4 Ways Young Adults Can Use Gabions to Fix Up Their First Yard

It is exciting to have your first home, but keeping up the yard can be a bit daunting. You might have a dream in your head, but a lack of time, money, or tools makes it feel unreachable. The good news is that gabions are a cool, cheap way to create personal features in the garden or elsewhere in your yard. Gabions are simply wire baskets filled with rocks, concrete, or other recycled material. Sure, they are typically mainstays in grand landscaping jobs; however, younger homeowners are beginning to incorporate them in smaller, more personal ways. Here are four ways young adults are using gabions to fix up their yards and gardens.

1. Construct a Durable Raised Garden Bed

New homeowners are using gabions to build raised garden beds that will not rot or break down. Sure, wood may be easier, but it can deteriorate and splinter over time. Gabions, however, are very long-lasting and will cope with rain, sun, and snow without degrading.

For instance, someone living in a small home with little space may wish to grow herbs or vegetables. By stacking short gabion baskets into a square or rectangle, they can create a durable garden bed with supportive walls that help hold soil in place. Lining the baskets with rock or stone from along a river or colored gravel gives them a neat, good look. This is an especially good solution for those who want to design a low-maintenance garden with a contemporary twist.

2. Stop Soil Erosion on a Hill

Not all yards are flat. Those that contain hilly ground can create areas where the rainwater comes from the roof and washes away soil, thus erosion occurs. This can result in patchy grass, uneven ground, or flooding. Gabions can also be used to control these problems.

Homeowners can slow the water and help keep the soil in place by inserting gabion walls across slopes. This allows for easier gardening without having to fret about plants slipping away. Some also give a plain slope a sense of architecture by cultivating a layered look with small plants positioned in niches between the walls.

3. Get Fancy With an Outdoor Lounge

Outdoor furniture is no small expense. Plastic chairs are easy to break, and wood benches need care. Gabions are an inexpensive way to construct seating, as they look great and serve a purpose.

One suggestion is to use two gabion baskets filled with stone and a wooden board resting on top to fashion a bench. It is a simple one, but it is strong enough for guests or even an intimate party. For cushioning, add a backrest, and then it can turn into an attractive seat. This sort of project can give young adults the opportunity to accomplish something useful with nothing more than their own hands — a potentially satisfying experience.

4. Define Borders and Walkways

Without distinct borders, a yard can appear cluttered; however, gabions can help fix that. A walking path can be outlined, or sections of the lawn, such as a play zone or area around a fire pit, can be demarcated with short gabion walls. Unlike plastic edging, gabions will not slide out of place and will have a more natural appearance.

A young couple who want to keep their flowerbed isolated from their lawn could go for short gabion walls filled with white stones. This is not just fancy. It keeps the mulch from running into the lawn.

There is more to gabions than wire boxes filled with rocks. They are a creative resource to help young adults transform a drab yard into something personal and practical. For food growing, slope taming, or having space for friends, gabions offer an easy solution to building that lasts.