Plantings along a retaining wall
By Grandizer67
Massachusetts,
United States 
I have a retaining wall at the edge of my front lawn that is roughly 3.5 feet tall. They put crushed stone behind the wall about 8 inches down from the top of the wall and about 2 feet wide. I put down topsoil and sod, but due to the drainage of the stone the grass goes dormant very early in the season and then that area is prone to weeds. The wall goes along my driveway as well as the front of the property, so I can't plant anything that gets too tall or I can't back out of my driveway. Does anyone have suggestions as to what can be planted that will look nice, not get too big (maybe 18 inches wide to 2 feet) and not too tall (like 12 - 18 inches at most)? I'll take a more recent photo, but the one below is what the front looked like just after the wall was built.
19 Jul, 2010
Answers
I'd treat it like a rockery or an alpine bed, your excellent drainage could be an opportunity. :-) There are suggestions for alpines if you click on "A" at the bottom of the page.
19 Jul, 2010
Thanks for the advice. We are off to see what is available at some of the local nurseries and get a better look at the plants themselves.
19 Jul, 2010
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I have a wall that i plant up, i have hardy Geraniums, Dianthus, Helianthemum, and ground cover roses.
For something taller, try Hebe, Cistus, prostrate rosemary, Euonymus, shrub roses, mid height phormiums, mid height Hypericum ...... the list is endless :-)
19 Jul, 2010