Gabions can be loaded with rocks to create visual barriers. These versatile wire structures can also be loaded with other materials and used to slow runoff or even to support vining plants. Once you’ve seen how easy it is to place and load gabions, you can find many uses for them on your property. Not only will they help solve common landscaping problems, but they will provide a unique look to your yard.
Create a Wall
Properly constructed, gabions can be pretty tall. A gabion wall can work if you need a wall to park behind and keep your car out of the sun. These rugged structures can also be filled with local stones to help your property fit into the landscape.
You will need to dig to create a solid base for your gabion wall. You’ll also need to ensure that your mesh is of a smaller gauge than your rocks. Before you begin your gabion wall project, make sure you have a source of rocks that offer the color and look you want.
Create Fence Posts
You can also use gabion mesh to create fence posts or other smaller structures to tie your landscape together. These structures are sturdy and offer tremendous stability. Again, you must dig to create a base for your gabion fence post.
As with any wall or fence line, measuring repeatedly and laying out your wall or fence posts right the first time is essential. Once it’s in place, moving a gabion wall will take a lot of work.
Once you have it properly laid out and the base dug down, your gabion wall will be pretty quick to put up. One of the great features of a gabion wall is that you can curve it to suit your needs and create an interesting visual feature in your landscape.
Build a Retaining Wall
One of the great things about a gabion wall is that it’s very porous. If you need to build a retaining wall to maintain soil on a steeply angled garden spot or even a patio, your gabion wall can serve as a porous retaining wall.
Heavy rains can lead to a washing away of the soil you’ve just added for flowers and veggies. With a gabion wall, you can add large rocks to the base to hold the wall in place, then fill in the middle gaps with gravel. This will allow rain to flow through the wall but keep dirt in place until the plants can stabilize the soil.
It may be necessary to have a landscaping professional help with your retaining wall if the ground is steeply sloped. All of those rocks are heavy; you don’t want your retaining wall sliding down the hill once you have it built.
Because gabion walls use mostly native materials, they can help you build walls that match with and flow through your local landscape. These walls can be decorative as well as functional and are extremely sturdy. They’ll stand the test of time.
Published by: Nelly Chavez
