My main dirt area is ammended with peat moss, sand, and mulch, and my drip hoses occupy the area between the retaining system and the wall. I placed dirt in between but did not pack, and being unamended clay, does not really allow water to soak in thus remaining dry and semi loose underneath. It is not visible above the mounding dirt, and it is 6" away from the wall itself. In between the sturdier support columns and the large drip system cement enclosure I made an interior retaining support system in 2 parts, made up of pressure treated 2圆's nailed to 8' by 2' 5'8 plywood, shaved at the top, and reinforced every 2 feet with 3/4 x 3 foot rebar. The bed portion against that wall is about 40 feet long, with 16" block front (4 high by 4"), and the dirt mounds to about 20" in the back. I did the same thing you are considering during the summer, and my wall between myself and the neigbor is exactly like yours, but textured and painted with 2 heavy coats of exterior paint. The soil in the bed has sand in it, so it drains well. I have lavendars on the other side of the bed and they are doing great, too. I think the idea was good, but we planted too many of them. Its hard to keep them trimmed close to the wall so as not interfere with the roses. These plants keep the wall cooler and look nice as a backdrop, but now they are a pain to trim because they have gotten so big. We planted tombstone rose in the corner and carolina jasmine on both sides against the wall. The other side of the wall is shared with a neighbor, but she has gravel mulch, so if there is a water problem, she never sees it. Wel, for many years after, sweetpeas sprouted on the other side of the wall! I guess the seeds dropped down there, and the water seeped underneath to keep them watered. The first year, I planted sweetpeas against the wall of my bed. One side backs onto a common area of desert. These walls are so sturdy, I don't think there is any danger from the pressure of soil, or too much water. I had told him I wanted roses and herbs, so that is where he said the sun would be best. When we moved in, our landscapers built us a corner raised bed in the back.
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