| Using gravel in your garden can create an excellent, | | | | 5cms (2 inches) deep. Keep the gravel well below the |
| in-expensive but practical garden surface. It's | | | | surface of the lawn, otherwise it will spill on to the |
| attractive, maintenance-free, simple to lay and fits in | | | | surface of the lawn and will damage the mower |
| well with plants. It will work well with irregular outlines, | | | | when it's time to cut the grass. Choose a size that |
| and it can be effective in any area large or small. | | | | will be noticeable if it does stray. |
| Whole gardens can be turned over to gravel with | | | | Larger Gravel Areas |
| some judicious use of complimentary paving and | | | | For areas larger than a small island bed, consider |
| attractive planting. Use of edging is an important | | | | laying a plastic membrane sheet over the area to |
| addition, otherwise the gravel can be scattered into | | | | stop weed growth coming through later on. If your |
| surrounding borders. | | | | gravel garden is low-lying or in a hollow you will need |
| Many garden centres and builders merchants sell a | | | | to provide a sump for excess water to drain into. |
| huge range of gravels in many different sizes, colours | | | | Ensure that the surface is quite smooth before laying |
| and textures. The great thing about gravel is that the | | | | the sheet, and overlap the joints. Tip the gravel over |
| appearance changes according to the light and | | | | the plastic sheet and rake it level to make a 5cm (2 |
| whether the stones are wet or dry. | | | | inches) layer. |
| Making a Gravel Bed | | | | Plants and Gravel |
| You can set a gravel bed in a lawn or within an area | | | | Many plants will grow well in and around a gravel bed, |
| of paving. In a large lawn a winding ribbon of gravel, | | | | but for a true low-maintenance garden choose |
| designed to imitate a dry riverbed, can look very | | | | drought-resistant plants that wont need watering, |
| effective. If the garden is smaller, a more compact | | | | even in dry spells. Scoop back the gravel and plant |
| shape, perhaps oval or kidney-shaped, may be more | | | | normally, but avoid planting too deeply and keep the |
| appropriate. | | | | gravel away from the immediate area around the |
| To cut out the shape try using a half moon edger | | | | stem to stop it rubbing and damaging it in winds etc. |
| (edging iron) and remove the turf about 10cm (4 | | | | If planting through a plastic sheet, scoop back the |
| inches) deep with a spade. If you would like to grow | | | | gravel then make cross-slits through the plastic. Enrich |
| drought-loving plants, dig in plenty of course grit. For | | | | the soil with garden compost or fertilizer and plant |
| growing more water hungry plants, add well-rotted | | | | normally. Fold back the sheet and replace the gravel, |
| manure or compost. The gravel needs to be about | | | | taking care not to cover the crown of the plant. |