Building Landscape Wall

Dry stacked or mortar set

The construction of landscape walls generally use one of two methods to make the wall functionally sound.  There is the oldest method known to man which uses gravity to make the stones stay in place and is called a “dry stacked wall”.  The other method uses Portland cement or mortar which acts like a glue to bind the stones in place.

Each method has its own plus and minus.  A well built dry stack wall often takes more skill and longer to construct, but actually should last longer than a wall using mortar.  The dry stack wall is a classic look that looks more “natural”.

Building a wall using mortar usually makes the wall go up quick and there can cost less per face foot of wall, but often these walls have large joints between the stones that shows the mortar which makes them look less natural.  It should also be noted that over time water, freeze thaw cycles and the movement of the earth can and usually will crack and degrade cement causing walls to shift.

In recent years, especially in New England, masons have been using dry stack principles, but reinforce their walls with a cement core.  The resulting look is one that is dry stacked (you don’t see the mortar) ,but the cement helps add stability and makes the project move quicker.