Do you want to have real retaining wall in your garden? Have you already thought about the idea for gabions as decoration in the garden? Then just read on and find out more about this option for garden walls. The 27th annual Flower & Garden Show of the Northwest took place in Seattle in February. At the show, more than 300 vendors offered new, creative ideas and inspirational tips on how to make your own garden modern and trendy. One of the standout trends at this year's garden fair was the use of wire mesh baskets. From benches with colored glass bottles to walls filled with a mix of stone, moss and twinkling lights, it is now obvious this landscape element has taken a creative turn and can offer us a variety of new uses in the garden.
What are gabions actually?
Basically, gabions are metal cages or boxes filled with stones or other mostly earthen materials and are often used as retaining walls or other exterior walls. The cages are usually made of stainless steel or galvanized or powder-coated steel, which is formed into a rectangle using spiral ties or ring connecting elements. Due to the weight, friction force and ability to conform to the contours of the floor, no additional attachment to the floor is required.
Are they cost-effective?
They are considered a very cost-effective landscape element. The steel cages are most often made from a welded mesh. Depending on the filling, the costs can vary greatly. When recycled concrete is used, the cost can be relatively low. If decorative glass bottles or, for example, slate are used, the price increases accordingly.
The pros and cons
– They are built fairly simply. Due to the ability to adapt well to the surface of the earth once the gabion is filled, the gabion wall can withstand any changes in soil conditions or earth movements. It is even unnecessary to prepare the ground in a special way for the construction of a gabion or to smooth the surface.
– Their longevity is another essential factor. Water can flow through the voids between the rocks, eliminating the formation of hydrostatic pressure and reducing the risk of displacement or deformation over time. The inherent strength of the materials, which do not corrode over time, also makes the gabion durable.
– They have sustainable quality and protect the environment. Using recycled concrete or rock on-site in construction will greatly reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, as well as the associated fuel costs.
– They are also advantageous from an aesthetic point of view. They have the ability to blend perfectly into their natural environment.
– Undoubtedly, the wire mesh baskets in the garden also have certain disadvantages. For example, due to its size, it takes up quite a lot of space in the garden. Such a wall construction may not be suitable for a small garden where proportions are quite limited.
– Small animals can settle in the free spaces between the rocks. Depending on your personal views, you can also see this as a positive trait.
The stone baskets in the form of protective walls were developed from a practical point of view. They are used to hold up a slope, prevent erosion along a coastline or strengthen a military outpost. However, landscape architects and designers have now found new ways to utilize not only functionality in the landscape, but also its ability to increase aesthetic impact.
Gabions can also be used in the form of benches or taller planters. Due to the thickness of the gabion, which is usually between 0.30 cm and 0.70 cm wide, a low gabion wall can serve as a garden bench or take on another dual function as a plant container.
To achieve a professional look, you can cover your gabion bench with stone or wooden panels. Additionally, add lights to highlight the filling materials in the cages. When choosing fillersfor a retaining wallIt is important to ensure that the circumference of the material is large enough to be held in the mesh cage. As a rule, a diameter of 7.5 cm or more is required.
We've all heard the term "outdoor room," right? An exterior wall can literally separate one outdoor space from another. It also helps create a cohesive transition from the structure of the house to the more unstructured garden. While a gabion wall obviously has aesthetic functions to fulfill, it also has a purely practical appeal. In warm climates they cast a cool shade and can cool a room while it is still hot outside. Be creative by adding stones of different shapes, sizes and colors into the gabion to create interesting patterns.
Stones and concrete aren't the only options for infill. You can also use a fallen tree for this by arranging the cut tree trunks in the gabion. Allow spaces in the gabion wall to be filled with candles or other small objects. But be careful, don't leave burning candles there unattended!
As you can see, the practical wire mesh baskets have evolved beyond their purely functional tasks and moved strongly into the field of decorative garden design. Today they can be used in unexpected ways in the garden, including as fences and gates.
Such a structure can be used as a framework for almost any function in the garden. Here, gabion cages serve as a source for a waterfall and as a mailbox! There are subtle ways to make them integrated. For example, surround the base of a picnic table or the legs of a bench with gabion cage. Small details are enough to get the effect. You can e.g. B. decorate with plants. They can also have an industrial or somewhat raw look. Depending on your taste, you can tone this look down a bit. One option is to plant the base. Choose plants and colors that go well with the stones and even accentuate them.
Another option is to build lots of planters with green plants into a gabion wall. The plants must be drought resistant. As a result, you get a wall full of life and colors! They also soften the appearance of the gabion wall. You can easily and successfully add color and texture by choosing plants that thrive in rock gardens, such as ferns, sedums and various ground covers. Whether you decide to build the wire mesh baskets for practical and functional reasons or just for their aesthetic functions - it is clear that the possibilities are numerous.
