Factors to Consider When Choosing Decorative Stones for Your Garden

 

Decorative stones are a versatile material to use in traditional or contemporary gardens or on landscaping projects of any size. They can be used to create a gravel pathway, a slate chip bed or used to break up an expanse of a single material, such as decking or paving with a shingle or gravel edging or border.
Madingley Mulch supplies a huge range of decorative garden stones, including gravel, shingle, granite chippings, pebbles, cobbles, stones and slate chippings for all types of applications. We can quickly deliver decorative garden stones to Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and the rest of east Anglia.

Laying Decorative Stones

To successfully lay decorative stones, you need to create a solid foundation, as well as checking the levels for water run-off, especially if you’re creating a pathway or seating area.
To create a stone or gravel surface over soil in a flowerbed, level the soil and lay a geotextile membrane to suppress perennial weed growth. If you’re using gravel or some type of aggregate, it’s worth hosing the stones down first to remove any small sediment.

For Style

All decorative stones look beautiful in the right setting, but if you’re looking for a stone that is just a natural garden accessory, you should consider either:

• Pebbles and Cobbles

These have a smooth, rounded shape resulting from exposure to thousands of years of friction in the sea, rivers and streams. They’re commonly used for their decorative appeal and are ideal for use around plants.

Pebbles and cobbles are easy to work with due to their uniform size and are extremely low-maintenance. They usually come in shades of grey and brown and are great for creating rock gardens, covering landscape membranes to prevent weeds and keeping moisture in the soil.

• Large Rocks or Boulders

These are simply larger stones that can be used as a feature or focal point to draw the eye along to a specific section of the garden. They are ideal for building rockeries, walls and pond walls.

For Drainage

Decorative stone is a fantastic solution for drainage and helps to lessen any risk of damage to the foundations of your property and garden commonly associated with excess water. If you need drainage in your garden, you should consider:

• Gravel or Shingle

These are both small (pea-sized) rounded rocks but are available in various other sizes too. They usually come in shades of brown and white and are ideal for drainage in flower beds, as well as flower pots.

Both gravel and shingle are perfect for use as a border to a paved area and can be used to accentuate stepping stones, larger rocks or boulders. However, gravel’s round shape means it moves around easily and may not be suitable for using under garden furniture, or for use as a patio, a driveway or a path.

For Weed Control

Decorative stone can be used as a longer-lasting and attractive alternative to mulch in the fight against weeds. Most effectively used on top of a geotextile membrane to supress further weed growth, the best type of stone for weed control is:

• Slate Chippings

These are small pieces of slate, graded into different sizes. They are available in a huge range of colours, making them very popular and allowing for a variety of creative and contemporary effects to be created. Slate chippings are an excellent, durable alternative to bark mulch as it lasts forever.

Chippings like this keep unwanted weeds down, moisture in the soil and are popular in minimalist gardens with less planting. They are extremely low-maintenance and, due to weight and shape, slate chippings are less likely to be dug up by cats and other animals.

For a Patio, Driveway or Path

Decorative stone is a cost-effective alternative to a Tarmac driveway, path or patio. While smaller pieces of gravel can get stuck in the tread of tyres and shoes, which in turn find their way into car footwells and homes, this doesn’t tend to happen with larger stones or chippings.

• Granite Chippings

Granite has a rougher texture than gravel and is made up of irregularly-sized pieces. It comes in a variety of sizes and colours and provides a natural, rustic look.

These stones are more durable and stable underfoot and under vehicles than gravel, making them ideal for driveways, paths and as a base beneath paving slabs. Due to its size, granite chippings rarely find their way into houses or car footwells.

 

Madingley Mulch provides a huge range of decorative garden stones in Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and the rest of East Anglia. We can deliver it in large bulk bags or loose to your exact specifications. Get in touch today on 01954 212144 or by clicking here to discuss your decorative stone requirements.

 

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