How Landscape Retaining Walls Prevent Topsoil Loss and Exposed Roots on Sloped Properties
Reinholds, United States - July 8, 2026 / A Plus Landscaping /
REINHOLDS, PA - A large share of residential properties across Central Pennsylvania are situated on sloped terrain. For homeowners in Lancaster, Harrisburg, Hershey, and surrounding communities, that grade is often the reason a backyard remains underutilized. Retaining wall installation addresses that challenge directly by stabilizing the slope and creating the conditions necessary for the rest of the yard to function as intended.
A Plus Landscaping, a family-owned design-build company based in Reinholds, has been constructing retaining walls throughout Central PA since 2006. The company works with homeowners to address both the structural and design dimensions of sloped landscapes.
Erosion Control
On unretained slopes, rainfall moves soil downhill. After repeated rain cycles or freeze-thaw events, that erosion becomes visible through rutted ground, exposed roots, and depleted topsoil. A properly constructed retaining wall holds the soil in place and interrupts that process at its source.
"Many homeowners treat a slope as a permanent limitation to their property, but a properly engineered retaining wall completely changes how a yard functions," said Marcus Waldner, Founder of A Plus Landscaping. "In Central Pennsylvania, our severe freeze-thaw cycles put immense physical pressure on unmanaged soil. We don't just build walls as standalone fixes; we integrate built-in drainage systems to protect the landscape structure while transforming unusable slopes into flat, functional ground built to last for decades."
The wall functions as a physical barrier, redistributing the weight of the slope and keeping the soil profile stable across seasons. For Central PA properties, where frost depth and precipitation place consistent pressure on unmanaged grades, that structural function represents a critical requirement rather than an optional upgrade.
Drainage Management
Retaining walls that lack adequate drainage introduce serious structural vulnerabilities. Water accumulates hydrostatic pressure behind the wall face, which can cause displacement or complete structural failure over time. The drainage system installed behind and beneath the wall units is as important as the visible hardscape material itself.
Thorough planning ensures that every retaining wall layout incorporates the necessary drainage components. This technical process includes specialized base materials, clean drainage aggregate positioned behind the wall blocks, and a precise grading plan designed to direct water away from both the wall structure and the home's foundation.
Design and Usable Outdoor Space
Landscape retaining walls produce flat ground, delivering a structural benefit that an open slope cannot provide. That level surface makes a patio installation achievable, gives custom planting beds a stable foundation, and establishes defined tiers across a property to serve distinct functional purposes.
In Central PA, where properties frequently feature significant natural elevation changes, retaining wall installation is often the foundational project that makes subsequent renovations possible. The design team approaches these wall structures as part of a connected outdoor environment rather than an isolated solution, ensuring the completed hardscape integrates cleanly with custom patios, paver steps, and softscape layouts.
Homeowners interested in retaining wall installation or landscape retaining walls can reach A Plus Landscaping by phone or through the contact form at apluslandscaping.com/contact/.
About A Plus Landscaping
A Plus Landscaping is a family-owned outdoor living design-build company founded in 2006 by Marcus Waldner. The company serves homeowners across Central Pennsylvania, including Lancaster, Harrisburg, Hershey, Mechanicsburg, Middletown, and Reading. Services include retaining wall installation, paver patios, custom pools, outdoor kitchens, decks, and landscaping.
Contact Information
A Plus Landscaping
85 Creamery Rd, Reinholds, PA 17569
Phone: (717) 335-1690
Email: info@apluslandscaping.com
Contact Information:
A Plus Landscaping
85 Creamery Rd
Reinholds
Reinholds, Philadelphia 17569
United States
Joe Esh
+1-717-335-1690
https://apluslandscaping.com
