If you’re like most homeowners, you already know that landscaping is more than just adding aesthetic beauty to your outdoor living space — it’s also about addressing practical concerns. One versatile solution to a variety of landscaping problems that are often overlooked by modern homeowners is gabions. Gabions are wire baskets or cages containing stones, concrete, and sometimes even sand or soil. Following are just four of the many landscaping dilemmas that gabions can solve:

Soil Erosion

Erosion poses significant challenges for many homeowners, particularly those who live in areas that receive large amounts of rainfall or whose property contains slopes and downgrades. Soil erosion not only has a negative effect on the aesthetics of the area, but it also leads to the loss of nutrients in the soil and increases the amount of sediment runoff going into the waterways. Gabions provide a solution by serving as retaining walls or erosion barriers, preventing erosion and maintaining the integrity of the landscape.

On areas prone to erosion, such as hillsides or riverbanks, gabion retaining walls can be designed to create terraces or stepped slopes, adding visual appeal to the picture while preventing soil from washing away. These tiers can be landscaped with various plants, such as herbaceous perennials and ornamental grasses for additional beauty and ecological benefits.

Drainage Issues

Poor drainage results in waterlogged soil, soggy patches, and even areas of standing water. Typically, lawn grass and other types of plants won’t grow in these overly saturated conditions, so you’ll likely be left with mud holes. However, gabions can be used to improve drainage by creating channels that allow water to flow. For instance, you can construct a French drain by enclosing a perforated pipe surrounded by gravel within a gabion basket. This approach allows excess water to drain away from the surface of the ground and prevents it from becoming waterlogged.

Slope Stabilization

Even slight slopes are prone to erosion, particularly those in areas with heavy rainfall or vulnerability to earthquake activity. Gabions provide homeowners with a cost-effective method for stabilizing these slopes, minimizing the risk of landslides and other risks associated with steep terrain.

Flat structures filled with stones, otherwise known as gabion mattresses, are especially useful for stabilizing slopes. Because they conform to the natural contours of the land, they create a stable surface that decreases erosion as well as supports vegetation growth. You can further enhance stability by planting erosion-control plants, such as creeping juniper, creeping phlox, or periwinkle on top of the gabion.

Visual Screening and Noise Reduction

In urban or suburban settings — or anywhere else where privacy concerns are high — gabions can serve as effective barriers for both visual screening and noise reduction. The porous nature of gabion allows for the natural flow of air while still maintaining a barrier that absorbs outside sounds and blocks unwanted views. You can add to the aesthetic by planting vines or climbing plants on gabion walls.

Gabions can also be used to create raised beds, providing an accessible and attractive area to grow vegetables, herbs, and flowers.

Published by: Holy Minoza