How to build a rock-filled gabion seat

The first step is to choose a suitable spot for a gabion, or 'cage', seat. Josh chose a sheltered spot next to a path. He scraped the mulch to one side for replacing later. He also suggested putting a tarp down in the digging zone and having buckets handy so there isn't as much loose material to clean up later.
Then he dug a trench about 15 centimetres deep, slightly bigger than the dimensions of the seat, so the bench can be securely backfilled for stability. The rock seat was designed to be about 75 centimetres long by 40 centimetres wide.
The only construction material Josh had to buy was a $40 piece of welded wire mesh. He chose a standard, off-the-shelf reinforcing mesh that comes in 50 millimetre sections to form the frame of the gabion basket. You can get it from most hardware or farm supply stores.
Josh cut the mesh into sections to make a box. (There are lots of online geometry sites to help you choose dimensions for different sorts of boxes). He fixed the edges together using netting nips and ties. To increase its strength, he also tied the sections together with high-tensile fencing wire.
The higher the wall and the heavier the filling material, the heavier gauge wire you should use to create your box. To make sure the whole thing doesn't bend out of shape when it gets filled full of rock, Josh also inserted a piece of mesh inside the middle of the box and wired it to the outside edges.
Next, Josh positioned the box and made sure it was level. He then began filling the base of the cage with rubble. Once above the soil and mulch, he slowly packed it more carefully with attractive rocks.
As an added artistic touch, he popped in some Banksia cones so the follicles just peek out of the rubble.
For the seat, Josh oiled a piece of timber with boiled linseed oil to help preserve the wood and bring out the colour. It's a piece of Tuart (Eucalyptus gomphocephala), a hardwood from the south-west of WA. Then he simply chocked the timber firmly into place and secured it to the frame with wood screws and washers.
Finally, he backfilled the area, popped a new plant at the base and lightly watered the whole thing down to settle the earth, rocks and nearby plants.
Josh thinks one of the best things about rock-filled gabion baskets is that they also make wonderful habitat for insects and spiders and lizards and skinks, as well as being a really good spot to sit down and enjoy your garden.
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