Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Can I plant in a gabion retaining wall?

cheeseenvycheeseenvy Posts: 7
in Problem solving
I recently moved to a house with a very plain garden with lots of 1-2 metre high gabion walls retaining raised beds. They look sterile. Is there anything I can plant among the large pebbles to make them look more natural? I’m trying to create a wildlife garden but these walls are an eyesore.
«1

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I love gabions, but we're all different. You'd have to remove some of the stone to give you spaces for soil. That could be quite easy, or very difficult, depending on the structures.
    You could plant alpines quite easily, as they need very little to sustain them, but it'll also depend on the look you want. Anything bigger would need a decent amount of soil to sustain the roots long term.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Welcome to the forum. Check out this week's episode of YGMP (BBC). The main features are gabion and planting them.


  • mikeymustardmikeymustard Posts: 495
    Fire said:
    Welcome to the forum. Check out this week's episode of YGMP (BBC). The main features are gabion and planting them.


    Good old auntie beeb (someone needs to stick up for her  :))!
  • the tidy gardenerthe tidy gardener Posts: 591
    in the original design they did have plants snuck into the gaps between the stones.but in the final design they didn't.an ivy instead was used.it would be been nice to find out why?can't help thinking ivy would creep out of control?
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Ivy does tend to be a bit of a marmite plant. I think in the Beeb situ it would have been great, having had a vaguely similar set up in my own garden (fence, not gabions).
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Depends on the type of ivy.  :)
    If you 'contain' it, the smaller leaved varieties are usually fine. You can push it into spaces while still in a pot, or use a bit of wire mesh to hold soil inside. Clay is particularly good for that. I've done it in walls and among planting on fences to give a bit of extra colour in winter.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    the tidy gardener said:
    in the original design they did have plants snuck into the gaps between the stones.but in the final design they didn't.an ivy instead was used.it would be been nice to find out why?can't help thinking ivy would creep out of control?
    I would guess that any soil filled planting pockets within the gabions would dry out too quickly, or get washed out. Rooting climbers into the soil at the base is much more likely to succeed.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Some photos and more info would help with ideas though. In the right aspect, and in the right location, it's quite easy to plant into structures.

    If @cheeseenvy comes back with photos and that info, that will help.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Fire said:
    Welcome to the forum. Check out this week's episode of YGMP (BBC). The main features are gabion and planting them.


    Yikes. Gabions are given a predicted lifespan of 60 years and I'm never sure how developers get permission to use them like this knowing it's a time bomb of cost and disruption for future house owners. I've seen poorly built gabions fail on a couple of sites too.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    The are often used as earth retaining structures, and if your house is under one, you would certainly want to very, very sure of their very long term integrity.
Sign In or Register to comment.