do you need for your block wall?

I recommend you install a four-inch thick crushed stone base for your wall. Assuming you dig a trench that is about 10-12″ wide, then you will need about .5 cubic feet (1 bag) of paver base for every 1.5 feet in length of your wall. So, if you are building a twenty-foot-long wall, you’ll need about 13 bags of gravel base.

If you are building a wall over 40 feet long, then it will be more cost-effective to purchase your gravel base by the 1/2 yard at your local rock yard. One half-yard load of gravel base is the equivalent of about 27 bags of gravel base. Purchasing this way also reduces plastic ending up in a landfill.

Step 2 – Install a level string line

Once you’ve purchased your materials, it’s time to start construction. First, install a level string line by hammering stakes at each corner of your block wall and then pulling a string tight between them and using a line level to make the string perfectly level.

This string line will be used as a guide during the build. It will help you dig to a consistent depth. It will help you keep your wall straight during installation, and it will help to level your gravel base.

This step is optional, but it certainly helps speed up the process and makes it go a lot easier.

Place your string line about 2″ in front of where you want the front edge of your wall to be; that way, it’s out of your way during the build.

Step 3 – Dig!

Dig your trench using a flat-nose and spade shovel. A spade shovel will make it easier to dig down, and a flat-nose shovel will help you dig a square trench. I dug my trench to the width of my shovel, which worked perfectly for the 7″ wide Rumblestone blocks that I used.

You want to dig your trench to a depth of about six inches. That will give you room for four inches of packed gravel base and room to bury your first row of blocks by at least two inches.

You want your trench to be as close to level as possible. Use your string line to guide you as you dig.

If you are installing your wall on a slope, then you will be stepping your wall as it goes up the slope. So, you’ll need to dig steps into your trench as well. To determine where to place each step, dig starting at the bottom of the slope to 6″ deep. Then, as you continue digging a level trench up the slope, you’ll reach a point where your trench is 9.5″ deep. At that point, step up your trench and dig to a depth of 6″ again. Repeat this process for as many steps as you need. This will ensure you are able to bury your first row of blocks by at least 2″ and maintain a perfectly level block wall.

Step 4 – Install the gravel base

Once your trench is dug to the appropriate depth and width, add a gravel base to the trench in two-inch layers. Use a hand tamper to thoroughly pack each layer to create a solid foundation. Additionally, you want the gravel base to be damp so it compacts better. If it’s not already damp, spray it with a hose.

Level your gravel base as well. The easiest way to do this is to use your string line (which should be level) and use that to measure to the top of the gravel base. Use a rake to adjust the gravel as needed until it’s close to being level. Then, use a four-foot level to screed the top of the base and get it as level as you possibly can. The more level this is, the easier the next step will be.

Then, pack it one more time with a hand tamper and move on to the next step.

If you are installing your wall on a slope, only add the gravel base to the bottom step. You’ll add more once the bottom layer of blocks is installed.

Step 5 – Install the first layer of blocks

Start at the corners of your wall and begin installing the first layer of blocks. Use the string line as a guide to help position the blocks so the wall is straight, and use a torpedo level to ensure the blocks are level.

Getting each block perfectly level takes some time and some adjustment. To make this about a million times easier, use some leveling sand to make finer adjustments. You’ll want to use a torpedo level and a two-foot level to make sure the blocks are level front to back and side to side.

Take your time here. Once you have each stone level, give it a few taps with a rubber mallet to help set it in place.

Step 6 – Lock the first row in place

Once you have the entire first row installed, it’s time to add some material to the front and back of each block to lock them in place.

If you are planning to use your block wall as a small retaining wall for a raised garden bed, then it’s a good idea to add a six-inch layer of 3/4″ rough rock behind the wall for drainage. This will assist in allowing water to drain to avoid pressure buildup behind the wall.

Whatever you decide to do, pack the dirt or drainage rock down with a scrap piece of wood to lock the blocks in place.

Step 7 – Repeat steps 4-6 for each step in the wall

If you are building your wall on a slope, then you can now move up to the next step of the wall and add your gravel base just as you did on the bottom step. Pack it down so that it’s level with the top of the first layer of blocks, and continue through steps 4-6.

Step 8 – Install the second row of blocks

The rest of this process is fun and easy. Now that you have the first row of blocks in, the second row is a cakewalk because you’ve already built the foundation. Now it’s just a matter of stacking the blocks.

Make sure to stagger the seams on the blocks. You don’t want any seams lining up, or that will create weakness in your wall.

Lay each block for the entire row and adjust your pattern as necessary. Then, remove the entire row, placing each block in order so you can easily re-assemble. Then, add some construction adhesive to secure each block and push it down firmly. Make sure to sweep off any dirt or rocks from the wall that will make the wall uneven.

Step 9 – Rinse and Repeat!

Continue on as in step eight until your wall is at the desired height. Fit each row, remove, and then glue. You can build a wall up to three feet tall using this design. However, if you are planning to use this as a retaining wall, I wouldn’t go three feet high. Instead, check out this tutorial on how to build a retaining wall.

How to Cut Concrete Blocks

The easiest way to cut the blocks is to grab a mason’s chisel and a hammer. Mark the line where you want to cut the blocks, then lightly tap a small notch all the way around the block. Once you have a small indentation in the block, place the chisel on that line and give it a bigger hit.

If you’ve done this well, it will break off surprisingly well.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Building a stone garden wall is an easy project that anyone can do as long as they have patience and the right tools.

Just take your time, don’t rush or skip steps, and try to enjoy the process. The most difficult part is to level the first row of blocks, and if you find yourself getting frustrated, just take a break (maybe a few deep breaths) and come back with a fresh body and mind.

If done properly, your wall will outlast you! Enjoy this permanent and zero-maintenance improvement to your home.