Green areas and flower beds in the front yard require a lot of maintenance: weeds have to be removed regularly, the lawn mowed and watered. A gravel bed, on the other hand, is extremely easy to care for and looks very attractive at the same time. In addition, the gravel can be walked on and harmonises well with paved parts of the garden such as the path to the house.

Gravel looks good in the front yard

The ideal conditions

A gravel bed is suitable for dry front gardens as well as for rather damp areas. However, as with any other bed, you should take the local conditions into account when planning the desired plants.

The overall size is based on the available space. Whether you prefer clear geometric forms or, as in the Mediterranean gravel garden, more curved ones, is up to your individual taste. Match the overall concept to the garden design and the style of the building.

The choice of gravel type

Gravel comes in different shapes, sizes and different colors; the material therefore offers a wide scope for design. If you like it very classic, you can go for gray stones. Mixed glacial gravel pairs well with an alpine gravel bed. Rose quartz looks elegant, brightly polished basalt looks youthfully trendy.

The attachment

If you want to create a gravel bed, you must first dig out the ground in the front yard about thirty centimeters deep. Carefully remove weeds and their roots. If the excavation consists of pure topsoil, half of it is mixed with gravel and then filled back into the pit. A weed fleece (€21.70) is then placed over the entire bed.

The planting

This consists of framework images such as:

  • butterfly bush
  • pampas grass
  • Dwarf pine species
  • Japanese ornamental maple
  • bamboo

These are supplemented by small plants that match the theme of the bed. For example, the following are ideal for the limited space in the front yard:

  • Gentian and edelweiss in the alpine garden.
  • Spurge, comfrey and fern for dry shade front yards.
  • Phlox and anome in a Japanese-inspired border.
  • Fragrant lavender, spring carnation and iris for the Mediterranean gravel bed.

Insertion

First distribute the perennials on the bed, so you can take another look at the attractive design. The fleece is now cut crosswise at the intended point with a sharp knife. Dig a pit that is not too small with a hand shovel. Insert the plant, press down the soil and spread the fleece out again.

The graveling of the front yard

In the last step, the gravel is distributed over the entire bed. The layer should be at least five centimeters thick.

tips

Gravel beds are not only suitable for designing the front yard. They are also an attractive eye-catcher in the garden, which harmonises wonderfully with green areas and shrubs.

Category:

Garden design