"Wiped out completely. Not a single plant survived. If you have a trace of field bindweed after this, it's yours for life: A glance at the relentless realm of the gravel garden"
Creating Low-Maintenance Gravel Gardens: A Guide
Gravel gardens, once a radical experiment in the UK, have now become a popular choice for garden enthusiasts seeking a visually stunning and low-input solution. These gardens thrive in dry or sunny locations, requiring minimal upkeep.
Plant Choices for Gravel Gardens
The best plants for a low-maintenance gravel garden are drought-tolerant, hardy perennials and shrubs that thrive in well-drained soil and full sun. Some ideal choices include:
- Lavender (Lavandula), with its fragrant purple flowers, needs full sun and well-draining soil.
- Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus), an evergreen herb with blue flowers, attracts pollinators and requires full sun and well-drained soil.
- Calliopsis (Coreopsis), with daisy-like flowers and low water needs, prefers full sun and sandy soil.
- California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica), a colorful flower that is drought-tolerant, requires full sun and sandy, well-drained soil.
Other excellent options include Mexican Feathergrass, Carex, Phormium, Fatsia, Boxwood, Euonymus (Spindle Tree), Cheesewood, Skimmia, Ice Plant, Artemisia ('Silver Mound'), Creeping Thyme, and more.
Creating and Maintaining a Gravel Garden
To create a low-maintenance gravel garden, follow these tips:
- Site Preparation: Ensure excellent drainage by laying a weed barrier and applying suitable gravel on top to prevent weed growth and soil erosion.
- Soil: Use sandy, well-drained soil to suit drought-tolerant plants.
- Plant Selection: Choose plants adapted to low water needs and full sun.
- Spacing: Give enough space for plants to spread without overcrowding, reducing competition and maintenance.
- Watering: Water newly planted specimens until established, then reduce watering significantly as these plants are drought-adapted.
- Pruning: Minimal pruning required; deadhead some flowering perennials like Coreopsis to prolong blooming.
- Mulching: Gravel itself acts as mulch, keeping soil moist and suppressing weeds.
- Seasonal Care: Remove debris annually, check for invasive weeds, and prune shrubs lightly to maintain shape and health.
Inspiring Gravel Gardens
Gravel gardens have been transformed in various locations, such as The Walled Garden at Knepp in West Sussex, which turned a croquet lawn into a biodiverse haven using sand, gravel, and crushed brick.
Emily Erlam, known for her gravel garden designs, created a gravel garden at a farmhouse on the Chatsworth estate in Derbyshire, using local soil with a mulch of sand and gravel. Meanwhile, Dan Pearson has added an inspiring sand garden to his Somerset domain.
For more information on gravel gardens, visit the websites of experts such as Derry Watkins at www.specialplants.net, Beth Chatto at www.bethchatto.co.uk, Emily Erlam at www.erlamstudio.com, The Serge Hill Project at www.sergehillproject.co.uk, and Tom Stuart-Smith at various renowned gardens across the UK.
[1] RHS (2021). Lavender. The Royal Horticultural Society.
[2] HGTV (2021). 10 Best Plants for Gravel Gardens. HGTV.
[3] Garden Design (2021). The Best Plants for Gravel Gardens. Garden Design.
[4] Monrovia (2021). Thymus ‘Creeping Thyme’. Monrovia.
A home-and-garden lifestyle choice that offers both visual appeal and minimal upkeep is the creation of a low-maintenance gravel garden, as outlined in guides like 'Creating Low-Maintenance Gravel Gardens'. Some ideal plants for such a garden, such as Lavender, Rosemary, Calliopsis, and California Poppy, thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, making them suitable for a gravel garden design.
