Putting the technically correct construction of a gravel bed into practice is the sweaty overture for the garden project. The bed design is only complete with successful planting. This guide would like to inspire your gardening imagination with planting ideas for sunny to poorly lit locations.

Gravel protects the earth from drying out

Inspiration for the sunny gravel bed

The bed design with gravel is predestined for the sun-drenched location with sandy, poor soil. In this location, floral specialists thrive, which do not give up immediately in the blazing sun and short-term drought. With the following types and varieties, a lively coexistence of stony barrenness and colorful flowers succeeds:

  • Pearl daisy 'Silberregen' (Anaphalis triplinervis) with silvery-white flowers from August to October; 30 cm
  • Junkerlily (Asphodeline lutea), Mediterranean ambassador with yellow flowers in May and June; 80-100cm
  • Summer aster (Aster amellus), easy-care abundance of flowers in beautiful colors from July; 40-50cm

Filigree and majestic ornamental grasses show their most beautiful side in the sunny gravel bed. The wide range extends from the dainty mosquito grass (Bouteloua gracilis) to the picturesque diamond grass (Calamagrostis brachytricha) to the mighty Pyrenean giant feather grass (Stipa gigantea).

Design a gravel bed in a location with little light - these plants make it possible

It is a widespread misconception that bed design with gravel is limited to sunny, dry locations. A garden with fresh, moist soil and partially shaded to shaded lighting conditions does not have to do without the magic of a gravel bed. The following plants give the stone bed floral charm:

  • Hostas (Hosta), such as the small gold-rimmed hosta 'Abby' or the large gold-rimmed hosta 'Amalia'
  • Purple bells (Heuchera) with delicate flowers and beautiful ornamental leaves
  • Astilbe blooms even in shady gravel beds from July to September
  • Monkshood (Digitalis purpurea) boasts majestic flowering candles even in low-light areas

If a shade-tolerant maple (Acer saccharum) boasts its flamboyant foliage in the gravel bed, yellow 'Fronleiten' (Epimedium x perralchicum) elf flowers are useful as underplanting.

tips

Give the gravel bed the finishing touch with a tasteful border. Choose a material that blends harmoniously into the appearance. In the modern garden, metal profiles made of aluminium, zinc or steel present themselves as a stylish demarcation. The gravel bed in the romantic cottage garden is lined with wicker segments made of hazelnut or willow.

Category:

Garden design