Not clear on what you propose? Are you considering coming out from the wall 3 feet or so and installing a landscape block/brick/or wood raised bed? I would not mulch with rock at all. Dirt and weeds get mixed in which has currently happened. What is the driveway made of-cement or gravel. You will need to leave enough clearance for getting car doors opened and walking room.

Hello frankielynnsie!

Thank you for responding. The driveway is asphalt. We want to leave adequate space between the raised beds and the retaining wall but also include some sort of weed suppression. Around the raised beds will look rough, I am seeking ideas on what could be a practical mulch around the beds. Where would you stop them?

Not clear what you’re trying to accomplish. If it’s just to make the area attractive I would consider using slate chips over weed blocker, with a clean edge. You could plant a few bushes that aren’t finicky. If that’s the best place for a planter box in which you want to grow veggies I would build a substantial rectangular raised bed that matches scale of your home. I’ve included a photo of my slate-mulched beds. Yes, costs more than wood mulch, but it’s one and done- forever.

I do like the idea of skate mulch however the soil is not able to be planted. We want to build a larger raised bed to plant flowers and or bushes in and we want to find a suitable long-term mulch to plant around it. I am seeking ideas on what to build the bed out of, how far to extend it and ideas on a suitable mulch for that area. I am assuming an edger will be needed to achieve the clean edge and to prevent it from spilling over into the driveway. @Susan Murin When you say a substantial bed that matches the scale of my home do you mind explaining that a bit further in-depth? Thank you for your feedback.

Please submit a few more photos of the area. Stand on the other side of the driveway and take a picture of the entire wall with the house behind it and then a closer up photo of the wall and driveway. You will get more responses this way and someone with landscaping photoshop abilities may be able to give you a mock up.

Here is a further back photo.

Just dig out the rocks and amend the soil. Then you can plot whatever you wish.

That last photo helps a lot. I would want to do something there, too. I would come out away from the wall with a landscape block wall that isn't too tall, maybe 3, four inch thick with topper., so 14 inch tall. Easy to do yourself. Fill with soil. Add a trellis with a reblooming rose and some short bushes and annuals in front. Leave a few feet in front of the landscape block. You could dig down and put a boarder of brick in front of the landscape block along the driveway. The wood bed doesn't go with the brick too well

Thank you for the great ideas. Researching landscape block now :)

I would do something similar to Frankie. Wish I could draw, but basically a second, much lower retaining wall in front of the other one. Bricks or rock would be very nice. This could look very elegant. Do a little research on retaining walls, because you need some drainage.

Then amend the soil behind the lower retaining wall with organic matter: peat moss, rotted manure, compost, etc.

To keep weeds down, mulch with several layers of newspaper, which will rot over time. I am not a fan of weed barrier. Over time you get fewer weeds anyway.

Mulch with pine straw, which you can buy by the bale or in bulk. It improves the soil without attracting termites, as hardwood mulch can. Pine or cedar can also work. I avoid mulch that is dyed, especially red.

Did the cannas survive?

A retaining wall has to be able to drain the water that collects behind it - or it will fail. In this case, it looks like there are some open-joint soldier bricks circled in BLUE. Those need to remain open, no covering with raised beds or an additional garden wall that requires a raised bed.

Also, brick and mortar is very porous. You don't ever want to push soil up against it, because it will soak up the water and lead to premature deterioration.

Thank you @3onthetree there is also a third drainage hole closer to the garage dug in the ground that we try to keep clean and free of debris. https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/construct-a-raised-garden-bed/

This is what we are discussing correct?

@latifolia!! How are you?!! So happy to see you took the time to comment! Only 3 survived but I see them coming up this year and already they are bigger than last. I always smile when I look at them!! Thank you thank you again.💜

Hate to Be a pest but it sounds like no raised beds due to drainage. Any ideas then to make the space more appealing?