Most Popular Gravel Garden Ideas for Your Backyard
Many people have a penchant for gardening and they love to grow different types of plants in their gardens and courtyards. Nowadays, the Gravel Garden Ideas are popular and many people have already started making the gravel gardens in their house. They are a great way or have an organic garden that you can enjoy for many years.
The gravel garden designs come in all shapes and sizes and are relatively easy to make. You may prefer the Moroccan clean look for your garden or a garden in a Mediterranean style but whichever design you choose, the landscaping efforts will involve a fair bit of preparation.
It is very important to know how to lay the gravel in the correct manner, choose the suitable plants and learn how to maintain it for having the perfect gravel garden. In this post, we will let you know the Gravel Garden Ideas so that you can make the best garden.
Let us have a look at them.
How to Lay a Gravel Garden Correctly
• First clear the space of all vegetation. You have to remove the regular grass along with all the weeds and plants.
• You have to remove the weeds and carefully take out plants you want to keep and introduce back into your gravel garden.
• Now, dig over the ground for enhancing the condition of the top layer of soil.
• Make the surface even and break down any lumps and bumps.
• You have to feed the soil with granulated fertilizer, compost or manure as this will be the final chance for boosting the fertility.
• You can add the coarse sand if it is necessary to improve drainage.
• Now, you have to dig an outside border of about 4 inches wide and a couple of inches deep for separating the area from other garden features that you want to keep, whether it is a path, a rockery, a grassed patch or a flower bed.
Gravel Garden Planting Tips
First of all, decide where you want to place each plant and then place the pots in position on top of the weed-suppressing membrane. Cut the crosses into the sheet when you are happy with the floral and foliage display design. Plant your specimens by digging the holes. Now, add compost for giving a good start.
Provide enough space to the plants so they get enough room to grow. Make sure that the sun-loving plants are not planted near larger varieties otherwise the shade of the larger varieties will hinder their growth.
What Type Of Gravel
What gravel to choose is totally up to you. Crushed stones, pea gravel, or different colored slate chippings are suitable for dressing the membrane around your plants and existing garden features.
Avoid using the small gravel as it can easily escape outside the borders. Beware of the sharp edges of crushed stone as it will pose a hazard to bare-feet children and pets.
What Types Of Plants Are Suitable For The Gravel Garden?
The Drought-resistant plants are the perfect ones for your gravel garden vegetation variety. Herbs, grasses, shrubs, succulents, and Herbaceous perennials are tolerant to dry weather and so will thrive once their plantation is done properly. Let us have a look at the different plants that are suitable for the gravel gardens.
• Lavender (Lavandula)
• Marjoram (Origanum Majorana)
• Thyme (Thymus Vulgaris)
• Daisies (Bellis Perennis)
• Salvia (Salvia)
• Poppies (Papaver)
• Irises (Iris)
• Rock Roses (Cistus)
• Lilies (Lilium)
• Santolina (Santolina)
• Fountain grasses (Pennisetum Setaceum)
• Feather grass (Nassella Tenuissima)
• Cacti (Cactaceae)
• Yucca (Yucca)
• Aloe (Aloe Vera)
Maintenance
Your gravel garden will require very little to no maintenance after it becomes established. But, there are a few things that you should keep doing again to ensure that the graveled area looks neat and presentable.
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Hardscaping maintenance tips
The fallen leaves and blossoms may spoil the visual pleasure of the garden. The weeds may also start to sneak through the membrane around plants and near the borders and eventually disturb the uniform texture of your garden hardscape. Use a leaf blower, a plastic rake or a stiff brush to clear plant debris.
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Keeping gravel garden plants in good shape
Depending on the variety of plants that you have in your garden, you will require the level of care to maintain their good shape. The Self-seeding gardens, which are built without a weed membrane will need regular weeding and more work for sure.
So, here Architecturesideas was giving you the ideas and tips for gravel gardens. Follow them and shape your gravel garden in the perfect way.
Do you have a gravel garden or any gardening tips that you would like to share? Would love to hear your ideas so please leave your comments below!!
