Ways to use gabions on your land.

What is it?

Gabion – from the French gabion or Italian gabbione – a large cage. Initially used in military affairs and were boxes filled with sand or earth – they protected soldiers sitting in trenches or defending fortresses from bullets.

The photo shows a set of garden furniture made of mesh with stones

Gabion technology came to construction a little later, but it looked different: the mesh frame was filled with stones. The main purpose of stone gabions was initially to strengthen slopes from collapsing onto road surfaces or residential buildings, and the banks of water bodies (rivers, lakes) from erosion.

Today, gabions are used in various areas: not only as retaining walls, but also as budget natural decor. What can be created from a regular metal mesh filled with stones, we will tell in the section “Application options”.

What types are there?

Gabion products are divided into 3 main types: each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages, as well as a scope of application.

Cylindrical

Cylinders have recently been used exclusively as decorations, but were originally used to strengthen dams and bridge dumps.

Initially, stone cylinders resembled elongated sausages, with two tails at the edges like candies. Due to the lack of stiffeners and the use of a relatively soft metal mesh, the device resembled a bag of stones: it took any shape and usually several of these “bags” were simply stacked on top of each other on a slope.

Modern cylindrical gabions are a durable (sometimes even welded) structure that serves as a base for tables, decoration for fences, etc. By the way, in fences, the cavity does not even have to be closed from above – the stones will not go anywhere anyway.

Box-shaped

The standard type of gabion is a cube or parallelepiped made of double-twisted wire, resembling a large brick. The length, width and height of each side vary depending on the customer’s wishes, but on average it ranges from 50 to 250 cm.

The box variety can be used in any way: from direct protection of the slope from landslides to the creation of walls, furniture, fences. Stone boxes can even become the basis of a stove – assembling one is no more difficult than from brick or cinder block.

Although wire partitions are considered classic, welded cages with cells are more loved by designers, thanks to their neat, stylish appearance.

Flat

The second name of this design is mattress. Flat (20-30 cm) long (up to 5-6 meters) nets filled with stones have an undeniable advantage over the two previous types: they exactly repeat the contours of the landscape.

Flat gabions are used to make terraces, steps, foundations for small buildings. They are also used to strengthen slopes.

The photo shows the use of mattress gabions

What shapes and figures are used?

Gabions in landscape design rarely look like simply free-standing cubes or cylinders; often the types and shapes are combined with each other or with other materials, achieving a more interesting effect.

For example, a gabion fence on a site does not necessarily have to have straight corners or a flat top; the mesh can also be made wavy. Or make separate square boxes in a circle.

Of course, there are other options for shapes: in addition to a cylinder and a parallelepiped, you can use a ball, or even vase.

And if you take a cylinder as a basis, why not leave the center empty, like in this version with a well?

The photo shows spherical flower beds

For dessert – the most complex figured options. The mesh base can be woven or welded in the shape of a plant, animal – such sculptures will be a wonderful decoration for any area.

As for arches – here too gabions have no equal. But make sure the mesh is strong and can stay upright even when loaded with rocks.

Application options

I would like to start with the smallest, but most effective way to use gabions in the country: furniture! You can find ready-made garden solutions on sale that combine a table with a bench or a bench with a flower bed. Or make the furniture yourself, adding a comfortable wooden seat or a tabletop made of glass, wood or metal to the wire base and filler.

By the way, gabions for flowers are often created separately, without adding benches or tables: a free-standing stone flowerpot or a mini-garden fenced with a net with stones can serve as a flowerbed.

The base for the table is highly stable, so even a small post can support a tabletop of a large diameter.

The use of gabions is not limited to furniture. High gabions are often used to enclose an area: they simultaneously protect the area from prying eyes, noise, dust, and also decorate it.

The photo shows a fence made of stone and metal

Blind stone fences are rarely used, mainly to cover small areas – zoning. In the main fence, they are combined with metal or wooden inserts, less often – stone or brick.

Since both metal and stone are quite durable materials, gabions are an excellent basis for stoves, fireplaces, fire pits, ponds or fountains! The components do not break down under the influence of water and fire, so gabion structures will last for several decades.

In addition to the options listed in this section, gabion borders are also made, facades are decorated, and terraces with gabion stairs are created.

Which stone to choose?

Do you want to see gabions in your garden? We will tell you how to make them yourself, but first, let’s decide on the source materials. The design consists of 2 components: a box and a filler – stone.

Firstly, the stone should be larger than the cells – otherwise it will simply fall out. Secondly, it should remain solid and reliable for many years. For example, talc or gypsum will simply disintegrate after a few rains.

Suitable stone options for decoration:

• pebbles;
• granite;
• crushed stone;
• sandstone;
• basalt.

Choose the shade of the gabion filling to your taste: you can use single-color stones, mix them, lay them in layers.

Decorative gabions can be filled not only with stones: brick chips, terracotta flowerpots, pieces of tiles, artificial materials will do. There are even wooden gabions filled with individual branches or slabs.

Requirements for the mesh

When creating a gabion on a summer cottage, you cannot do without a mesh – it is what will hold the stones together.

In Russia, there is a special GOST R 52132-2003, which determines what the boxes for structures should be. But for private use, it is not necessary to study complex documentation – the main thing is to choose a durable galvanized mesh for gabions, with a diameter of ~2.5-3 mm, and twist it with the same wire, giving it the desired shape.

If you already have stones, select the mesh cell size for them. And the wire diameter for the type – the more static the base should be, the thicker the mesh can be, and vice versa: for mattress and mattress products, choose soft but durable blanks.

How to do it yourself?

The first stage before starting work is planning. You need to choose a plot of land near the house, calculate the dimensions of the future composition – from here you will know how much mesh and filler you will need.

Next, buy everything you need:

• mesh (ready-made is sold);
• staples and staple clamp or spiral rods to connect 2 elements;
• braces (connect two opposite walls).

You will also need metal shears or a grinder (depending on the diameter of the mesh), pliers, a hammer, a shovel, a level or a plumb line.

Prepare the base: remove weeds, level the terrain, fill the soil with dense soil or sand, tamp.

Assemble the gabion: first the side meshes and the bottom (we initially put it on top). Afterwards, we turn it over, if necessary, we connect individual boxes together, put in braces (stiffeners).

The open finished mesh is put in its place, gradually filled with stones – first one layer around the entire perimeter, then the second, third – and so on to the edges. It is better to choose the mass of stones with a fraction spread of 2-3 times – such can be laid more densely, the gabion will stand more stably.

After filling, the gabion is covered with a lid, decorated if necessary. Done!

Anyone can create a gabion structure on their site: watch a detailed video, repeat the simple steps and everything will definitely work out!

Examples in landscape design

In design projects, stone nets perform various functions, but most often they are combined with plants: for example, using them as a support for climbing species or as dividers between trees/bushes.

The photo shows a gabion in landscape design combined with plants

Original flowerbeds are no less popular – gabions act as flowerpots or fences in them. Moreover, flower beds can be simple, like vases or balls, or complex — hills, curls, multi-level structures.

Less often, gabions are used to frame gazebos: they can be used to make strong walls that protect those sitting inside from wind or rain. The photo below uses two shades of stones, which together create an original effect.

Gabions are massive, durable and very beautiful decorations for your site! Use them for their functional purpose or as decoration – one way or another, they will help create a stylish look for your site.