I screwed up the base of my retaining wall

I'm installing a 2 ft tall retaining wall w/ 4x8x12 concrete block (non-interlocking).

I ordered 5/8 clean gravel and have put most of it in the base trench. I read that I should have used 5/8 minus crushed rock. I'm guessing the minus rock will compact better and be more level to support the wall block than clean gravel.

I haven't totally filled my base trench; my idea was to add sand to the clean gravel that is there and mix is best I can before running a plate compactor over it....or perhaps just pour sand over the top and compact it?

Or is clean gravel by itself OK to set the block on?

Thanks for any advice

 

Welcome to the forums!

It's always been my understanding that block that is mortared together needs to have a concrete footer ..... but I'm a painter, wait and see what some of the others have to say.

 

do it as recommended in the other forum - sand is not compactible even w/proper moisture content as is graded aggregate base material

 

I certainly agree with marksr, if you are building a mortared wall the footings need to be poured concrete. Anything that's not will eventually flex and break the wall. You should also use a minimum block size of 8x8x16 for a retaining wall, the 4" blocks you have will topple over with minimum pressure from the backside.

 

Concrete footer below the frost line for mortared walls.

Short version is I think you need to start over at the planning stage. Sorry, I know that's not what you wanted to hear.