Gravel beds are also becoming increasingly popular in German gardens and front yards. Hardly any garden lover can escape the flair of the interesting combination of stones and ornamental plants, which are based on Alpine, Mediterranean or Japanese natural areas and green areas. When designing, however, there are a few things to consider so that the future maintenance effort is actually limited and the plants still thrive magnificently.
Very elegant beds can be designed with pebbles
What should the bed look like?
Even before the actual installation, you have to be clear about which natural area the later appearance should be based on. This is the only way to create a harmonious, self-contained overall impression. The following variants are the most common:
- Japanese style gravel bed.
- Alpine dry and semi-dry lawns.
- A bed with Mediterranean flair.
- A formal and very modern looking gravel bed.
How is this effect achieved?
While in Japanese gardens the interplay of stones, water elements and plants makes up the special charm of the gravel bed, the characteristic planting determines the look of the Mediterranean bed.
Alongside the typical mountain plants, gravel banks and large stones scattered as if by chance imitate the natural spaces in the mountains. This gravel bed, which is ideally laid out with a slight incline, is therefore often referred to as a rock garden.
The formally designed bed presents itself as strongly structured and planted in an extremely reserved manner, and therefore fits in very well with modern garden design.
The right filling material
The effect of the bed is largely determined by the selected gravel. In addition to decorative gravel with a rounded surface, you can also use angular decorative chippings. He seems less harmonious; However, this has its very own appeal.
The most popular types of gravel include:
- precious white quartz
- colorful polished basalt
- colorful mixed glacial gravel
- rose quartz
If you want a clear demarcation from paths and surrounding garden areas, you can also set edging stones. Plain concrete blocks or metal rails are very suitable as edging for the gravel bed. This means that later mowing the adjacent green area does not become a problem.
tips
A gravel bed does not necessarily have to be laid out in a full sun, rather dry garden area. A stream that is included in the bed is very attractive. Large stones imitate the natural damp area, to which the planting is coordinated.