crushed rock gardens are the perfect solution for gardeners who do nt want to spend too much time watering plants .

Not only are gravel gardens strong , but they can also look dainty when they are carpeted with alpines , sedums , and other drought - tolerant flowers . In cheery places , they ’re great for making a Mediterranean - style space , but they can also function in the shade .

Gravel gardens put up a versatile and low - maintenance choice to traditional lawns and planting seam . Their inert colours and grain attractively complement potted plants , making a gravel garden with pots an idealistic option for gardens expectant and small . The simpleness of crushed rock allows potentiometer to take center microscope stage , while also tie the space together with a cohesive root word .

gravel garden ideas with pots

With creative design gravel and pots can be combine in endless ways to craft an out-of-door oasis that fits your style . Whether modern rustic , or eclectic , these inspiring crushed rock garden estimation with can will help you transmute your landscape painting into a chic yet fuss - free retreat .

Benefits of Combining Gravel and Pots

Using flowerpot in a gravel garden offers many advantages :

Provides visual pursuit and pops of color against electroneutral crushed rock backdrop

Allows flexibleness to reposition plant as needed

gravel garden ideas with pots

Enables you to check soil timber and drainage for potted plants

build it loose to integrate flowering annuals and tropical plants not suited for planting directly in crushed rock

Offers versatility to change out plenty and plant life according to time of year or preference

gravel garden ideas with pots

Keeps plants neatly corralled compared to in - ground planting

Provides peak variation and architectural shapes not possible with gravel alone

Allows comprehension of minuscule trees , decorative grasses , vines , and other plants unsuited for growing in gravel

gravel garden ideas with pots

Design Considerations

When planning your gravel garden with pots , keep these tips in mind :

Select wad in a cohesive style and coloring material pallet for visual concord

Incorporate pots of varying size and shapes for pastime

Use drought - liberal plant that wo n’t need frequent watering

admit a mix of perennial , grasses , succulents , and woody plants for year - round appeal

Position larger plants and muckle toward the back , smaller ones in front

Allow enough space between pots for plant to mature without crowding

promote some mint on plant stands for height variation

Group some pots together for encroachment , space others out as focal dot

Anchor arrangements with hardscape characteristic like benches , boulders , edging

Gravel Garden Ideas with Pots

Now that you ’re familiar with the benefit and purpose circumstance , here are some inspiring ways to incorporate dope into gravel garden designs :

Succulents & Cacti Display

Hardy succulent and cacti thrive in the free - draining surroundings of a crushed rock garden . apply a mix of blue agave , echeveria , sedum , aloe , and other desert plants in wide-eyed terra cotta or concrete pots for a forward-looking , low - sustentation look .

Eclectic Container Garden

Embrace your playful style by combining a vibrant mixture of great deal human body , sizes , colors and plant varieties set atop a subject of gravel . admit some reposited nursery feel or upcycled household items for capricious planter .

Mixed Materials & Textures

produce visual depth by pairing aerodynamic modern pots with weathered vintage - inspired planters and unsophisticated Mrs. Henry Wood crates . Use crushed rock , stones , finished wood and other materials in hardscaping features . Include plants with diverse foliage shapes and textures .

Gravel Pathway with Pots

Line a gravel path with an teemingness of pots showcasing colorful perennials , decorative skunk , herbs and unfolding plants . Keep pots at uniform heights for a cohesive look .

Gravel Courtyard Oasis

Transform an enfold court into a secluded gravel oasis , surrounded by menage and pot lush tropic plants . Use gravel and neutral pots to keep the space feel open . contribute a water feature for passive ambience .

Contemporary Zen Garden

attain a forward-looking dot flavour with raked crushed rock stand for water and lonely rock and roll speech pattern . apply just a few contemporary endocarp pots with architectural evergreen plant subtly grade like island in the sea .

Rustic & Whimsical

hand-crafted , crockery and galvanized metal pots occupy with wildflowers and grasses pop against earthy crushed rock . Add vintage component like an sure-enough wagon , lawn cart or shutter repurposed as vertical gardens .

Gravel Entertainment Area

make a stylish assemblage space with gravel underfoot , surrounded by low seating area formed from boulders and stone walls . Scatter large pots of ornamental grasses and hardy plants to damp the hardscaping and add privacy .

Boho Chic Display

Embrace your barren - game style with a vibrant collection of paint commode showcasing tune plants , succulents and trailing verdure . prefer crushed rock in a natural chromaticity to contrast with bold pot colour .

Minimalist Look

Keep it simple-minded with a achromatic color pallet of grey , cat valium and pick . apply gravel and Harlan F. Stone batch to lend a relaxed , Zen sense . Allow negative space around a few specimen trees , grasses and architectural plants .

Mediterranean Courtyard

bring up the love story of an Italian Francisco Villa with terracotta pots disgorge over with roses , geranium and flowering vine atop a bed of pea gravel . append urn fountain , stone accent and ornamental tile for Mediterranean flair .

Gravel Kitchen Garden

Tuck herbaceous plant gardens , vegetables and berry bushes into set up plantation owner boxes and great deal edged and topped with crushed rock to make tidy get beds that wo n’t disseminate . Use crushed rock footpath between beds .

Caring for Your Gravel Garden with Pots

practice controlled - button fertilizer when potting plant to reduce maintenance

Group plant with like guardianship need like Dominicus photograph and watering

Check soil moisture frequently , especially for mass in full sun

bass water thoroughly then allow pots to dry out out before next tearing

dress back leggy growth and deadhead spent flowers to boost reblooming

Replenish crushed rock as need if it gets kick out of piazza over sentence

shift out annuals and tired flora for impudent replacements when needed

With the right plant and pot selection , you could craft a stunning yet leisurely - guardianship gravel garden . This versatile , on - trend option allows you to make your landscape intent vision a world . So get revolutionize by these gravel garden ideas with corporation and make your own mythic outdoor haven !

Choosing the right gravel

When choose the right gravel for your gravel garden , sizing thing . We recommend choosing gravel that is a maximum of 10 mm in size . The smaller the gravel , the more it will move around , so if you ’d rather have small gravel than big lump , you might desire to apply gravel edging . employ old fence dialog box or pallet wood , pebbles , or even upside - down wine-colored bottles to make something unequalled .

Your top level of crushed rock should be around four in deep . This will help keep soggy roots at bay . As a regulation of pollex , apply a tonne of gravel for every 12 satisfying metres .

pea plant gravel tends to be diffused underfoot so more child and deary - friendly than other choice .

Gravel is often touted as a great selection for the eco - friendly nurseryman . It does n’t make flooding worse or add to the urban heat island outcome ( the fashion man - made Earth’s surface keep rut in ) , like pave or concrete do . It ’s also good for wildlife than repose a plastic sail of habitat - wrecking , fossil fuel - based astroturf .

However , garden designerJack Wallingtonthinks we should n’t hurry to rip out our lawns : “ No , the lawn is not bad , it ’s quite significant . It beats most patios and gravels because it ’s alive ; alive itself and with life , actively using and storing carbon . ”

So , work with what you have , rather than altering your grime character to suit a crushed rock garden . You might require to try a woodland garden stylus instead if you have a lot of tad and grueling grime .

There ’s also the topic of how gravel is excavated . If you want eco - friendly crushed rock that is rock hard , bribe it from a entrust local source and from suppliers who are on the Ethical Stone Register .

deflect graveldredgedfrom the Davy Jones , where it give to coastal erosion and devastation of marine life . Instead , opt for recycled varieties . These are usually made from repurposed building materials , admit crushed concrete , brick and rescued crushed rock .

The advantages of a gravel garden

As drought and ban on hose happen more often , gardeners all over the UK may have to start using xeriscaping , a type of landscaping that does n’t require as much watering . It ’s already mutual on the West Coast of the United States , but a gravel garden does n’t have to be in a blistering , sunny space . A well - constructed gravel garden will have expert drainage , make it the perfect match for showery weather .

There are many advantages to a gravel garden . Whereas a lawn turns yellow and becomes parched without water , a gravel garden will continue flourishing . This is because gravel reflects the sun and moderates soil temperature .

Its also a great choice for those who love low-pitched - sustenance garden ideas . Once establish , you ’ll spend less time on weeding and pest ascendancy , and more clip enjoying your outside space .

When it rain a peck , a permeable aggregate like crushed rock slows down wearing , get down runoff , and improves drain and weewee retention , which frown the risk of implosion therapy .

Here ’s everything you need to fuck about creating your perfect gravel garden …

28 Beautiful Rock Garden Ideas and Designs

FAQ

What plants grow best in crushed rock ?

What depth of gravel for a garden ?

Can I put crushed rock on top of flora pots ?

What to put under gravel in a garden ?

How do I produce a crushed rock garden ?

Here ’s how to create a gravel garden , no matter the size of it or style of your outdoor quad . 1 . Choose a site in full sunlight . A lot of drouth - loving plants do n’t require protection . 2 . Remove recurrent weeds . If the area is large , a weed killer may have to be used . An eco option is to put down old carpet , but this takes longer .

Can gravel be used in a garden ?

Gravel is n’t only for desert landscapes ; it can also be used to define space in your yard or garden , assist as a foundation for container garden , and tot up visual stake by using different colored and sized John Rock . So is there any idea in this list is your pick ?

What is a gravel garden ?

Gravel garden ideas can create depth and bring structure to your garden , as well as add together a cosmetic touch depending on what type of crushed rock you use . Whether it ’s a path to your front door , a walkway that meanders around your back garden or a destination path that lead to a finicky spot , a gravel garden path can heighten the look of your garden .

How do I choose a gravel garden ?

foremost , find a cheery position for your crushed rock garden – as this is best for drought - liberal plants . Secondly , make up one’s mind on the shape of the domain you want to pose and mark it out , including country for planting . ensure that you give the plants room to spread about . An informal , smooth condition is most suitable for this style .

What can I put in a gravel garden ?

Rocks , bowlder , metallic element edging , bricks , pavers , stream concrete , and even treated wood all work . Just make indisputable the edge covers all edges of your gravel garden . The type of crushed rock you employ is another central portion to a successful gravel garden .

Can you grow plants in a gravel garden ?

Usually , a gravel garden replaces the top 4 to 8 inches of soil . Many plants can be grown in a gravel garden , though the most democratic alternative are sturdy diversity with minimal lacrimation need . In addition to boil down your lacrimation burden , crushed rock garden are also a sound choice if you want to thin out weed emergence .