Date of publication: 11/25/2012
From gabion structures you can create many decorative elements for the garden. Thanks to their rectangular or square shape, they are easy to connect with each other and form complex, original and whimsical compositions. For the garden, gabions are suitable as garden furniture - a table, chair or bench. You can build a stone staircase from them, for which they are built in several layers. Using these structures as screens, you can divide the space, zone it, dividing it into separate sectors. In these cases, gabion structures made of stone can also serve as a kind of trellis, entwined with plants and flowers.
Trellis whose base is made of gabions are very popular. They are used to create various decorative small forms that fit perfectly into landscape design, decorate lawns and walking areas; they are produced in the form of baskets, rectangles, cubes, pyramids and even balls, after which they are filled with stones. Gabion structures make amazingly beautiful single flower beds and flower beds, which can be given any shape.
Many owners of suburban areas make gabion structures themselves, using steel mesh made from double twisted wire. It is best to use galvanized or PVC-coated wire, since these measures guarantee the resistance of the structure to atmospheric influences at high and low temperatures.
Stones are chosen depending on the architectural design and natural conditions. Gabion structures can be filled not only with stones or gravel; fragments of various materials, such as concrete blocks, are excellent. If you decorate them from the front side, you can get an extraordinary effect.
Today, high beds are very popular among gardeners in order to reduce bending over when planting, during care and during harvesting. In addition, a high bed significantly saves space on the site. If earlier amateur gardeners built such beds from auxiliary materials - scraps of boards, stakes, logs, today products such as geogrid or gabion structures have come to the aid of owners. An excellent high bed is assembled from wire mesh, and this can be done with your own hands and in a short time.
High beds created in gabions allow you to obtain highly fertile areas for planting, and there is no need to bring soil, peat, sand and manure to the site; it is enough to buy ready-made and sown soil and fill the gabion with it. It is advisable to install such mini-gardens in areas with insufficiently fertile soil.
In addition, such raised beds are economically beneficial, as they grow plants and vegetables in stages. First, early garden crops (onions, dill, lettuce, parsley, etc.) are grown in gabions, and then cucumbers, potatoes, tomatoes, and watermelons are planted. An important advantage of high beds made of gabions is protection from weeds, rodents and moles. Another advantage of beds of this type is that there is no need to wait for the soil to warm up; planting can begin much earlier than the accepted time frame for open ground. This is due to the fact that the finished soil has a constant temperature, and it contains geotextiles for reinforcement or a special mat made of coconut or jute fiber that protects the soil from possible freezing.
If you pour a thin layer of soil into a gabion structure and cover it with a film on top, you will get an ideal greenhouse. In addition, a high bed in a gabion is a ready-made composter, since throughout the entire season the removed weeds and excess tops are laid down, and in the autumn after harvesting, they are covered with soil.
And much more. The main requirements for future fencing are reliability, protection against penetration and burglary, durability and aesthetic qualities. It was these qualities that guided the German inventors who developed fences that are not like all the popular fences of our time. So, pergons and gabions. Let's look at what these structures are and how to build gabions with your own hands.
Design features and materials for the production of pergons
Pergons are universal fencing systems made in the form of steel boxes with various fillers. Their name combines two German words: “pergola”, which means a corridor made of bars, and “gabion”, i.e. a box filled with rubble, stone or pebbles and intended to strengthen barricades.
In Europe, fences made from pergoons were first used back in 2007, and now similar structures are gaining popularity in the domestic market. Pergons, which are also called bulk fences, are equipped with a support box made of metal mesh. The gabion mesh must be strong enough to support the weight of the fill material, as well as resistant to corrosion and breaking.
Processed glass, stone, pebbles, crushed stone, wood, concrete slabs and much more can be used as filler for creating pergons. Gabions can be installed on the foundation or directly on the ground. Installation of the structure is quite quick and easy. The choice of filler depends on the wishes of the customer. For example, bulk stone fences look reliable and impressive. Glass for gabions can have different colors and gives the fence lightness and aesthetics.
Purpose and advantages of gabions
Gabions and pergons have the same functional responsibilities as the fences we are all familiar with. They can act as fencing for houses, used for zoning garden plots, as well as for creating flower beds or decorating the walls of buildings. In addition to functionality and practicality, pergons are also famous for their aesthetic qualities. Thus, some landscape designers use them to decorate the garden, create single or multi-tiered flower beds, decorate artificial ponds, stairs or gazebos. The territory where the pergons are installed is characterized by harmony and tranquility. A stone fence made of gabions reminds of man’s closeness to nature and is in many ways superior to concrete or metal fences.
Decoration of the estate. A new look at site fencing
Owners of private houses or country cottages very often wonder how to choose a fence to enclose their property. And it’s true, because beautiful fences can also be quite reliable, durable and affordable. In the classical sense, a fence should be made of metal, brick or stone masonry, corrugated board, slate, reinforced concrete or wooden picket fence. It is no longer possible to surprise anyone with a familiar fence, and each such design has a lot of disadvantages.
Connoisseurs of originality and creativity should definitely familiarize themselves with pergons or gabions. These fences are bulk fences that retain the natural charm of stone or wood and go well with green lawns, decorative flowers or shrubs. Unlike stone structures, pergons do not require connecting stones with concrete. The bulk material is placed freely and held in place by a discreet mesh frame.
The height, thickness and dimensions of pergon sections vary widely. Individual blocks can be installed separately, at some distance or as a blank wall. Before buying gabions, you should decide on the functional purpose, location of the gabion and the surrounding landscape design elements. For example, gabions acting as a fence can be supplemented with flower beds made of pergons, paths paved with similar stones, artificial ponds, bridges and other design elements.
Gabions also look very interesting in combination with hedges. Of course, in winter their appearance is less interesting, so such fences are best used when constructing summer gazebos or for zoning recreation areas. Buy pergons Available in almost any color scheme. For example, fences filled with white limestone, pink or blue-gray marble look impressive. Thanks to the combination of different fillers, you can get pergons with all kinds of patterns and designs. Even ordinary large stones can become a real highlight of a personal plot with the right approach.
Scope of application of pergons and gabions
The use of pergons and gabions directly depends on their size and configuration. Very often they are used to create such structures:
- Fences and fences. Pergons with a height of 60–240 cm are suitable for these purposes. Such fences are highly durable, reliable and durable. They are designed to protect the site from unwanted intrusion, prying eyes or zoning of space. In some cases, a gabion fence can be supplemented with a strip foundation, hedge or stone path.
- Beds and flower beds. Using gabions, you can create high or multi-tiered beds, decorative flower beds of different heights and sizes. They also allow you to increase crop yields, make it easier to care for plants, or make your garden tidy and aesthetically pleasing.
- Facades and interior decoration of houses. Pergons and gabions allow you to decorate the facades of buildings and give the building an impressive and respectable appearance. Using these designs and by combining bulk material of different colors and fractions, you can realize any ideas and ideas. In addition to outdoor work, pergons can be used inside residential buildings, entertainment venues, restaurants and boutiques. Modern technologies and high-strength materials make it possible to create pergons with a thickness of less than 15 cm. Thanks to this, they are used on summer areas of cafes, for finishing terraces, balconies and loggias without losing useful space.
- Garden and decorative elements. The use of gabions in the garden is not limited to flower beds and flowerpots. With their help, you can also create gazebos, arches, obelisks, labyrinths, artificial ponds and other design elements that will make your garden plot very attractive and cozy.
Modern fence and its cost. Gabions price
The price set for modern fences usually depends on the cost of the base materials, as well as the complexity of the work associated with their production and installation. The same principle is used to determine the cost of pergolas that are just appearing on our construction market. The design of gabions involves the use of metal mesh and bulk material, the cost of which determines the price indicated for gabions.
While pergola mesh is usually inexpensive, prices for aggregate can vary greatly. The most expensive option is usually natural stone. Pergons filled with marble can have an impressive cost, approximately 200–700 euros for a section measuring 2–2.5 m. Less expensive are pergons filled with glass, wood, concrete elements or artificial stone. Also, the cost of gabions is influenced by the size of the sections, type of fastening, presence or absence of a foundation, and additional decorative elements.
You can save money and build pergons inexpensively by building similar structures yourself. No special skills or technically complex techniques are required. It will only be enough to purchase basic materials, as well as familiarize yourself with information on how to make pergons with your own hands.
How to make a gabion or pergon yourself
Making gabions is much easier and cheaper than building a stone fence with your own hands. The fact is that pergons or gabions do not provide for mechanical fastening of the filler. These designs are based on the use of a metal frame that can withstand heavy loads, for example, in the form of a mound of natural stone of a large fraction.
You can build gabions with your own hands on an existing foundation, a solid foundation in the form of asphalt, a blind area, a concrete floor, or directly on the ground. The base surface must be smooth and previously cleared of debris. The supporting structure is usually rack posts, which are equipped with flanges in the lower part and attached to the base using dowels or anchors. The optimal material for making racks is a rod with a diameter of 8–10 mm.
The power grid can be made, for example, from galvanized rod with a diameter of 5–6 mm. The cell dimensions depend on the selected bulk material. For example, for a fraction of 50–90 cm, a grid with cells of 5x20 cm is suitable, for a fraction of 22–32 mm - 2.5x20 cm. This approach will prevent material from spilling out through the cells and will help avoid the appearance of unwanted voids.
Depending on the overall dimensions of the pergons and the weight of bulk materials, the structure can be equipped with additional stiffeners or double rods. The main load falls on the supports, so they must be firmly fixed. Since a foundation is not required for gabions, the cost of their construction is significantly reduced. When building such fences with your own hands, the price of gabions will be determined only by the cost of the metal profile, bulk material and fasteners. You can build gabions with your own hands using supports from an old fence. In this case, the load placed on them and the dimensions of the future grid should be taken into account.
Options for design solutions when constructing gabions and pergons (photo)
The simplest are rectangular gabions. They can be used as fencing, for decorating flower beds or creating beds. However, pergons and gabions can take other forms. For example, gabions of round, oval, spiral shape, single-tiered or composite, are very often used for flower beds.
Any material is suitable as a filler, including construction residues. It all depends on the landscape design and the taste of the artist. Gabions with decorative colored stone, river pebbles or glass look very interesting. There may be other fillers. Broken tiles, fragments of concrete or brick are also suitable for these purposes. The filler can be placed randomly or neatly in a steel box. By using filler of different fractions or colors, you can get fences with interesting colored or textured patterns.
Designer fences made of gabions
Gabions themselves are atypical solutions for the manufacture of fencing. However, you can also be creative in creating them. For example, a fence for a private house can be made of steel sheets, corrugated board or hardboard, combining the base material with gabion sections. When filling pergons, you can leave space for the substrate. In the future, this will make it possible to carry out vertical gardening and plant decorative annual or perennial plants.
A gabion fence has high mechanical strength and eliminates the possibility of break-in. Its metal elements must have an anti-corrosion coating to prevent premature wear and loss of aesthetic qualities. The bulk material can be replaced with another if desired. With proper installation of gabions, the guaranteed service life will be at least 50 years. 
Experienced gardeners claim that high beds can speed up the ripening of fruits and significantly increase plant yields. That is why raised beds have long been used in summer cottages or garden plots. Traditionally, wooden boards are used to create such beds, which soon require replacement. The construction of high beds using pergons helps to increase their service life and make the garden more attractive and tidy.
The thickness of the pergons for cladding facades can be 12 cm or more. The filler is small stone, pebbles, crushed stone or decorative glass. Vertical or inclined surfaces made of any material can be covered with pergons. There is no need to level the wall or seal small cracks. Gabion facades can also be supplemented with a substrate for growing ornamental plants. Facades made of gabions with decorative lighting look very impressive.
In general, pergons and gabions are fencing of a new generation. They fit well into the landscape design of the garden and are used to create flower beds, raised beds or as a facing material. Thanks to their natural charm, pergons are an excellent decorative element. Their protective functions, practicality and durability allow them to be superior in many respects to most other popular structures in the construction industry.
Today, few people are surprised by the surrounding areas, designed in compliance with all the canons of landscape design. Many owners, when choosing certain elements of a design solution, prefer those that are not only able to decorate the site, but will also perform certain functions.
DIY gabions - step-by-step instructions
Recently, gabions have been actively returning to landscape design, as they can be used for various decorative and applied needs. These original structures are given different shapes and sizes, and there are several “techniques” for their construction. But it must be said that the general design of gabions is not very complicated, and the work on their manufacture can easily be completed
This is what this publication is dedicated to: do-it-yourself gabions - step-by-step instructions for their construction.
First you need to understand what gabions are. Information about how they appeared and what they were used for previously will also be useful in order to understand how durable this structure is.
Gabion (more precisely, “gabbia”) translated from Italian means “large cage”. If we talk from the point of view of construction, then this is the name given to a structure made of metal mesh and filled with stones or other materials.
According to the deep-rooted ancient “tradition,” very often new technologies of one kind or another come into the life of a civilian in the world from the military sphere. This also applies to our subject matter. Long before they became an element of landscape design, gabions were widely used as fortifications. They were used to protect artillerymen in positions near the guns - such defensive structures are clearly visible in paintings or engravings depicting events, for example, the Napoleonic Wars or the defense of Sevastopol. At that time, gabions were usually made of wicker baskets filled with compacted earth - they showed good effectiveness in protecting against bullets, buckshot and even enemy cannonballs.
In the twentieth century, wicker baskets were replaced by sandbags used to build walls around machine gun nests. To this day, gabions are used on NATO military bases located in Iraq and Afghanistan, but they are made from durable steel wire mesh or special fabric bags designed to be filled using automatic bucket loaders. Their convenience lies not only in reliability, but also in quick assembly.
In addition to defensive purposes, gabions began to be widely used for purely peaceful purposes. For example, they are built along rivers, and they become good dams to protect populated areas from natural disasters. The structures perfectly hold back water flows during floods, while preventing erosion of the coastline.
Gabions are very often built in mountainous or very rugged areas to contain landslides, strengthening slopes with such structures in private areas and along mountain roads.
Landscape designers, taking into account the very wide possibilities of these structures, today use gabions when drawing up design projects for territories.
Types of gabions and areas of their modern application
In European countries, gabions have long been widely used in landscape design, but in our area they are just beginning to gain popularity. All gabions are divided into several classic types, each of them has a specific shape, its own purpose and name.
- "Jumbo"- These are box-type gabions. They can safely be called the most common and used. This type of gabion is distinguished by its characteristic parallelepiped shape, with each of its containers having a width twice as large as its height. However, the exact proportions are calculated depending on the composition of the filling and the functional purposes of the overall design. The length of an individual cell of such a gabion can be from 2000 to 6000 mm, have a width of up to 1000÷2000 mm, and a height of no more than 1000 mm. The result of connecting the containers into a common gabion is a rigid structure with clear lines.
If the Jumbo gabion is long, then it is divided into sections, installing dividing diaphragms every meter of length. They additionally fasten the opposite walls, providing the structure with increased rigidity.
Box-shaped gabions can be made in different ways:
- from a mesh woven in the form of hexagonal cells, which is attached to a rigid frame made of thicker wire;
- from a mesh made by welding from a steel rod.
The second version of gabions is considered more durable, as it has increased rigidity and a neat appearance, so they are more often used in landscape design, as well as for the construction of fences, stands for benches, retaining walls and other similar purposes.
It is much more difficult to make gabion walls from woven mesh yourself, but in the factory, gabions are made from it using double twist mesh. This material provides strength, integrity and even distribution of loads.
The wire for the frame of each of the gabion elements should have a larger diameter than that used to weave the mesh itself.
For the manufacture of boxes, a mesh of galvanized wire is used. If the structure is located in a very aggressive environment for metal (for example, constant contact with water is expected), then you should choose a PVC-coated mesh, which will protect the material not only from moisture, but also chemical, mechanical and corrosive damage.
Jumbo gabions are excellent for building retaining walls on a hilly area, strengthening a sea or river bank, protecting pipelines, and also as decorative elements in landscape design - for framing flower beds, swimming pools, installing parapets, etc. Since these structures have excellent resistance to erosion, they are used to form the banks and bottoms of canals delivering water or drainage. Jumbo gabions are also good protection for the sea sandy shore and bottom, as they prevent its erosion.
- "Reno Mattresses"- this type of gabions, like “Jumbo”, is used to strengthen the river bank line. Thus, it was structures made from such “mattress” structures that protected the city of Bologna from flooding. The name, of course, comes from their characteristic shape, reminiscent of a mattress, that is, they are flat and wide - the height of the structures does not exceed 300 mm.
This type of gabion usually has a single width of 2000 mm (similar to a double bed), while the length of the mattresses can be 3000, 4000, 5000 and 6000 mm. Inside the structure, just as in the case of Jumbo, partitions are installed - diaphragms with a pitch of 1000 mm, which make the gabion more durable.
Gabions of the “mattress” type are made of galvanized wire with a diameter of 2.4 mm, coated with PVC and woven into a mesh with cells of 60 × 80 mm. “Mattresses” with standard dimensions of 2000×2000×230 mm are manufactured in the factory, and they can be purchased in specialized or online stores.
This type of gabions is used to strengthen a retaining wall built from Jumbo boxes, as it perfectly distributes loads and strengthens the structure, for laying on the bottom and banks of canals, building cascades, strengthening the banks of rivers, lakes and other natural and artificial reservoirs, as well as reinforcement of slopes and slopes of hilly areas and ravines.
In landscape design, streams are decorated with mattress gabions, and the bottom and islands are laid out from them in shallow ponds. Stones help keep water clean in standing reservoirs much longer, since slurry from organic sediment, which sooner or later forms in lakes, does not accumulate at the bottom.
Unlike box-shaped ones, mattress structures are thinner, easier to install and require less material to fill them.
Some owners of suburban areas are interested in whether Reno mattresses can be installed vertically as fencing sections. It must be said that this option is also possible, but such installation will require frame or structural elements - channels or pipes.
- Cylindrical gabions (bags) can have a length of 2000÷4000 mm and a diameter of 650÷950 mm.
Cylindrical structures have higher flexibility than box-shaped and mattress structures due to the absence of diaphragms-jumpers and stiffeners inside them. This feature allows them to be laid on an imperfectly leveled surface.
This type of gabions is also made from galvanized wire with PVC coating, which protects the metal from various aggressive influences. Due to the flexibility of this design, it can be used in various areas of construction, since cylindrical gabions perfectly withstand external loads and are able to distribute them evenly onto the base. They are also used in design.
So, cylindrical gabions use:
— for protection against mudflows, avalanches, rockfalls and screes in mountainous areas;
— to strengthen the coastlines of various reservoirs;
- to regulate river channels - changing direction or even dividing (creating artificial islands);
— for the construction of retaining structures on complex terrain of the site;
— for the protection of underwater and above-ground pipelines;
— for strengthening slopes of roads and railways, as well as for creating road barriers;
— for the formation of waste channels;
— to create reliefs of different levels on flat areas, including fences and other enclosing structures;
- for decorative use in landscape design.
- Gabions as flower beds and other landscape design elements. If you plan to decorate the site with stone decorative details, then using gabion structures you can create an unlimited number of different shapes. These can be geometric shapes, labyrinths, as well as outlines of various animals.
To create such a flower bed, you don’t have to look for ready-made gabion structures - just purchase a metal mesh sold in sheets. Gabion walls are formed from the mesh, which go deep into the ground and are installed at a distance of 100÷150 mm from each other. Then the bottom part of the structure is lined with geotextiles, after which the space between the walls is filled with stones of a suitable size and shape.
Animal figures made using the gabion technique are usually welded structures that are made of thick steel wire with a diameter of 4.5 ÷ 6 mm. Carrying out such work is a rather complex process, and can be done by a master who has well-established experience in the art of welding. Therefore, if you want to have a similar decorative element on your site, you will have to order it from professionals, but it will not be cheap.
- Decorative gabions can be filled not only with stones, but also with other materials of the choice of the site owner. This role is often played by ceramic products, for example, old tiles, flowerpots, stands for them, individual bricks and other items. In addition, wooden logs, and even metal cans from various drinks, plastic boxes, artificial stone and more are used to fill mesh containers. The choice of filler is up to the owner of the gabion, however, you need to remember - the lighter the weight of the selected filler material, the stronger the mesh structure should be.
Features of the construction of gabions
Before moving on to considering the construction of various gabion structures, it is worth understanding some of the issues that you will have to face when carrying out the work. Both the decorativeness of the composition and its strength, stability and reliability depend on the correct execution of all stages.
So, the features of arranging gabions include:
- Selection of material for making and filling boxes.
- Methods for fastening the walls of mesh containers, the necessary tools to complete the work.
- The specifics of filling boxes with stone.
- Fasteners used during operation.
Material and design of gabion walls
If gabions are purchased ready-made, then you need to know that they are manufactured in a factory according to the requirements of GOST and TU (In GOST R 51285-99, GSI are gabion mesh products intended for the manufacture of gabion structures). Therefore, all elements must comply with established requirements, which relate to both materials and dimensions designed for specific loads.
When making walls yourself, you also need to refer to the parameters and characteristics established by the standards.
The walls of a gabion can be made from a mesh made from galvanized wire with a cross-sectional diameter of 2÷4 mm, double woven into hexagonal cells. An example of it is shown in the figure above, taken, by the way, precisely from the GOST mentioned above. The symbols on the diagram show:
1 – edge wire.
2 – main wire.
B – grid cell size.
B1 – cell diagonal size.
Standard mesh sizes for gabions are shown in the table below:
| Cell size B, mm | Diagonal size B1, mm | Wire diameter without polymer coating, mm (main/edge) | Mesh width, mm | Standard roll length, m | Recommended diameter of binding wire for installation of gabion structure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 80 | 2,0 / 2,4 | For everyone – from 1000 to 4000 in increments of 1000 mm | 25, 50 or 100 m | 2,0 |
| -//- | -//- | 2,2 / 2,7 | 2,0 | ||
| -//- | -//- | 2,4 / 3,0 | 2,0 | ||
| -//- | -//- | 2,7 / 3,4 | 2,2 | ||
| 80 | 100 | 2,0 / 2,4 | 2,0 | ||
| -//- | -//- | 2,2 / 2,7 | 2,0 | ||
| -//- | -//- | 2,4 / 3,0 | 2,0 | ||
| -//- | -//- | 2,5 / 3,0 | 2,2 | ||
| -//- | -//- | 2,7 / 3,4 | 2,2 | ||
| -//- | -//- | 2,8 / 3,9 | 2,4 | ||
| -//- | -//- | 3,0 / 3,9 | 2,4 | ||
| 100 | 120 | 2,7 / 3,4 | 2,2 | ||
| -//- | -//- | 3,0 / 3,9 | 2,4 | ||
| -//- | -//- | 3,4 / 3,9 | 2,4 |
When using polymer-coated wire to make a mesh, its diameter increases by 1 mm.
When deciding to make gabion boxes from welded mesh, it is necessary to choose fabrics made from rods with a thickness of at least 6÷8 mm.
When making gabions, in addition to the mesh itself, you will also need the so-called knitting wire, which is used to secure the mesh to the frame, as well as to tie its walls together. Therefore, in addition, the right column shows one more parameter that is not included in the GOST mentioned above. This is the recommended diameter of the wire that will be used to tie the gabion structure.
Knitting wire also has its own requirements, which include the following points:
- The knitting wire should not have breaks.
- The ends of the wire are spliced by twisting or extension.
- The twist should not be longer than 20 mm, so it must be done very efficiently and carefully.
- There should be no more than one twist per 20 m of wire, made in any way.
The finished gabion walls are connected in different ways:
- The side and bottom ribs of the gabion are most often connected using a wire spiral, which you can make yourself by rigidly winding the wire onto a pipe of a certain diameter, which can vary from 20 to 40 mm.
- In addition to the spiral, galvanized steel staples can be used to fasten the baskets along the vertical and lower horizontal ribs, which are installed with a special stapler. This is done in increments of 120÷150 mm, and in this case it is necessary to alternate, installing first one bracket and then two.
- The gabion cover can also be attached to the box with bracket rings or tied with wire, which is used to twist the edges of the walls and cover.
Another necessary detail in the design of a box-shaped gabion is the stiffening ribs (more precisely, peculiar puffs), installed inside the basket and holding the walls in their original position even under the load provided by the stone filler.
The stiffeners are usually made of wire of the same diameter from which the mesh itself is made.
These elements can be installed parallel to the side walls or diagonally at the corners, with a vertical pitch of 150÷200 mm.
Selecting and laying stone for filling
An important point in the construction of gabion structures is the correct selection and placement of stone.
Gabion mesh baskets can be filled with stones of different shapes - for example, round pebbles, untreated wild stone or flat stone plates are used, laid like brickwork, that is, with their joints offset.
The size of the stone for gabions is selected according to the parameters of the cells of the mesh selected for the design, so that the filling elements do not fall outside the baskets. The optimal size of the stone is considered to be the one that is at least two, maximum five times larger than the dimensions of the cells, since they provide uniform settlement and load on the bottom of the basket. You should not fill the baskets with stones that are too large, as significant empty spaces will form between them.
According to the rules for creating gabions, the following requirements for stones are determined:
- To build gabions in the air, that is, on the street, the specific gravity of the stone must be at least 17.5÷18 kN/m³, and for strengthening banks or other hydraulic structures 23÷25 kN/m³.
- The strength of the material must be at least 400 kgf/cm².
- Frost resistance of the stone is greater than F 350.
- The stone must be resistant to decay under the influence of external factors (wind erosion under the influence of moisture, temperature changes and ultraviolet radiation). Thus, over the entire period of operation, the loss of total mass should not be more than 5÷10%.
- The material must have a low moisture absorption coefficient, no more than 0.6%.
To create gabion structures, the most commonly used stones are tuff, soft and dense limestone, sandstone, trachyte, granite, basalt, quartzite, slate and other minerals.
Recently, colored glass stones have become especially popular for gabions used as landscape design elements. They look extremely impressive in the design of the site, especially on sunny days. In addition, they are easily washed with a stream of water from a hose and retain their original appearance throughout the entire period of operation, practically without losing their weight.
Gabions are filled with stones according to certain rules in stages:
- If the gabion has a height of 500 mm or higher, then all its sections are filled with stones gradually and simultaneously, that is, at first they are all filled to about ¼ of their volume. If mattress-type gabions are filled, then filling them with filler can be done in one or two stages.
- Then, one or two first sections of the gabion are completely filled, and the third and further sections are filled in half.
- The next stage is the laying of stones in all sections to the very top, and the stones should be laid 20÷50 mm above the top line of the box, since when they shrink, they will level out and drop to the desired level.
- If it is planned to install another one next to the first structure, then the last section of the first mesh box is left empty so that it can be connected to the next part of the gabion.
- In cases where large width baskets are needed, in order to save stone, it is recommended to lay it only on the outer sides of the structure. In the middle, which should be approximately ⅓ of the width of the mesh box, you can pour finer stones, as well as any solid construction waste.
- The filling method mentioned in the previous paragraph is permissible only if the gabions are installed on land and will not have direct constant contact with water. If they are used to strengthen the bottom or shore of a reservoir, the boxes must be completely filled with stones.
- The stones are placed tightly in containers, so that there is as little empty space as possible between them.
Here it is necessary to clarify that stiffeners or spacers inside the structure can be installed both before filling it with stones, and simultaneously with gradual backfilling. However, it is easier to carry out this process before laying the stones, but in this case they will need to be laid carefully so as not to damage the wire ties.
The use of geotextiles in the construction of gabions
When arranging mattress gabion structures, in addition to the above-mentioned materials, geotextiles will be required, which replaces part of the previously used bedding layers of crushed stone and sand, which acted as a return filter. Thanks to the use of this material, the layer of sand “cushion” can be reduced by 20% of its required thickness.
In addition to its filtering function, geotextiles completely prevent vegetation from growing through the gabion structure. This material is resistant to rotting processes, is not affected by mold, and is not touched by rodents. The canvases are very flexible, so they are easy to work with, as they can easily be laid on areas with any relief.
Geotextile fabrics are sold in rolls, and when laying them, it is necessary to check their integrity, as they should not have ruptures or other damage. The canvases are laid over the entire height of the slope being developed, overlapping by 100÷200 mm. They are stapled together using a stapler, and then glued together with waterproof construction tape, since the connection should be strong.
Anchoring gabions on slopes
The necessary fastening element for fixing mattress gabions on slopes are special anchors, and the process of their installation is called anchoring.
Anchoring is especially important for installing mattress gabions on steep slopes. To do this, anchors are driven into the ground, holding the structure in the required position.
Gabion anchors can be made in the form of a pin or a hook. The first version of fasteners is used to fix the structure through the bottom mesh, and the hooks are driven along the membranes and hooked onto the top wire of the frame.
Thus, they give the diaphragm-bridges additional rigidity, while simultaneously holding the entire structure on the slope being developed.
Tools for work
In order for the work to be carried out at the proper level, it is necessary to prepare some easy-to-use tools, which include the following:
- A stapler used to connect with wire staples will greatly facilitate and speed up the work. Such a tool can be mechanical or pneumatic. The choice of this tool depends on the financial capabilities of the master and the conditions of the work. The mechanical version of the tool is completely autonomous, that is, not tied to a specific place, while the pneumatic version is powered by a compressor.
It is clear that not everyone has such a tool. But if you are planning a large-scale job, then it makes sense to buy it. However, it costs a lot, and perhaps a better option would be to look for opportunities to rent a tool.
- Pliers are used to cut wire and twist it.
- Hammer or sledgehammer - for hammering in fixing elements.
- Metal scissors.
- Shovel for preparing the installation site for certain types of structures.
Assembly of finished gabion structures
Box gabions
This type of structure goes on sale folded and tied into bags. Transportation and storage of such packages must be carried out in a horizontal position. The height of stacked structures should not exceed 2000 mm. Before installation work begins, folded gabions should be stored on flat wooden pallets to avoid the risk of damage to structures laid underneath.
Work on assembling box structures is carried out in the following order:
— The first step is to open the gabion packaging - it is recommended to carry out the work in a free space that ensures full opening of the development and unobstructed approach from any of its sides.
“Next, the gabion elements are laid out on a horizontal, flat surface in a flat pattern, that is, the way they will be assembled. It turns out that all the side walls are laid out around the bottom and the installation location for the internal partitions is outlined.
- Then the side walls and partitions are connected to the bottom using one of the above methods. At the same time, their installation step is observed, which can vary from 750 to 1000 mm.
— The next step is to raise the side walls one by one to a vertical position and connect each other at the corners with spiral fastenings. The diaphragm partitions are connected to the mesh of the side walls using knitting wire.
— A cover is attached to the assembled gabion. It can be fixed with a spiral fastening or with a binding wire, but it must be secured in such a way that it can open and tilt back freely.
If you plan to build a structure consisting of several separate gabion structures, then the next step is to assemble them.
The assembled boxes are installed on a site prepared for them, according to the developed project. If they are mounted in one line or side by side, then they are connected to each other with the same wire using the parts of the frame structure.
If gabions are mounted on an inclined surface, and there is a risk of them sliding under the weight of stones, then the structure should be firmly fixed in a certain place using anchors.
Before filling the gabion with stone filler, it is recommended to temporarily strengthen its front façade side with formwork, which will help contain the pressure of the stones placed in the basket.
When installing gabions in several levels, first the bottom row is filled with stone, then empty boxes are installed on it, and then they are connected to the lower structural elements with wire around the entire perimeter.
If you plan to install curved gabion structures, then after assembly the finished gabions will have to be cut and their elements adjusted to the desired angle.
It is possible that some overlapping parts of the structure will have to be cut off with metal scissors, and then the final alignment of the planned configuration will be made
Installation of “mattress” gabion structures
Gabions of the “mattress” type are assembled according to the same scheme as box-shaped ones, however, there are some nuances when installing them on the ground.
Installation of empty “mattress” gabions is carried out on a prepared site covered with geotextiles. Then they are tied together with wire. If the slope of the site is formed with gabions, then they are secured in place with the help of anchors, driving them into the ground according to the scheme presented and described above.
Next, after securing the mesh boxes to the entire area covered by the gabions, they are filled with stone. After this, the entire structure is covered with a lid, which must be connected by wire to all parts of the frame, that is, both to the side walls and to the diaphragms. It must be remembered that the width of the mesh fabric used as a covering for gabions should have a width not exceeding 2000 mm, while its length can be (and this is even recommended) equal to the length of the entire structure along the slope line.
Further, it should be noted that when strengthening coastlines and the coastal bottom of reservoirs, mattress gabions are placed in their designated places already filled using special equipment. But this is an industrial scale of work that cannot be done independently.
Assembly of cylindrical gabions
This type of structure is supplied in canvases that have already been given the required size, and are even equipped with frame tension wire.
The cylindrical gabion is assembled in the following order:
- The canvas is laid out on a flat surface, straightened and checked for defects.
- Next, using wire threaded along the side edges, the fabric is pulled together on both sides, one of which is securely fastened, while the other remains pulled together as much as possible, but not fastened.
- After this, from the side that is permanently fixed, the free edges of the “cut” of the resulting cylinder begin to be tied.
- When the cylinder is connected ⅓ along its length, proceed to work on the second side of the gabion. The mesh is also tightened, after which the cylinder is also tied to ⅓ of the length.
- Thus, a gap is formed in the middle, through which the mesh will be filled with stone.
True, nothing prevents you from leaving a window for filling on one of the edges, but performing the operation, as it seems, is not so convenient.
- After filling the cylinder, it is tied completely.
If cylindrical gabions are used to strengthen the shoreline of a reservoir with a strong current or high water level, they are thrown into the water using special equipment.
Creation of gabion structures on the ground
Now, knowing how gabions are assembled and installed, we can move on to considering specific examples of the construction of these structures.
Retaining walls built from gabions
Separately, a few words need to be said about gabions, which serve as retaining walls, since this structure is most often used in this capacity. As can be seen from the characteristics presented above, cylindrical gabions and “Jumbo” are suitable for the construction of retaining walls; in combination with them, if necessary, “mattress” structures can be used.
The walls can be laid out in different ways, and their structure depends on the angle at which the slope on the site is located, and on how actively its upper platform will be used, that is, how high the load on the gabion structure will be. In some cases it is necessary to make a stepped wall, in others it is installed at an angle to the slope, in others the gabion fastenings are buried in the slope.
It should be noted that strengthening a slope is a rather troublesome process that requires a large amount of excavation work. However, installing gabions as a retaining wall is perhaps the best option both in terms of installation complexity and cost.
One example of slope strengthening is shown in the figure above:
1 – natural soil on the site;
2 – compacted sand and gravel backfill;
3 – “mattress” type gabion, which serves as a base;
4 – a pyramid of “Jumbo” box-type gabions.
If there is a need to use gabions as a retaining structure, then you will have to make accurate calculations of its thickness and height, and this can only be done by specialists, since the reliability of such reinforcement will depend on the correctness of the calculations and the quality of the work. Do not forget also that you will need to consider the drainage of water that will flow down the slope to the retaining wall.
Therefore, if you decide to build it yourself, without turning to specialists, then you can use a ready-made wall arrangement scheme, which can be selected on the Internet for each specific case. But with this approach, there will be no one to blame in case of failure.
Construction of a high fence from gabions
When choosing gabions for the construction of a fencing structure, you should remember that it will take up significantly more usable space on the site than a conventional wooden or metal fence. In addition, it will be much heavier than traditional fencing.
Considering the large weight of such a fence and its preferable small width, it will be necessary to install additional supporting elements for structural strength.
If the soil on the site is quite dense, then some craftsmen do not install a foundation under the gabion fence. However, if you need to install a reliable fence that will not distort and will serve for a long time, then it is best to install at least a shallow foundation.
So, to install such a stone fence you will need the following materials:
- Ready-made welded steel mesh made from galvanized rods.
- If you plan to weld the mesh yourself, then you need to purchase a steel rod with a diameter of 8÷10 mm. But you need to correctly understand that in this case the fence will be heavier.
- Pillars made of pipes with a diameter of 120÷150 mm or profile pipes of at least 60×40 mm are required. Their height should be equal to the height of the fence plus 700÷800 mm for penetration into the soil.
- You will need cement and sand to strengthen the pillars in the ground and for, if you plan to equip it.
Work on the construction of gabion fencing is carried out in the following order:
| Illustration | |
|---|---|
 | The first step, when starting the installation of any fence, is to mark its location on the ground. This process is carried out using wooden pegs and cord. First, one point is determined into which a peg is driven, and the line of the future fence will be determined from it. A cord is attached to a peg, then it is stretched over the entire length of the fence, adjusting the evenness of the line. When the line is drawn, you will need to decide on the width of the trench for deepening the fence. After which it is also indicated by a stretched cord. The next step is to remove a layer of soil from the marked area to a depth of 150÷200 mm. |
 | Next, at the beginning and end of the fence line, it is best to immediately install support posts and stretch the cords between them. This way you can achieve ideal evenness of installation of the remaining pillars, the pitch of which is marked in the next step and should be from 800 to 1200 mm. |
 | Next, wells with a depth of 600÷800 mm are drilled at the designated points. The depth of installation of pillars in the ground is determined by the hardness of the soil. You can use a hand drill, but if it is possible to use a motor drill, then the speed of work will only benefit. |
 | The next step is to install support pillars in the drilled wells. The verticality of their installation is set according to the building level, in at least two perpendicular planes. To keep the posts in the desired position until the concrete is poured and it gains strength, temporary supports can be welded from scraps of reinforcement. Before installation, it is advisable to coat the pipes with an anti-corrosion primer or a special rubber-bitumen primer. |
 | Next, the empty space in the wells around the pillars is filled with a concrete solution of cement, sand and gravel, made in a ratio of 1: 3: 4. The time for concrete to harden and gain the minimum required strength will be 5–7 days, after which it will be possible to continue work on installing the fence. |
 | The next step is to fill the bottom of the trench with a layer of sand 70÷100 mm thick and compact it well; to do this, it is moistened with water. If you plan to install a foundation at the base of the fence, then it will be necessary to install formwork along the entire trench and equip it with a reinforcement cage. In this case, the master decided to use the lower part of the stone fence, which goes into the ground to a sufficiently great depth, as a foundation. |
 | When installing the fence, the gabions are assembled directly on site. To create a frame, first a mesh of the required length is cut from a roll (or from a card, depending on the material used), and in width so that it matches the width of the trench, since it will be used as the bottom of the structure. This strip of mesh is laid along the trench with posts installed in it, and holes are cut in the middle for each of the posts. Then this tape must be laid at the bottom of the trench - it is put through the cut holes onto the installed posts and lowered until the sand is compacted at the bottom. Next, the side parts of the structure are installed, which are fixed in the soil of the trench, through the bottom mesh with steel anchors and secured to the pillars using wire or special clamps. Then, on the mesh fixed on the racks, the diaphragms of the structure are fixed using a knitting wire or a spiral fastening, with the same pitch as the racks. These elements will rigidly fasten the two sides of the structure and divide it into sections, which will help to correctly distribute the load on the base. In addition, the diaphragms, to a certain extent, in this case determine the width of this rather narrow gabion. |
 | The next step is to install a second mesh wall, which is firmly tied to the diaphragms with the same binding wire. When the installation of the baskets is complete, they are evenly filled by hand with the selected stone. It can have one color or several shades. If the second option is chosen, then the stones can be laid in horizontal or vertical stripes, or they can be laid out in various patterns. If the lower part of the fence is buried in the ground, then it can be filled with any stone or even old brick, the main thing is that it is laid with the same or even higher density than the decorative stone, which will be poured into the main above-ground part of the structure. After the lower part of the gabion is filled with stone, a trench is buried, the soil is compacted, bringing its level to the general level of the surface of the site. |
 | If a welded structure made of steel rod is installed, then the two walls of the gabion are connected by internal jumpers, which are often also secured by welding. However, it is often practiced to use powerful ties with hooks, which will not allow the mesh to separate under the pressure of stones. In this case, these puffs can be installed as the gabion is filled. |
 | The gabion-type fencing design is usually not closed on top with a lid, since there is no need for this, and you can save money on this part of the gabion. However, it is recommended to additionally tie the upper edges of the fence walls with a wire tie if they are made from a ready-made mesh, or, for example, fix them together with pieces of steel rod if the fence is a welded structure. |
Construction of a low decorative fence from box-shaped gabions
The next version of the fence has a simple design and consists of only three box-shaped gabions. It will perform not so much an enclosing function as a decorative one, as it has an aesthetic and original appearance. Another advantage of this design is that there is no need to build a foundation for it, since the box-shaped gabions in this case have a wide base, which eliminates the risk of subsidence, even despite their large mass.
To build this small fence, you need to prepare the following materials:
- Welded mesh with cells 40×40 or 50×50 mm.
- Knitting wire.
- Stone for filling gabion boxes.
- Geotextile or black film.
- Anchors for securing gabions to the ground.
In addition, you will need tools that can be found in any home - a shovel, a hoe, wire cutters or metal scissors, a hammer, pliers, a tape measure and a building level.
The construction of this original fence is carried out in stages:
| Illustration | Brief description of the operations performed |
|---|---|
 | The first thing that needs to be done when building this fence, just as in the previous case, is to mark the place where it is planned to be installed. After identifying the site, it will need to be cleared, that is, remove the top layer of soil by 120÷150 mm. You can use a regular hoe to carry out this process. After the soil has been removed, the site should be compacted well, and then backfilled with gravel and sand, which is watered and also compacted so that a layer of 80÷100 mm is obtained. |
 | After compacting the bedding layer, the site should be checked for levelness using a beam (rule) and a building level. The timber is laid on the compacted surface of the site, and a building level is installed on it. If the measuring tool shows a large difference, then the bedding on one side needs to be increased or decreased. |
 | The next step is to dig a groove from the outside of the site, to which a plastic enclosing plate - a side - will be installed. This element will serve as moisture protection for the metal mesh of the boxes. The ditch is dug 100÷120 mm deep and 120÷150 mm wide. The plate is installed higher than the surface of nearby surfaces, since in the future the bottom of the mesh boxes will be pressed against it. |
 | Next, a protective edge is installed along the outer edge of the ditch, which is temporarily pressed against its wall with a board 25 mm thick. |
 | The area on which the fence will be installed is covered with geotextile or black film designed to protect the structure from weeds growing through the gabion stones. In addition to the platform, the ditch running along it is also covered with film; the edge of the film is pressed against the side by the board. Having laid the film, they begin to assemble gabion structures made from welded mesh with cells measuring 50x50 mm. Their parts are laid out in close proximity to the prepared site and connected using wire twisted into a spiral. |
 | Spiral fastening elements are screwed onto the edges of the folded structural parts. In this way, the sides are connected to the bottom, as well as to each other. The lid on one side of the box is also secured with a spiral. |
 | The ends of the spiral fasteners must be carefully tightened with pliers so that they firmly hold the elements of the box, otherwise, when installing it in a permanent place, the spiral may slip off. |
 | Next, the assembled box is installed in the place prepared for it and pressed from the front front side to the side. After this, dividing diaphragms are installed in the basket and secured to the long walls. These elements are mounted in increments of 750÷1000 mm. If the box has a length of 1000 mm, then it can be divided in half with a diaphragm. These elements impart rigidity to the structure and help restrain its expansion under high loads. The diaphragms are secured to the bottom and side walls with a spiral fastening. |
 | Additionally, it is recommended to tighten the walls with wire stiffeners (ties) having a thickness of 5–7 mm. These elements are especially relevant in high gabion baskets, where they are installed in increments of 120÷150 mm in height. |
 | The next step is to fill the baskets with stone. If it is possible to select stones with smooth surfaces, then it is recommended to lay them with the smooth side outward, pressing them against the walls of the gabion with any stones placed in the middle of the basket. In any case, adjacent baskets are filled with stone at the same time, that is, in parallel. Moreover, the filler must be laid as tightly as possible. |
 | Having finished filling the lower containers of the gabion and securing the lids on them, place an empty basket on top of them, ready for filling. Its bottom is connected along the entire perimeter with the lower, already completely filled and closed structure. |
 | This fencing option also includes a mailbox. Therefore, before placing the stone in the upper basket, the box is secured to the mesh. |
 | After the box is secured to the front side of the fence, the container can also be filled with stone. The process is carried out in exactly the same way as when laying stone in the lower part of the gabion, followed by installing and fixing the cover. |
The result of the work done is presented in the illustration at the beginning of the section. Of course, such a fence will not protect against unwanted guests, but it can serve as a bench on which you can spend summer evenings, and behind this structure, if desired, you can put a light high fence from the same mesh.
Decorating a country pond with a gabion
The gabion structure is also perfect for strengthening the walls. In this option, for an artificial reservoir of a round shape, you will need to build a curved structure from welded steel mesh. Typically, a pond container is installed in a pit dug in the ground, which protects its walls from external damage. When building a gabion around a reservoir, you can avoid heavy excavation work and not think about where to put the selected soil, since you will have to deepen the container no more than 150 mm. If a ready-made container for a pond is purchased, then all dimensions of the structure and site are adjusted specifically to it.
To manufacture the metal structures for this gabion, built around a circular pond with a diameter of 1460 mm and designed to hold 500 liters, a mesh with cells measuring 25x100 mm was used. To fill the mesh, 475 kg of round white stone of the middle fraction were required.
Work on the construction of this structure is also being carried out in stages.
- The first step is to clear the site from the turf layer and remove soil to deepen the pond capacity.
- Next, the surface of the site is leveled.
- After this, you can proceed to cutting and installing the metal welded mesh.
- In this case, you will have to make two parts of the structure of different shapes, which are then connected to each other - this is a curved part framing the reservoir, and a box-shaped part adjacent to it.
- First, you should tackle the curved gabion, which consists of two main walls - inner and outer, as well as diaphragm-jumpers that divide the structure into sections and give it strength.
— The first step is to manufacture and install the inner circle, the ends of which are fastened with knitting wire. The resulting circle is leveled and secured to the ground with anchors.
— Then separating diaphragms, which must have the same width, are fixed to the inner wall in increments of 300 mm, along its entire height, as well as to the bottom.
— After this, the outer wall of the gabion is stretched and attached to the diaphragms, and then to the bottom of the structure. It can be attached with a binding wire or a spiral fastener.
- Next, according to the previously discussed schemes, a box-shaped frame is assembled, which, after assembly, is attached to the round structure. The box-shaped basket must be tied to a round one along the entire perimeter of its end side with knitting wire.
Here it is necessary to clarify that usually under any gabions, geotextiles or black film are laid on the prepared site, and the installation of a pond is no exception. However, in the composition shown, this rule was not followed for some reason.
- Before installing a finished water container in a metal structure, you need to perform two steps:
— Fill part of the height of the gabion with stone to give the structure the necessary massiveness and stability.
— Attach protective material to the inner wall of the wire frame, since the sharp ends of the wire can damage the seal of the water container.
The protective fabric must be thick enough, soft and flexible, durable and resistant to moisture. In this case, construction batting was used as protection.
- After filling ⅓ of the height of the gabion walls with stone, the protective material is stretched on the wall, bent inside the structure and secured with ordinary clothespins. When the work is completed, fixing the protective layer will no longer be required.
- Next, a polymer water container is installed in the resulting circle. To prevent its edges from drooping, they are also grabbed with clothespins removed from the protective backing.
- The next step is to wrap the edges of the container inside the wall of the round part of the gabion, and the mesh structure is filled to the top with stone. At the same time, it is left open, that is, a lid is not installed on it.
- The box-shaped part of the gabion, after installing and securing the cover, is covered with plank flooring, which will serve as a couch or bench. The size of the flooring in this case is 300 × 1000 mm, and it is located at a height of 500 mm from the ground level.
Such a pond in a country house or on the territory of a country house will be a wonderful place to relax. True, in addition to such a structure, you will have to purchase a pump, or when building a gabion, you need to think in advance about the supply of pipes for draining water, since it is impossible to do without its periodic replacement.
Based on the presented examples of gabions and the proposed instructions for their manufacture, it will not be difficult for the creative owner of the site to make the necessary changes to these options and apply them to bring his own ideas to life.
And in order to “spur the reader’s imagination,” we also suggest watching a short video that shows gabions created by the owners of the plots with their own hands:
Video: Ample opportunities for creativity - homemade gabions as a decoration for a local area
Gabions are multifunctional and versatile structures. They are containers made of strong wire or strong metal mesh, filled with stone, rubble or other materials. The word “gabion” itself is of foreign origin. Translated from Italian, “gabbione” means “big cage”.
Initially, gabion frames were wicker and resembled baskets without a bottom. They were used, starting from the 16th century, in military affairs for the construction of fortifications. Since the end of the 19th century, these prefabricated structures began to be used in construction. The construction of dams, bridges and retaining walls could not be done without them; strengthening of slopes, slopes and bank protection with gabions was widely used. 
Types of gabions and their areas of application
Later, wicker baskets were replaced by metal frames, and the structures themselves received new functions. Today, gabions are used not only in construction, but also in... Thanks to the use of various fillers, they can fulfill both their direct purpose, for example, strengthening the bank with gabions, and a decorative function, or combine both of these tasks.
For the frame of gabions, durable galvanized wire with a diameter of 2-6 mm is usually used. Individual products are fastened together into a single structure. At the same time, in order to ensure the stability of the structure, prevent its deformation and premature destruction, the same strong wire is used for installing gabions. Based on the shape of the frame, these products are divided into:
- flat;
- cylindrical;
- box gabions.
In large structures, dividing partitions (diaphragms) must be provided. In this case, box-shaped structures can be either mesh or welded gabions, depending on the method of their production.
Flat gabions, the thickness of which does not exceed 30 cm, are an excellent option for strengthening the banks of streams and rivers, the slopes of ravines, and laying on the bottom of shallow reservoirs.
Possessing flexibility, these products of small thickness follow all the curves of the surface and any unevenness of the relief. 
Such gabions, as in the photo, can also be laid as a foundation for box-shaped structures.
Gabions - the choice of specialists
It is no coincidence that these structures attract the attention of builders, owners of personal plots and landscape designers. They have a number of advantages that are worth dwelling on in more detail:
These structures are safe and fit perfectly into the surrounding landscape.
How to make gabions on your personal plot yourself
In country and suburban areas, gabions can be used for:
To build gabions on the site, you can invite qualified construction specialists. However, it is quite possible to assemble such a structure yourself; you just need to use high-quality materials. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to make gabions with your own hands. There are two options:
To build gabions, you will need a strong metal mesh, special metal spirals, steel pins, strong wire staples, braces, geofabric (for bulk materials), and filler. 
To connect the parts of the box, staples and metal spirals are used, and with the help of pins the structure is firmly attached to the ground. The middle of the container can be filled with fine filler (geofabric is used for this), and the front walls can be filled with larger stones.
The filler fractions should be larger in size than the cells of the gabion container. The larger the cells, the larger the pieces of filler required.
When arranging above-water structures, the size of the filler fractions should be one third larger than the size of the cells of the box or mesh. If the product is intended for use under water, such a structure must be filled with an even larger stone; it must be one and a half times larger than the size of the cells of the metal container. 
Installation of gabions
Filler for gabions: which one to choose?
If on your site these structures serve as retaining walls, strengthening slopes, or you decide to build a fence from gabions, you must use durable filler for these purposes. Hard rocks of natural stones are perfect: basalt, quartzite, granite.
You can also use other varieties that are frost-resistant, durable, waterproof, and resistant to temperature changes. Stone for gabions can be of different shapes and sizes, depending on the size of the cells of the metal frame. 
These can be round boulders, “wild stone”, large pebbles or crushed stone - any of these materials will not only be durable, but will also make the entire structure attractive and make it pleasing to the eye.
To fill gabions that perform a decorative function, use materials with an interesting texture or various combinations thereof.
All kinds of materials can be used as a decorative filler for constructing gabions, selecting them in accordance with the design style of the site and color palette. 
These can be pieces of glass, scraps of pipes and metal structures, broken tiles, paving stones, brick fractions, tree cuts, thick pieces of bark and other natural or man-made materials.
Video instructions for assembling a gabion structure
Decorative gabions in landscape design
Today you can increasingly see gabions in landscape design as decorative elements. There is no doubt that the use of these structures for decorative purposes breathed new life into them. This area allows the use of products that previously carried exclusively a functional load as one of the main decorations of the site. And this area truly provides limitless scope for realizing the designer’s fantasies.
The decorative role of these structures can be successfully combined with their functional purpose. Today, self-made gabion walls can be seen not only on personal plots as fences, retaining walls, partitions for zoning and on the exterior of buildings, but also in interior spaces. 
The lighting of decorative gabions on the site in the evening looks beautiful. Therefore, when constructing these structures, it is worth taking care of their lighting.
Gabions will be the best solution for constructing zones and gazebos, lining the banks of small decorative ponds and constructing fountains, fencing flower beds, making bases for garden furniture and stands for garden sculptures. 
The fillers of these structures are harmoniously combined with forged parts, natural wood, metal and other materials.
Gabions look great on a site in a high-tech or minimalist style. The asceticism of these structures is perfectly set off by a green lawn, flowering plants and ornamental shrubs. In areas with differences in relief, an interesting solution would be to create terraces from gabion structures. The recreation area can be separated with a gabion screen, creating a cozy corner with an original design.
When constructing an “outdoor” fireplace or barbecue area from gabion, special attention must be paid to its filler. It is better if it is a fire-resistant material: stone or brick. Wood is not suitable for these purposes.
Gabions in landscape design, photos of which are given below, surprise with the variety of materials, shapes, and colors used. 
Thanks to these designs, any area can acquire a unique look and turn into a comfortable place to relax, where it is pleasant to gather with the whole family and receive guests.
When decorating summer cottages and garden plots, various ideas are used taking into account fashion trends. More and more often you can see gabions in the landscape design of suburban areas. These mesh designs look very attractive and unusual. And you can make them yourself, taking as a basis a photo from the options you like and using tips for making these decorative elements yourself.
What are gabions and what are they like?
Not everyone is familiar with this decorative element. But gabions in the landscape design of suburban areas have recently been used more and more often. They are a mesh structure made of double twisted wire, filled with stones or other material. They come in different sizes and shapes, and can consist of one or more elements.
There are several types of frames for these structures. They are in form:
- flat - this type of gabions in landscape design is more often used when designing the coastline of reservoirs on the territory of a site. This type is also called mattress;
- box-shaped - used in arranging flower beds, flower beds, borders, vegetable beds and for other purposes;
- cylindrical - most often used as a support when creating garden furniture and free-standing decorative elements;
- arbitrary - used when designing individual elements or zones of a site.
Gabion fence
Necessary materials to create the structure
For the manufacture of gabions, mesh or welded blocks of twisted wire with a cross-section of 2-6 mm are used. Such blocks form the basis of the structure. To fasten them together, wire staples or clamps are used. For large structures, a special cable may also be needed, which is attached to the opposite walls of the gabion for the stability of the structure.
When choosing a material, it is better to take galvanized wire, as it is less susceptible to external influences and does not rust over time. PVC-coated material is also suitable, but is used less frequently. The configuration of grid cells can be different - either square or rectangular, or polygonal.
Advice. A chain-link for making a gabion is not the best option. This material is quite soft and holds its shape much worse when filling the structure with stones.
To fill the gabion, stone material of both natural and artificial origin is used. Solid or chipped hard rocks are more suitable - granite, basalt or quartzite. Small decorative structures can also be filled with large pebbles, sandstone or other suitable material.
But the filling of the gabion can be not only stone. For these purposes, pipe scraps remaining after construction, small wooden blocks or something else are also used.
Attention! Regardless of what exactly is taken to fill the gabion, the cells of the mesh base should be about a third smaller than the size of the stones or other material used.
Advantages of gabions
Gabions in landscape design are used not only when decorating flower beds, flower beds, containers for plants or individual elements of garden decor. They look good when arranging fences or fences to divide the area into zones. They can be used as a basis for creating outdoor furniture or for decorating gazebos and other recreational areas. These designs can also be called quite successful when arranging the coastline of a natural or artificially created reservoir on the site. They perfectly secure the bank and make the appearance of the pond in the garden more attractive.
Among the advantages of using gabions in landscape design are:
- design flexibility - they can be installed on any soil, seasonal soil fluctuations do not affect them;
- durability - gabions made of high-quality wire mesh will not collapse and will serve without losing their external qualities for a long time;
- no need for large equipment - no special equipment is required when making a gabion;
- cost-effectiveness - there is no need for expensive materials to make a decorative element; moreover, they are quite easy to make yourself without involving outside labor.
How to make gabions with your own hands
Whatever the size and shape of this structure, they are all built approximately according to the same principle. First you need to prepare the base for the gabion, then make the frame, and then fill it with stones or something else. For small decorative elements, when preparing the base, it will be enough to just clear the soil well or fill it with sand. But when constructing large objects, preliminary cementing of the site may be required.
If you don’t yet have experience in building gabions, then it’s better to choose something simpler to start with, for example, decorating a small flower bed with such a design. Having decided on the size of the structure and having prepared all the necessary materials, you can begin work on the manufacture of the gabion:
Gabions are very durable and extremely decorative. And such beauty can very easily be made with your own hands from fairly affordable materials. You just need a little imagination and effort, after which the garden plot will become original and completely unlike any other.