Earthbags.uk

For easy construction of garden retaining walls

What Are Earthbags?

Earth Bags are simple to use, and they require little or no specialist tools or labour. By following the simple guide on this site, and referring to the photographs included, your projects can be completed with ease.

Earthbags can be used for…

Erosion control

Constructing retaining walls

For building / stabilising / restoring and protecting embankments

Reinforcing highways

Flood defence

Creating golf bunkers

Lining a ditch and protection of streams and waterways

Creating a living wall

Creation of raised beds and terraced areas

Creation of islands within lakes.

How Are Earthbags Made?

Earth Bags are produced from a strong, non-woven geotextile fabric. The bags are water-permeable and flexible, with the ability to very effectively sustain a wide variety of vegetation, as part of a vegetated wall system.

The plastic connector plates which are provided free are placed between the filled bags, dramatically increasing the sheer strength of the bag structure.

How Do They Work?

The Earth Bags are designed to be filled with a granular soil mix containing small stones to aid drainage. Soil excavated from the site is often an adequate filling material. The Earth Bags work well when pre-seeded with grass seed.

The seeds then germinate through the bag, take root and grow through the front face of the bag, giving the wall its vegetated surface. In time, the roots grow into and through the back of the bag and into the bank behind it, further securing the structure.The wall must be watered while it is establishing.

How Strong Are Earthbags?

Structural strength exists even without vegetation, however the addition of vegetation further increases the structure’s stability and provides aesthetical and environmental benefits. In addition to pre-seeding with grass seed, the Earth Bags accommodate many other forms of planting, including wild flower, shrubs and trees.

Options include live planting; brush layering; hydro-seeding and live staking. You may choose one or a combination of planting options, allowing you to blend your structure with the environment around it.

How many Earthbags do I need?

Approximately 14 Earth Bags will construct a single course 1 square metre wall

Earth is incredibly versatile in how it can be used. Different applications benefit from different installation methods, therefore the number of bags required will depend upon the specific project and factors such as height, gradient and ground conditions.

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How To Use Earthbags

Here’s our simple guide showing how to use Earthbags. Navigate the steps using the left and right arrows.

1. Site preparation

Foundations are not required but the ground should be as level as possible. However this is not critical, as a step-up in levels can be created during construction. The base of the prepared area must be firm and, if necessary, compacted.

It is recommended that you retain as much suitable excavated material as possible, to use for filling the bags at a later stage. When excavating, your digging must allow for the height and gradient of the structure; laying of the bags; backfilling and, if required, the use of geogrid. In most cases, no drainage is required as Earth Bags are water permeable.

2. Filling the earth bags

The Earth Bags should be filled with a granular soil mix containing small stones to aid drainage. Clay and silt are not recommended for filling the bags. At this stage, grass seed can be added to the bags.

Finally, seal the bag with the cable tie provided. My personal recommendation is to add grass seed to the entire fill material this provides a more even germination across the whole surface, but this will require more seed and is more costly.

3. Starting your earth structure

First place the plastic connector plates on the ground, positioning them to sit beneath where you want to place your first row of bags. The plastic connector plates should sit directly beneath the middle of each bag.

Place your first row of filled bags over the plastic connector plates, with a one to two inch space between the ends of each neighbouring bag. Compaction will then fill the bag into the open spaces as you build your structure. Do not overlap the bags at any stage, butt them against each other.

4. Placing additional rows

Place the plastic connector plates over the spaces between the base bags for the entire length of the structure. You will then be ready to place a further row of bags over the previous row.

This must be done in a running bond format, to ensure the plastic connector plates sit beneath the middle of each Earth Bag.

After placement, walk on or apply pressure to the tops of the bags to lock them onto the plastic connector plates. It is recommended to place a batter on any retaining wall.

5. Backfilling the structure

Fill and compact the backfill every two rows of Earth Bags. To obtain best results, vibratory compaction equipment should be used. Please note: a clean gravel zone behind the bags is not required for alignment or drainage.

In time, vegetation will penetrate the Earth Bags and grow into the backfilled area, further stabilizing the structure.

6. Geogrid

For structures requiring further reinforcement, Earth Bags earth can be used in combination with geogrid. Lay the geogrid so that it covers the area from the front of the bags to the rear of the backfill area. Place the plastic connector plates on top, as per the laying instructions in Step 4.

Pull the geogrid taut, then place the next row of bags on top of the plastic connector plates and geogrid, again following the laying instructions in Step 4. Backfill over the geogrid and compact once the second row is complete.

7. Top row

Place the top row of Earth Bags at a 90° angle to the structure alignment. The deeper embedment created by this placement will anchor the top of the structure and provide for a more stable structure.

Embed the rear section of the bag so that 50% of the bag is covered with backfill soil. Please note this may require you to use less fill in the top row of bags to allow for creating this shape.

8. Planting

There are many vegetation options for your Earth Bag structure. You may have chosen to add grass seed to the Earth Bags prior to construction, in which case your Earth Bag structure is now complete.

Alternatively, you may decide to plant the Earth Bag structure after construction. Options include seeding into small holes, live planting; brush layering; hydroseeding and live staking. You may also choose a combination of pre-seeding and live planting, for a stunning, natural effect.

Get Started

You can buy your Earthbags direct from us online. See what a difference they could make to your project.

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The size of the bag is 810mm x 420mm and the colour is black. A cable tie and plastic connector is supplied with every Earth Bag. If used together the earth wall is further strengthened providing a strong wall and a wall which allows vegetation to grow. The plastic connector plates increase the overall strength of the retaining wall and if used in connection with a form of geo grid tie the wall into the surrounding substrate.

Please note, we recommend that a structural engineer is consulted for any retaining wall above 1.2 metres.

Any Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the suitability of our Earthbags to your horticultural project then please get in touch. We will get back to you as soon as we can.