How to build a gabion – the decorative all-rounder for the garden
- Difficultyeasy
- Cost110 €
- Duration4-6 h
Introduction
Gabions wall baskets are true all-rounders in garden and landscape design. Their name comes from the Italian "Gabbione", which roughly translates to "large cage" - a fitting description. But gabion cages are more than just a privacy screen. For example, you can use them for bed or pond edging, benches, planters, fences, and sound barriers—even DIY gabion retaining walls.
A gabion wall consists of individual gabions, i.e., metal wire or mesh cages that you fill with stones to achieve the desired structure and stability. They are relatively inexpensive, low maintenance, and environmentally friendly - an ideal element to create both functional and attractive highlights in your garden.
Building a gabion cage yourself is quite simple, especially without a foundation. This guide shows you how. In the "Planning & background knowledge" section, you'll also find many additional tips for assembling, securing, and filling gabion designs.
- metal saw
- spade
- Gabion set (consisting of wire baskets, support pillars, and spacers)
- Gravel
- Stones for filling the gabion
- Zinc paint if necessary
Let's get started - step by step: building gabion cages yourself
To build a gabion wall of about 50 cm high, we do not need a point foundation. If you have planned a gabion retaining wall, a high privacy screen or partition, you cannot avoid a foundation. More on this in the "Planning & Background Knowledge" chapter. Our low wall gabion variant can, for example, serve as an edging for a flower bed.
Throughout all steps, you must naturally ensure work safety to protect yourself and your health. In our overview of safety precautions for DIY, you will find the most important tips.
Creating a gravel bed
Since we are foregoing a foundation, a simple gravel bed is sufficient as a base. If your gabion is on grass, you should dig out the top layer of the lawn with a spade and then fill the area with gravel. Use a spirit level or a line laser to check if you have created a level bed on which the stone baskets can stand straight later.
Setting up gabions
Now you set up your gabion cages (unfilled!). If you need to cut individual grids or mats, we recommend using a metal saw or reciprocating saw. However, make sure that each mat always ends with a vertical post (if available) to ensure stability. You can smooth out protruding sharp edges with an angle grinder. To protect cut edges from rust, seal them with zinc paint.
Connecting gabions
This step may vary depending on the manufacturer of the gabion. Usually, so-called C-rings are used to connect the gabions. Use a cordless drill/driver if you need to screw the mats together with the support pillar instead. Make sure to attach the supplied spacers exactly according to the instructions to prevent the gabion from bulging or collapsing later.
Filling gabion cages
And now we have reached the final step: filling the gabions. Especially with larger stones, you should not simply pour them into the wire frame but proceed with care. Align the stones carefully to achieve the best visual result. Once they are in place, you can clean them from dirt and dust with a garden hose.
Congratulations! You have already built your gabions and can use them as a privacy screen, bench, or bed enclosure. Especially with smaller gabion elements, you can create diverse decorative landscapes in your garden or front yard.
In our DIY section for garden, balcony, and terrace, your next DIY project might already be waiting for you! For example, you can alternatively or additionally build a privacy screen from pallets to your gabions, and a raised bed from pallets is also possible. Matching this: the pallet beach chair or the pallet sofa for self-assembly.
Planning & background knowledge for DIY gabion cages
We have a few helpful tips for you to ensure that your gabion wall construction is a complete success.
Can I also build gabion baskets myself?
Of course, you can also build gabion baskets yourself. To do this, you would have to cut wire mesh or double rod mats to the correct length, process the edges, and ensure a stable connection. However, DIY gabion wall baskets take a lot of work.
Which gabion set is right for me?
You can find gabion cage sets on the market that are either fully pre-assembled or intended for self-assembly.
Pre-assembled gabions have the advantage that you only need to fill them. Often, a lid with hinges is even attached to the top of the baskets. In addition, the manufacturer guarantees the safety of its product, and you can rely on all connections between the baskets being permanently stable.
Gabion cages for self-assembly need to be assembled before filling. Simple wire connections or similar components are often included for this purpose. With such a set, you can customize your gabions individually and you are not tied to a pre-assembled variant. The gabion set for self-assembly is therefore the optimal compromise. Nevertheless, always follow the instructions to ensure that your gabion will last as long as possible!
Which stones are best for filling the gabion?
You have many different options when choosing stones for gabion baskets. Make sure they are frost-resistant and match the mesh size of the gabion. They must be large enough not to fall through the mesh of your gabion. Everything else is up to your personal taste. Whether limestone, granite, or gravel - you decide how your gabion should look.
The following types of stones are suitable for gabion filling:
- Basalt
- Rubble stones
- Marble
- Granite
- Tourmaline
- Quartz stones
The type of stone significantly affects the cost of your gabion. Therefore, consider which filling suits your garden and your budget best and get creative!
Creative gabion garden ideas
- Fill the gabion cage with a mixture of rock and coloured glass or lay multiple layers of different types of stone.
- Round or semi-round gabions are excellent for edging ponds or beds. In our DIY section, you can learn how to create a garden pond and how to achieve a dream garden in 7 steps.
- With a low gabion, you can build a small wall for privacy. Green planting with ivy or similar climbing plants is also possible. By the way, we'll tell you in a separate guide how to plant an entire wall. Do you have less space available? How about a customizable plant wall?
- Do you want to build a gabion bench but don't want to give up the warmth of wood? Simply attach weather-resistant varnished or painted wooden planks to your gabions. Matching this, you can also build a creative wooden privacy screen yourself. Of course, you can also build a DIY garden bench without gabions.
- Gabion instead of a raised bed? That's possible! Use our guide for DIY flower boxes as a template and simply arrange the boxes on top of your gabion as desired. See how to build a regular raised bed or a raised bed from pallets here.
Do I need concrete for a gabion?
Not all gabions need to be concreted in or anchored with a foundation. If you are planning your gabion as a bed enclosure, a simple structure on a gravel bed without special anchoring is sufficient. However, gabions should be stabilized accordingly from a height of around one meter. A point foundation per gabion pillar gives your gabion the necessary stability.
Do I need a building permit for a gabion?
Generally, gabion fences up to a height of 1.80 m do not require a building permit. However, different regulations may apply in some municipalities. To be on the safe side, inquire with your local building authority beforehand.
Costs: Building gabion cages yourself
For a gabion set with dimensions of 2000 × 500 × 50 mm, you will pay approximately £100. The price may vary depending on the manufacturer. The filling material is calculated based on the required quantity/m³, as the filling quantity depends on the size of the stones. Granite as gabion stone in 45 to 125 grain sizes costs around £200 per 500 kg. However, for our example size above, we only need about 0.05-0.1 m³ of this stone. Accordingly, the cost for the filling material would be around £5-10.
For a gabion set with dimensions of 2000 × 1000 × 150 mm, you would pay around £220 in comparison, plus filling material for approximately £30.