For gabions placed on the ground, you can simply wheelbarrow your rock filling directly into the top of the basket then attach the lid mesh. You do not require any loaders or bobcat's to scoop the rock and fill the basket from an unmanageable height.
Gabion structures, whether walls or fences, do not need a concrete foundation. However, they do need some work under the surface. Otherwise, as heavy as they are, they would be easy to topple over. ... Unlike many other walls, Gabion does not require a concrete foundation.
Unlike other materials, gabion baskets are not vulnerable to drainage issues as they are porous, so water cannot build up and cause structural failure to the retaining wall.
When filling the baskets it is necessary to insert a brace in the middle of the basket. This is important to stop the face bulging when filling. The higher the wall the more important this is as the more force exerted on the face.
Old bricks and blocks These are a great option for filling gabion baskets very cheaply. You may be able to buy these for a cheap price from local constructions companies or building sites (as they may have broken bricks or deliveries they need to get rid of).
Disadvantages/Problems Gabions are more expensive than either vegetated slopes or riprap. The wire baskets used for gabions may be subject to heavy wear and tear due to wire abrasion by bedload movement in streams with high velocity flow. Difficult to install, requiring large equipment.
Gabion walls, if just stacked stone, are a place that snakes do enjoy, but don't let this put you off, just be aware. Snakes have plenty of other places they visit around the home, but you've still got to have a home right?
Buy prefabricated gabion wire baskets or buy wire mesh such as chicken wire or construction wire mesh. Make sure the wire mesh you buy is galvanized or otherwise coated to resist corrosion. Place the wire baskets on the ground where you want to build the wall.
years A gabion wall's lifespan depends on the type of wire used and the amount of salt spray it is exposed to. “Something that is very coastal tends to rust out like any metal a little quicker,” Jurgensen says. “The further inland you go the longer these tend to last but years is the typical lifespan.”