Nothing is set in stone (but it could be).
Gardening for changing seasons is a tricky thing. Its hard to plan your landscaping and planting calendar around the whims of the weather and just as you think the last frost is over or the rain will come any day now, mother nature throws you a “snow in October” kind of curveball and you have to start your landscaping journey over. Again.
Well. You know what frost can’t kill? Stone!
If long term, sustainable and beautiful landscaping is what you are looking for, why not look to gravel for your salvation?
What do we mean by “Gravel”
Gravel is a blanket term used to describe any loose aggregation of rock fragments. It occurs naturally in some places on earth due to erosion. Natural Gravel colours differ as widely as stones and rocks differ, and the fragments can be very large, like so called “Melon gravel”, or it can be smaller in size, like so called “pea gravel”.
Man made gravel or crushed stone is an important construction aggregate and is made by mechanically breaking up large stones into smaller pieces with a crushers. Natural gravel usually has a more rounded shape to it, where crushed stone fragments can be sharp and angular.
You pick your favourite.
Man made crushed stone is manufactured in any colour or size, which gives you more freedom when it comes to design choices and depending on what types of crushed stone or gravel you choose, imagination and budget will be your only limit.
Why we love gravel
It’s versatile
With colours ranging from huge sparkly pink quartz chunks to russet pebbles the size of peas, there really is a type of stone or gravel for every taste. Gravel can give your garden a clean, planned and intentional look.
It’s immediate
Gravel doesn’t have to grow. Where you put it and how you arrange it on day one is how it will stay. This means that a bit of creative gravel work can be done the very afternoon before quests come and it will immediately make a beautiful impact.
It’s sustainable
Gravel needs no fertilizer, no water and no other inputs to stay pretty. The worst that can happen is that some gravel might spill out of its display and need to be scooped up, or you will have to clean up fallen leaves and branches. This is still a lot easier than constant watering, feeding, mowing and managing. Gravel does what it says on the tin.
It (can be) affordable.
Unless you choose to scatter chunks of semi-precious stones or milky white shards of Carrara marble between your pavers, gravel is a financially sound choice to cover large patches of your garden.
It’s fun!
Gravel adds a textural, visual and auditory element to your garden. It gives you a beautiful backdrop for your living garden elements, or ads an element of structure to an otherwise informal landscaping design. Not to mention the pleasing “crunch” of footsteps on fresh gravel.
For gravel inspirations we love this pea gravel patio makeover.
Other inspiring gravel projects include:
Where can I get my gravel?
We are spoilt for choice in South Africa and have many brilliant local gravel and crushed stone providers and producers.
Go with gravel
Whether you pick pea gravel or dump rock, stonework is a great way to update your landscaping without overcomplicating your gardening. We’ve given you the options, now you pick your pebbles!
Also read our article on how to determine your garden aesthetics.
