The first step is to excavate a shallow trench the length of the planned wall that is wide enough for granular backfill behind the wall as well as deep enough for below grade placement.

Keeping things level in the first steps of installation is critical. Before laying the first course make sure the foundation is level.

Soil foundation should be compacted to at least 95% of standard Proctor density (the maximum density of the soil achieved in a laboratory using a standard amount of compaction effort).

After getting the first course down, make sure it is level and use sand to microlevel individual blocks.

Retaining wall systems designed for structural walls, like Keystone's (shown), use fiberglass pins to anchor each course. However, decorative retaining wall systems do not need pins.

Each course is backfilled immediately behind the wall for about 8 inches with a granular drainage aggregate and then further backfilled with compacted soil.