When looking for an attractive alternative to the classic wooden or pallet raised bed, more and more people are interested in gabions. You can easily build a gabion raised bed yourself and use it for a long time.
To the point
- Set up gabion baskets
- weigh it down with gabion stones
- Attach mouse wire
- fill
- plant
Table of contents
- Select gabion baskets
- materials
- Tools and utensils
- Preparation
- Build your own gabion raised bed: instructions
- frequently asked Questions
Select gabion baskets
To realize and build a gabion raised bed yourself, you need the right materials. Of course, you should think about the baskets first, as they determine the shape and working height.
Gabion baskets are available in the following versions, which are ideal for raised beds:
- rectangular
- around
The height of the gabion should be between 80 and 100 centimeters. They should not be higher or lower so that the working height is correct. Also pay attention to the depth of the baskets. The following wall depths are recommended for a raised bed:
- 10 centimeters
- 15cm
If you prefer a classic, rectangular raised bed, the following dimensions are suitable:
- 150cm length
- 100cm width
- 100cm height
- 10 cm wall depth
To do this you will need the following baskets:
- 2 x baskets measuring 150 x 100 x 10 cm
- 2 x baskets measuring 80 x 100 x 10 cm
materials
In addition to the gabions, you of course need the filling material, the gabion stones. Theoretically, you can use all typical gabion stones for this, even chunks of glass. The options are narrowed down solely by available capital and your taste. If you don't have a preference, we recommend using stones that don't move so quickly pollute as they are regularly mixed with soil and organic material during plant care come into contact.
These include:
- basalt
- granite
- colored gravel
Also make sure that the stones are large enough and compatible with the mesh size of the gabion baskets. Then determine the need for gabion stones. For the baskets mentioned above, the following requirements arise with a grain size of 50 to 150 millimeters:
- 150 x 100 x 10 cm baskets (0.15 cubic meter volume): 260 kg gabion stones
- 80 x 100 x 10 cm baskets (0.08 cubic meter volume): 140 kg gabion stones
In total, you will need the following amount of gabion stones for the example below:
- 2 x 260kg
- 2 x 140kg
- a total of 800 kg
Of course, the amount of stones required varies depending on the gabion basket. Especially with a round gabion, you have to calculate exactly so that you don't order too few. In addition to the baskets and stones, the following materials are important for creating the raised bed:
- 10 cm long spacers for gabions
- C-connecting clamps for gabion baskets
- Vole screen (hot-dip galvanized)
- pond liner or Bubble wrap
- Binding wire (galvanized)
If you want to keep the delivery costs of gabions and gabion stones low, find out about a supplier in your region. If possible, you can collect the stones and baskets yourself, which significantly reduces costs.
Tools and utensils
In order to build the raised bed out of gabions, in addition to the materials, you will need suitable tools and utensils. The following list gives you an overview of what you need to implement your gabion raised bed:
- Rubber mallet
- spade
- Wire cutter
- Cutter knife
- Spirit level
- guideline
- Guideline
- Wooden stakes for staking
- Gardening gloves
- wheelbarrow
- Earthmasher
- Tape measure or ruler
Preparation
One of the most important points when building a raised bed out of gabions yourself is the preparation of the site. This must be completely flat so that the gabion baskets do not fall over when being filled. Fortunately, raised beds made of gabions do not require a proper foundation as they are no higher than 100 centimeters. This means you can easily build the bed on any area of your property that is level enough. This includes:
- Terraces
- Roof terraces
- Courtyard areas
- unused parking spaces
They are not suitable for the balcony because the stones are very heavy.
Check the available surface using a spirit level to see whether it is level. If so, you can set up the raised bed directly. If not, you will need to straighten the desired area. Ideally, you should choose a location that is not on a slope or has strong unevenness. Leveling the area is done as follows:
- Mark out the desired area
- use guidelines for this
- Orientate towards the outer edge of the raised bed
- Remove turf (if any).
- Compact the area with an earth tamper
You do not need a building permit to create a raised bed made of gabions. The beds usually do not reach the height of 180 centimeters required for building permits because the working height is significantly lower.
Build your own gabion raised bed: instructions
- Start by assembling the gabion baskets. To do this, follow the manufacturer's assembly instructions, as not every model is assembled in the same way. Then check the baskets for stability and stability so that they do not stand crooked or tip over easily.
- Place the baskets in the desired location and check the stand again. In this example, the gabion raised bed consists of four elements that still need to be connected. If you have chosen a round gabion as a raised bed, you usually do not need to connect it to other elements because it is a round basket.
- When setting up, the 150 centimeter long baskets are placed on the outside. They form the long side of the raised bed. The 80 centimeter long baskets are placed between the other two. Check the dimensions of the raised bed. It should now be 150 centimeters long and 100 centimeters wide, with a height of 100 centimeters. Connect the baskets together at the corners using the C-connecting brackets. The gabions should then be as secure as possible.
- The next step is essential to ensure that your raised bed does not bulge after filling with the gabion stones. First fill a 20 centimeter layer of gabion stones into the baskets. Now place the spacers at a distance of 20 centimeters along the baskets above the first layer. This prevents the baskets from bulging due to the pressure of the weight of the stones. Repeat this step until the gabions are completely filled.
- After each layer, compact the stones with the rubber mallet. This increases the stability of the gabions.
- Now place the vole grid in the lower area of the gabions. A distance of ten centimeters from the ground is recommended. The grid is securely secured with binding wire.
- Now cover the inside with the pond or bubble wrap. The floor is not covered with foil. Place the foil on the sides and cut the elements with the cutter knife. Then attach the foil using the binding wire.
- Make sure there is an overhang of ten centimeters on the ground. An overhang in the upper area is not necessary.
- Last but not least, fill and plant the finished gabion raised bed. Use what you know for this Shift systemto provide the plants with the necessary basis for cultivation.
If you need additional space for flowers and herbs, you can hang plant pots from the outside into the gabions.
frequently asked Questions
The biggest advantage of a gabion raised bed is its durability. They are weatherproof, suitable for windy regions and easy to care for. Furthermore, the loose filling material offers a suitable habitat for insects and other animals because there are numerous gaps. Another advantage is the replacement of damaged elements. If one of the baskets is damaged, you only need to replace it to use the raised bed again.
Depending on the stone filling selected, a gabion raised bed can incur high acquisition costs. In addition, the look can only be adjusted primarily through the selected stones, which severely limits the design options. Poor quality gabion baskets lead to instability of the entire raised bed, which is a major disadvantage when using them.
Classic Wooden raised beds have a lifespan of around ten years. With gabion raised beds, you can expect a longevity of up to 30 years as long as the baskets are made of stainless steel. You can replace components such as the mouse wire or the stones at regular intervals without having to remove the gabion baskets.
