Do you ever think of having rocks in your garden? Rocks, particularly gravel, are becoming increasingly popular as a green, sustainable material to use in the garden. They add a textural appeal that can be worked into every landscape design. They also serve a purpose. Don’t limit yourself to thinking of gravel only in driveways. It is very versatile and can be incorporated in a wide variety of practical and decorative applications.
5 good reasons to use gravel in your landscape
Good drainage
Gravel provides good, natural drainage along walkways and among plants. If standing water is a problem, it can be used to form a path and help eliminate surface puddles. It also can help anchor soil along a slope. Place egg rocks or river rocks along a slope to keep soil in place. For more severe drainage problems, a rock-filled trench, or French drain, can be built to divert water to another location.
Lower maintenance
If you are looking for ways to better manage your time, think about what else you could be doing if you didn’t have to mow or water your lawn. Eliminate your lawn by replacing the grass with gravel. This alternate surface material can also transform a hard-to-grow area into a more appealing and usable space.
Long lasting
Unlike mulch where you have to replace it frequently, gravel will last several seasons. It will stay attractive for a long time. You might have to periodically weed and blow away fallen leaves, but then all you will have to do is touch it up.
Easy to use
Gravel comes in many different sizes, shapes and colors that blend naturally in any landscape. Most of it is medium to lightweight so it can be worked with by hand. It’s easy to spread among plants and shrubs. You can easily shape it into a creative design on a surface, or form a patio or walkway. While some gravel can be raked to keep tidy, your crushed varieties have irregular edges that press it into the ground to help it remain in place.
Plant-friendly
Gravel is a natural landscaping material that has no added chemicals or other harmful substances. This makes it great to use in place of mulch and around plants. It can be difficult to weed if weeds get out of hand, so remember to put down landscaping fabric first, and then spread the gravel. And if you want an edge, line your beds with slightly larger aggregates such as river rock for visual interest.
Textural appeal
There is the smoothness of pea gravel, egg rocks, and beach pebbles or the broken, asymmetrical look of crushed stone. Depending on the type you use, you can add different textures to dress up your garden beds or create an enchanting path. Shape small pebbles of various colors in a circular pattern to create a design. And if you are laying down a stone patio, fill in the space between larger stone pavers with pea gravel or egg rocks for a decorative look.
Fieldstone Center has a large variety of aggregate stone, including gravel, to use in your next landscape design. You can view the types of aggregates we have at https://stonesalesandservice.com/product-category/aggregates/. And feel free to contact us for more information at (770) 385-7708.