I'm planning on creating some short retaining walls/terraces around one side of my house to transition from my walkout basement to the front side of the house. I have an elevation change of 8' over a 20' distance.

My engineer recommended that I build short (under 4') retaining walls, rather than do anything bigger (which then requires his design and stamp).

I have a BH90 backhoe, and a FEL with quick-tach, and was thinking of getting some pallet forks.

I have tons of natural moss rock - (So much in fact, that local landscapers have been trying to sneak onto my property to "borrow" some rather large rocks).

What is the best way to go about building short (say 2-3') rock retaining walls. I have boulders in the 2-3' range. Should I cut terraces with the back hoe, use the FEL to put big rocks into place, and then use smaller one as capstones to the big ones? Should I be pouring a concrete wall behind them? Thoughts?

I'd like to put a little planter bed between each one, say 3 walls, 6' or so between walls, with some kind of small tree or whatnot between them.

Ideas, thoughts? I suppose that I could hire it out, and get a pretty good price with my local materials, but I was thinking it might be a good project for my new tractor, and I can probable do most of the work from above (level) or below (very mild, 1% grade)

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