Is a gravel garden right for you? I can think of three good reasons.

• look lovely

• cost little

• offer major environmental benefits.

What is a gravel garden?

A gravel garden is an area with a crushed stone surface. You can use gravel on a driveway, to create foot paths, or to mulch around plants in beds and also as a patio surface. Visually, gravel has a soft, three-dimensional surface that’s still uniform. It adds instant texture to any scheme. It becomes an instant backdrop to plants, outdoor BBQ’s, outdoor showers, furniture and other seating areas and sculpture. Against gravel, everything else pops.

The best news is that gravel is inexpensive, and it is easy to install compared to other more permanent hardscape surfaces. If you get sick of it a few years down the line, simply shovel up the gravel and try something else. If you decide you want to rearrange and widen planting borders, this too is easy to do when you have a gravel garden.

Unlike lawn, gravel gardens are water-wise. They filter rainwater to prevent runoff. Gravel is cooler underfoot than a hard stone surface. And you don’t need to mow it, rake it (except when you’re feeling meditative), or weed it.

What are the benefits of replacing a lawn with a gravel garden?

Your lawn is a water hog. In our climate, and depending on the size of your lawn, it can use up to 70% of your household water. Lawn -dominant gardens typically use 54% more water than other gardens. Getting rid of your lawn instantly translates into a significant DEWA bill saving. 

For every square metre of lawn you replace with gravel, you can save thousands of litres of water per year, even if you have a small lawn.

How do I design a gravel garden?

Gravel is a chameleon, a hardscaping material that looks comfortable next to nearly any architectural style.

A few design guidelines: Gravel’s job is to blend in. A gravel garden should focus attention elsewhere, on surrounding green plants or architectural elements such as nearby pergolas. Choose your gravel to match colour of your house’s paint or other existing hardscape materials. In short, pick a gravel colour to blend in to help create a serene backdrop, rather than for contrast.

What is the best kind of gravel to use?

The most important consideration is the size of the stone. For a patio, path, driveway, or other high-traffic zone, use gravel that is no bigger than ¼-inch, because a smaller size is more stable. The finer the gravel, the better it will feel underfoot.

How much does it cost to install a gravel garden?

A gravel surface is an inexpensive choice compared to almost any other surface incl. brick, concrete, wood ( real or composite), natural paving stone or tiling.

Pros

• Saves water.

• Inexpensive to install.

• Versatile material that blends well with other hardscape.

• Low-maintenance.

• Permeable to prevent runoff.

• Crunchy sound underfoot.

Cons

• Can be difficult to keep well contained.

• Does not provide a solid base for dining furniture.

• Needs to be replenished every four years or so.

• May be uncomfortable on bare feet.