All gravel. Help me turn it into a grassless garden

[Deleted User]

My dh and I are buying a special new house and the back garden is all gravel, south facing, sheltered and very very sunny. There are 6 foot white retaining walls at the far end (N) and both sides. It is a clean, fresh palate

I have no experience of making a gravel garden. I have a round metal garden table with thin legs and 4 chairs and several lovely planted salt glazed errington reay pots and they are mostly tall ones as we had to get max use out of a patio

So what now? The gravel is in place on a weed preventive membrane, prepared by the builder. Has anyone had any experience or tips for me

conradmum

Do you want to plant into the gravel? (Just checking!)

[Deleted User]

oh yes conradmum. I need to know which plants

bertiebots

What about lots of different types of grasses/bamboo. These could be used to add height and define areas of your garden. Also lots of pots could add colour and be a way of having plants shrubs or dwarf trees that wont like the gravel.
Lavender would also look nice, as would tyme and the smell is lovely!

balloo_2

Not sure what ur on about but would go to Poundstretcher and buy some pots/urns they are reducing most of the pots/urns :undecided

conradmum

I agree with Bertie, although it depends on what kind of look you're after. Be very careful with bamboos, though, and specify that you want clump-forming types, otherwise they'll be marching across the garden.

I think fatsia japonica would do well there, as well as cordylines, yuccas, etc. Do you want your garden to look flowery or exotic though?

Beth Chatto has a famous dry garden you might want to go and have a look at. It's never watered and is full of tough plants.

amcluesent

>I have no experience of making a gravel garden<

If you go on Channel 4's 4OD and find the City Gardener, one of the series was a gravel garden in baking-hot Brighton. Plenty of tips there on plants, shade and some water features.

heynonnynonny

There is quite a lot if you lok on google, I was looking into this myself as my front is gravel, have got a green cordyline palm and weeping !!!!!willow, threy look quite nice in there. Good luck!

Zazen999

What's actually under the gravel?