As the weather begins to get warmer, it’s time to start working on the garden. Using decorative stones and gravel can be effective and transform your outdoor space into something brand new. The best part about Decorative Aggregates is that with some time and work, you can DIY your new garden without needing to hire a professional!
In the long run, this kind of garden will save you a lot of time and money – they need less maintenance so you can spend your free time with other activities than digging flower beds and mowing the lawn. They are also way cheaper than other garden projects, and you’ll also much more rarely need to spend anything on plant food and fertilizer.
If you are now ready to lay down some decorative aggregates on your garden, here’s a few ways to make use of them.
Choose your aggregate
Before you start, think about the layout of your garden and what’s inside it. This will help you choose the most suitable aggregate. Also think about the colour of the aggregate and whether it will compliment your current garden colour scheme.
Also think about the size of the aggregate you will be using. Smaller chipping will fit together better, so will work well in areas that are made to be walked on, such as pathways. Larger stones and cobbles are good to use as edging around your garden or if you have a water feature.
Especially when you have dogs, it’s important to choose your aggregate with a lot of care. Aggregates that are too small might become stuck between the paw pads of your dog and aggregates that are too sharp might cut your dog’s paws. Make sure to use aggregates that stay relatively cool like pea gravel.
If you’re looking for environmentally friendly aggregate, consider using recycled stones. This means that less ’artificial’ aggregate is being made and you’ll give preloved stone a second home.
You’ll also want to consider how much aggregate you might need. For example, if you plan on doing a whole driveway you will want to purchase some bulk bag gravel to save on cost and ensure the entire area gets covered.
Improve drainage
Having aggregate down will help to improve the drainage when it rains or whenever you water your plants. This reduces the risk of your garden flooding and flowerbeds becoming ruined to adverse weather conditions.
For this, shingle or wood chippings are perfect. The spaces in between the material allow for water to pass through into the ground, ensuring that your garden stays usable. Having to drain standing water can be very expensive and at worst even damage your property!
Decorate your pond or water feature
Having pebbles and rocks of varying sizes around your pond or water feature will add dimension and give a more natural appearance. This will give the feel of being by a riverbed or on a beach. If you have fish in your pond, make sure you use an aggregate that is safe for them as some stones contain lime which could alter the PH levels of the water.
When having chosen the correct rocks and gravel, they can actually have very beneficial effects like providing a place for aquatic plants to attach themselves to and giving a good environment for beneficial bacteria that helps break down organic material.
Keep weeds at bay
By creating a barrier around your plants and fauna, you’ll avoid any unwanted weeds making their way up the driveway or tarnishing your existing beautiful flowerbeds. Aggregate can be used as an alternative to mulch when used alongside a membrane to place them on top of. It can also form a nice boarder around your flower beds and make them look much more aesthetic and in line.
To ensure weeds will keep away, you should use a semi permeable membrane under your aggregates – these allow water and nutrients to seep into the soil to ensure it stays healthy in case you’ll want to grow something there in the future!
Fill in any gaps
Have a few niggling gaps around your driveway, patio or artificial grass? You can improve their appearance and level them out with some chipping or pebbles. This will give a more professional look to the area as well as effectively covering any gaps that might be a bit of an eyesore.