The long warm Summer nights
are on their way. Are you going to be using decorative gravel, bark chippings
or simple top soil in your garden this year?
Christmas is well and truly over, we’re all
back at work and thankfully, the shortest day is long gone. Longing for the
warm Summer nights, now’s the time to start planning what you’re going to do
with your garden this year. Perhaps you’re after a complete revamp, perhaps
you’re looking to update a single corner, or perhaps it’s time to simply renew.
With so many choices on the market these days, here we focus on the top layer aesthetics.
From colourful decorative gravel, chippings and mulch of various material, to
simple flower or shrub cover along with nutritious top soil. How do you know
where to start?
The most important thing to
consider is how much time you are willing to spend maintaining your garden once
the initial look has been achieved. Having hundreds of flowers and plants in
the borders of course looks absolutely stunning – but does require time and
attention. Dead heading and checking plants have enough water should be a daily
activity, whilst tedious weeding is perhaps more a weekly task. This is all
providing you know what flowers you would like in your garden in the first
place and know the heights they will become and their sun/shade requirements.
However, it has to be said that as a gardener, there’s nothing more pleasing
and rewarding than sitting in your garden in the evening admiring your hard
work, watching as the bees and butterflies visit with birds chirping in the
background.
A top soil dressing in late autumn/early spring improves flower power during the summer!
Alternatively, you may go
for an easier approach by opting for filling borders, pathways and other
areas with aggregates. Once laid, they require minimal maintenance yet look
great. You could even add plants and still attract wildlife through the use of
pots and baskets strategically placed throughout the garden.
A contemporary look using Black Basalt 20mm and Scottish Red Granite 14mm enhanced with raised beds filled with top soil and planted with Geraniums and Petunias - the plants of the season!
There are many colourful options
these days in numerous materials when it comes to decorative gravels, chippings
and such like. Aggregates have come a long way since the early days due to the
market ever expanding as a consequence of the increase of the need for ease.
In the decorative gravel and
chippings line you could choose from ‘Cheshire Pink’, ‘Moonstone’, ‘Golden Gravel’ or ‘Tweed Pebbles’ or ‘Yorkshire Cream’.
Alternatively, you could
choose slate
chippings
which themselves come in various colours and sizes.
In the decorative pebbles line you could choose from
‘Scottish Pebbles’, ‘Oyster Pearl Pebbles’ or ‘Polar White Cobbles’.
As you’ll see, there’s so
many options available! To help you visualise your desired look and start
planning for 2014, browse our website today and scroll through the options
available.
