Timber Retaining Wall Design & Installation
Timber Walls with Natural Warmth
There’s something timeless about the look of a timber retaining wall—organic, warm, and perfectly suited for Minnesota’s natural surroundings. If you’re looking for a design that feels more at home in a woodland-style yard, Maple Crest Landscape offers expertly built timber walls that blend strength and style.
A Cost-Effective, Organic Solution
Timber walls aren’t just beautiful—they’re versatile, too. Because wood is easy to work with, timber walls often come with faster installation times and lower overall costs—without sacrificing visual impact.
Use them to:
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Retain slopes and prevent erosion
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Create elevated garden beds
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Frame pathways or stairways
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Add a cozy, rustic feel to your yard
Our Portfolio
See how our retaining wall designers have helped homeowners like you bring their dream landscape to life.
Choosing the Right Wood for Your Wall
Not all lumber is created equal—especially when it comes to long-term contact with soil and moisture.
At Maple Crest, we offer three proven options, each with its own strengths. Our team will help you select the material that aligns best with your aesthetic, budget, and landscape goals.
1. Redwood
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Naturally resistant to rot and insects
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Beautiful grain and rich color
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Best used with thicker cuts for strength
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Properly drained walls can last 20+ years
2. Pressure-Treated Fir
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Treated for increased moisture and insect resistance
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Strong and dense for structural stability
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Affordable and long-lasting when properly installed
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New ACQ treatment is safer for families and the environment
3. Reclaimed Railroad Ties
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Rich, seasoned look with unbeatable durability
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Treated with creosote for rot resistance
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Ideal for stacking, edging, and rustic garden features
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Eco-friendly choice with lower labor costs
Design Ideas and Enhancements
Simple structure. Elevated style.
Timber walls pair beautifully with natural landscaping elements like boulders, stone steps, and native plants. Want to soften the edges or add seasonal color? We recommend pairing them with hardy ground covers like Japanese Windflower (Anemone japonica)—a fall-blooming favorite that grows up to 3 feet tall and spreads gracefully across the wall.
What Our Clients Are Saying
We reached out to Maple Crest years ago to take on a small, behind the garage project. They did a wonderful job, and have been recreating our entire yard for the past 4 years! The pictures are of the behind the garage project. Then our lower patio, then the driveway. They did so much more around our garage and house.
Very responsive if you call or have questions.
Griffin and his team were so friendly, they felt like family for the past four years!
We highly recommend Maple Crest, and we will continue to do business with them if needed.
Carla
Maple Crest Landscape completed a new paver walkway for us. They were incredibly professional, communicated well with the timeline and changes due to weather, and the project turned out beautifully! We've worked with other landscape companies and they are the best!
Andrea
We contracted with Maple Crest Landscape to remove our old deck and replace it with a paver patio. To put it mildly we could not be more satisfied. From our initial meeting with Greg to design discussions with Dan to actual construction the process was flawless. Everyone involved was extremely professional and treated our property with the utmost respect--the yard was cleaned up every night. Communication was outstanding as they kept us updated so we always knew what to expect. Last but not least the quality and appearance of the finished patio was amazing.
When we have our next landscaping or hardscaping project Maple Crest will be our first call.
David
We contracted with Maple Crest Landscape to remove our old deck and replace it with a paver patio. To put it mildly we could not be more satisfied. From our initial meeting with Greg to design discussions with Dan to actual construction the process was flawless. Everyone involved was extremely professional and treated our property with the utmost respect--the yard was cleaned up every night. Communication was outstanding as they kept us updated so we always knew what to expect. Last but not least the quality and appearance of the finished patio was amazing.
When we have our next landscaping or hardscaping project Maple Crest will be our first call.
Keith
Have used Maple Crest Landscape for all our landscaping projects and they have always done a fabulous job from planning to completion! Communication with Dan is great and the crews are professional, courteous and respectful! Would highly recommend them for any landscape project!
Cindy & Jim
We are very happy with not only the outcome of our project but the process of working with Greg and his Maple Crest team. The communication was professional and timely before and during the project. They consulted with us on patio paver choice and we ended up going with Greg’s suggestion (vs the one we picked) and are really happy with the result.
Sara
Our Retaining Wall Process
From concept to completion, our streamlined process ensures a seamless experience.