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Replacing turfed raised front garden with gravel (shares soil with neighbours overgrown garden)

e-v-martine-v-martin Posts: 1
in Garden design
So my front garden is a raised garden with a low enclosing wall. It shares the soil with my neighbours overgrown front garden, separated by a fence (pictures below). I recently decided to lay gravel, only keeping the corner tree and the Cordyline. 

I have (roughly) ripped up the lawn and removed the growing remains of an old apple tree but would like some advice on how to proceed to minimise weeds and create a low maintenance gravel area where we can place a few plant pots.

What steps shall I take when landscaping to make sure I keep the gravel weed-free? Especially as next door has some pretty aggressive weeds that are already spreading to our side of the fence! (please note the gap in our wall and under the neighbours fence, as shown in the pictures). 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I am very much a novice. Thanks in advance!


Posts

  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    That's a tough one...to me it would look very ugly just covered in gravel. Bark would be easier on the eye and is to my experience easier to maintain by topping up a bit every year and just raking it once in a while. But there's certainly scope to plant a feature bush or two there to stop it looking bland. As for the neighbour's weeds...you will have to remove them as they come over to your side...or you could use a barrier below the mulch to minimise their initial spread. If that was mine I'd make a flower bed in the centre with a couple of medium sized roses.
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I think you need a physical barrier down into the ground.
    Weeds will seed in anyway though. 
    Gravel isn't maintenance free either. You'll have to remove any weeds that come in. Some groups of shrubs will be easier, and more attractive. Many are fairly trouble free, and you can have some colour there all year round if you choose wisely.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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