Design decision
Why this idea works
Using a single material family for the walls, planters, and terrace gives a garden a quiet, unified backbone that planting can soften and change with the seasons. The low horizontal lines organize the space and hold the planting at comfortable heights, so the garden reads as designed rather than assembled from unrelated parts.
- The tradeoff
- The layout sets a clear direction, but it also commits the project to fixed relationships. Plan the drainage and footings of each element before settling the composition.
- How to measure it
- Conceptual range: measure each wall, planter, and terrace as its own element rather than as one figure.
On your property
Plan it for your site
Keep the concrete a consistent tone and texture across the elements so they read as one family, and let the planting bring the color. Detail each element’s drainage and joints so the composition holds up without staining or cracking where the pieces meet.
- Give each planter and wall its own drainage and, where needed, its own footing.
- Keep a consistent concrete tone and finish so the elements read as a family.
- Detail the joints where terrace, walls, and planters meet so they can move without cracking.
Before forms are set
Build implications
- Confirm before estimating Drainage and footings sized for each element.
- Confirm before estimating A consistent finish and tone across the composition.
- Confirm before estimating Movement joints where separate elements meet.
- Measure the site and establish elevations Record boundaries, thresholds, grade changes, utilities, and the dimensions of vehicles, furniture, equipment, or structures that affect the layout.
- Test how the space will be used Check walking routes, turning paths, door swings, working clearances, maintenance access, and the route back to the house or street.
- Resolve drainage, services, and structural support Decide where water goes and coordinate drains, conduit, irrigation, fuel, electrical work, footings, and independent supports before forms are set.
- Define and estimate each concrete element Confirm the slab or footing section, base, joints, edges, and finish, then estimate simple measurable fields separately from steps, walls, drains, and supported features.
Prevent these problems
- Calling a retaining element decorativeA wall or planter that holds soil or water needs support, reinforcement, drainage, and often professional review.
- Hiding runoff with plantingA rain garden, swale, or planted edge must receive water intentionally and have a safe overflow route.
- Choosing the finish before defining the jobSeat walls, planters, edging, terraces, and retaining walls may look related but carry very different loads and details.
Next step
Turn the idea into your estimate
Enter measurements from the property. The conceptual image does not provide a takeoff.
Estimate a similar concrete featureQuestions this idea raises
Should all the concrete elements match?
A consistent tone and finish across walls, planters, and terrace gives a garden a unified backbone that planting softens, which usually reads best. Each element still needs its own drainage and support.
Can these be poured as one piece?
Walls, planters, and terraces are usually separate elements with their own footings, drainage, and movement joints, coordinated to look unified rather than cast as one. Plan them as related pieces.
- Best when
- Planters & seat walls
- Reconsider when
- Reconsider the idea if retained soil or water, footing and reinforcement needs, drainage, and long-term access cannot be resolved on the property.
- Verify first
- Plan the drainage and footings of each element before settling the composition.
- Professional input
- Landscape or concrete contractor; engineer for retaining or structurally loaded work
Sources and further reading
- American Concrete InstituteTechnical context for seat walls, planters, and small structural concrete elements.
- EPA: Types of Green InfrastructureContext for rain gardens, planted swales, and water-aware transitions beside concrete.
- NRMCA CIP 6: Joints in Concrete Slabs on GradeA starting point for jointing terraces, landings, and larger flat features.
