If someone suggested creating a wall or fence from a wire cage filled with crushed rock, you might assume it would be ugly and is only used to save money.
While it can be inexpensive, the point of this article is to show you that gabion walls, fences, benches and other structures can look really fantastic. There are so many designs you can incorporate … it’s a very flexible type of structure material and concept to use.
Learn all about gabion here.
Table of Contents
About Gabion
What is gabion?
Gabion is wire cage or mesh filled with rocks and/or gravel to create a wall of some sort which can in turn be used to create a fence, retaining wall, bench and other structures.
Benefits of gabion
- Looks cool: As you’ll see in our collection below, you can do some really great looking gabion designs such as different rock color layers or mix the gabion with other fence or wall materials such as wood or metal.
- Is unique: Not a lot of landscaping use gabion so if done well, can be striking.
- Strong and durable: It’s solid rock encased in strong wire so it’s heavy and very durable. Over time, silt and vegetation fills into the gaps which further strengthens the structure [source: Founterior.com].
- Inexpensive: If you have low-cost access to rocks or gravel, the resulting cost can be low relative to wood, vinyl or other materials.
- Permeable: Because it’s loose packed rock, water can run through it which helps prevent any displacement in the event of a flood. That said, if forceful enough, water can ruin a gabion structure as well.
- Modular: You can add to a gabion structure very easy by adding more gabion sections in the future.
- Can do it yourself: Below we have a DIY gabion wall video which shows that it’s not difficult to build quality gabion walls yourself (save more money).
- Accommodating: You can place gabion pretty much on any landscape – slope, gravel, etc. In other words, you don’t necessarily have to move a lot of earth to prepare for gabion.
How much does gabion cost?
This is impossible to assess because it depends on the quality of wire, cage or mesh you use and the type of rock/gravel you use.
Types of rock used in gabion baskets
You can fill the gabion cage or mesh with any kind of rock. Here are a few ideas:
- Crushed concrete (less expensive)
- Slate (expensive)
- Pebbles
- Gravel
- Large rocks
- White rocks (very nice effect – see examples below)
- Crushed Granite
- Colorful rocks
- Limestone
- Bricks
- Etc.
The sky is the limit.
IMPORTANT: You need to make sure that if you plan on using a small rock that your cage should be tighter (less space between wire).
How to build a DIY gabion wall
Gabion Wall and Fence Ideas (Photos)
Gabion is mostly used to create walls and fences of all types – privacy fences, regular fences, garden fences and used in retaining walls. Here’s a huge collection of gabion wall and fence examples.
Large gray crushed limestone gabion fence with layer of blue rock around permiter of a house.
Check out this fabulous gabion fence with sections of gabion in between horizontal light wood fence all on a pebble concrete foundation.
Large crushed limestone gabion fence on top of an elevated piling style retaining wall.
Close up of a white rock gabion wall creating a planter.
Example of a tall gabion fence with wood gate.
Gabion fence with sections of exposed bushes and plants creates an interesting and attractive fence.
Very tall gabion wall.
Gabion and wood panel wall. The gabion sections are thick black steel cages.
Attractive gabion fence with flower planters hanging on the side.
Gabion and wood privacy fence around a suburban house.
Example of a gabion fence with wisteria hanging down from the top.
Large yard with tall gabion and cement block fence serving as tall privacy fence. The gabion gives the fence an interesting and natural texture that works well with the manicured nature of the property.
Tall gabion wall next to a patio.
Gabion privacy wall on end of patio.
Very tall crushed white rock gabion wall with extra thick gabion posts.
Large cobblestone gabion wall with ivy.
Attractive light gray gabion fence with treed sections on top of large concrete blocks.
Gabion fence with extra wide and tall gabion fence posts.
Gabion fence with trees in front.
In this example, the large rock gabion wall forms the foundation for the wrought iron fence.
Close up of the gabion fence foundation.
Long and tall gabion fence with dark gray metal sections around a large property.
Close up of gabion fence with metal sections. Notice the strip of dark gray rock in the gabion fence.
Example of a partial gabion fence that offers some privacy around the yard and patio.
Close up of a crushed rock gabion fence.
Tall gabion fence with metal gate opening up onto private driveway.
Gabion fence with white metal gate on concrete foundation.
Gabion retaining wall beside backyard staircase.
Close up of gray gabion retaining wall with outdoor lights.
Attractive light gray brick gabion garden wall creating an elevated garden.
Super tall gabion recessed retaining wall.
Attractive gabion retaining wall in front yard supporting several levels of gardens.
Beautiful series of blue rock gabion retaining walls in a large backyard.
Gabion retaining wall next to a pond.
Steep climbing gabion retaining wall.
Gabion Bench Ideas
You can also use the gabion concept for creating the foundation of outdoor benches. Check these out.
Zigzag gabion bench design with wood surface on perimeter of a patio.
Large rock gabion bench on side of walkway.
Smooth pebble gabion bench.
Gabion and wood bench on patio.
Covered cage basket gabion bench on patio.
Other Gabion Structures
Gabion can also be used as a foundation and/or filler for various structures. Check this out.
I love this white rock gabion planter on the patio. This is the kind of cool stuff you can make with gabion – I’m surprised more of this type of thing isn’t done.
Elevated gabion garden in the middle of the yard.
Gabion staircase foundation and support.
Gabion used for soil erosion management next to a river.
Gabion planter examples