Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire what material to use as foundation below a short retaining wall?

I plan on constructing a short retaining wall (under 2 feet) about 30 feet long. I will be using retaining wall "stones" with the lip on the lower front. My question is what should I use as a foundation? Years ago I remember purchasing a cement/sand/gravel mixture by the yard, but I can't for the life of me remember what it was called. It wasn't dry, but not wet either. You could tamp it down, set, and level the first course on this stuff. What is the best way to do this? Thanks

I'd call the Ready-Mix plant you're getting it from and tell them what you're doing. They typically have guys there that play engineer better than you or I. Tell them how big you're planning on making the footer. Just the opinion of an old dumb Carpenter. Take it for what it's worth.

Gray sand

Something like this.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/15-Yards-Crushed-Stone-STCRB15/206668276

That's what they used even on the super tall engineered walls you see. Easy to compact and level.

Sounds like what we call Flowable Fill aka CLSM.

If you are using the lipped wedge shaped concrete retaining blocks commonly sold at the home centers, no footing is required. These step back as they rise so the weight of the blocks would not be over your footing anyway. The paver manufacturer should have installation instructions that pertain to their product.
When I use them I generally just level the base row on damp sand over compacted soil.

For something that small I'd just used some stone.

Cheapest drain rock you can buy delivered from a materials yard.

As stated above if you have no heaving problems you could also go bare dirt but you might have drainage issues the cause sloughing.

I also might use landscape fabric, rock and maybe a drain behind the wall but you have to figure all that out for your given location and circumstances.

around these parts we use packed #2 limestone for low walls like that. for a low wall like that i'd dig down a foot and pack 8" of limestone. i'd do it half again as wide as the block with the block more or less centered. of course you want to make sure to drain it properly with drain tile behind it and running out somewhere.

after rereading the OP, my suggestion might be a tad overkill for a 2 foot wall, but thats the way i do everything.

Really?

Walls 4 foot and taller in most states have to be designed by a licensed engineer.

The ones I have drafted taller than 4' had not only horizontal support like concrete footings, but vertical support as well, that was connected to the footings.

I put done crushed granite,bought it at Home Depot,also put large gravel and sloped it away from the wall and wrapped it in landscape mesh.my wall is about 4 feet tall .I wish you the BEST,you have allot of hard work coming at you.