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Barbed Wire Alternative

 
pollinator
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I need to rebuild a retaining wall and came across geotextile fabric bags designed for the purpose. They differ from earth bags in that they are water permeable and UV stabilized, and intended to be planted over with grasses so roots can further stabilize a grade. Supposed to last over 100 years so they seem pretty eco friendly.
 
Some come with plastic spike plates (spikes on both sides) used to stabilize between courses, but of course those are overpriced for what they are. I hesitate to use barbed wire (as you would in normal earth bag construction) because the water permeability of this material would mean rusty barbed wire. If I ever have to re-work anything, a ton of rusty crumbling barbed wire is nobody's good time.

Has anyone seen an alternative to barbed wire in stabilizing earth bags? Something spikey on both sides?
flex-mse-vegetated-geobag-wall-units-construction-complete.jpg
[Thumbnail for flex-mse-vegetated-geobag-wall-units-construction-complete.jpg]
 
Rocket Scientist
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Hi Matt,   Jut thinking out loud here: Jagged rocks could help to prevent slippage between the bags. Stakes driven in through a few courses and staggered could also help...or perhaps even cord that has jagged 'thingamajigs' (like jacks - remember the game as a kid?) tied to it every 6" or so.
 
pollinator
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It seems like barbed wire that was made from aluminum or stainless might provide the durability you seek... never used either, but a quick search suggests that options exist.

Still not gonna be fun to work with at redo time..
 
pollinator
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Just a thought here since I am thinking of building a wall around a large course of containers for blueberries.  I often cut up cattle panels to make them fit the need. One panel costs about $20 and if you cut them up with a large cutter you can make sort of like a picket fence where the pickets point down and up.  Hammer them into the bottom and drop the next course on top.  I may do this myself as reinforcement.  They are galvanized so should last a while.
 
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