Make Gabion Walls More Attractive

Gabions are a simple way to create structures in your garden with stone or other aggregate filling a metal cage. While originally for infrastructure purposes, gabions are now used in many residential gardens. They may be used as pillars, retaining walls, borders, or fire pit surrounds and are often set up to create a structure.

The downside of using gabions is the fact that they tend not to look very nice. A metal mesh block full of broken stone can be unsightly, so what can you do to enhance the view?

Plaster the Outside

If you don’t want to look at the plain gabion stone, you may want to cover the outside of the block with plaster or concrete. Remember that this will affect the drainage if it is being used for a retaining wall, so you’ll need to add that to the wall. However, for pillars and other simple structures, this can give you a much nicer look and it’s relatively simple.

Fill with Alternative Materials

Gabion rock or recycled building materials, such as concrete, tend to be the filler for gabions, but if you prefer something prettier, you can mix it up. Some people fill them with large seashells, pieces of coloured glass, or different types of rock to give it a new look. You don’t need to do the entire gabion this way, though, you can fill the front-facing side with your more beautiful materials and then add the stone behind it.

Plant Flowers

Over time, gabion walls tend to grow greenery as plant seeds fall in and dust and soil fill in the cracks. You can speed this process up by adding a little potting soil to the top of the gabion wall and sprinkling wildflower seeds or whatever plant you wish to grow.

A little greenery can drastically change what the blocks look like and will help them fit into your garden a little better. If the wall is damp and in a shaded area, you may try transplanting some moss to give it a more rustic look.

Top with Concrete or Stone

Create a flat surface that will work as a bench or counter by adding stone or concrete slabs to the top of a gabion wall. Depending on the height, it can be used for different purposes, but making the top flat and smooth will give you more opportunities for using the structure.

A gabion wall doesn’t have to look unpleasant. It may be functional, but there’s no reason you can’t make it look a little nicer. From planting flowers to adding some plaster, there are many ways to fix up the wall and make it look like a planned part of the garden. You may even try adding shelving and twinkle lights to help incorporate a little more ambience.  

Looking for gabion stone? William Thompson & Son has exactly what you need. Contact us today for pricing.