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Gravel garden?

LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
in Problem solving
We've just had a garage demolished and an extension built instead.  There's a bit of gravel drive remaining, outside the extension, which we don't need for parking.  

Can I turn it into a gravel garden for plants which like drier "feet" than they'd have in the heavy loam in my garden proper?  I'm hankering after Cistus, Dianthus, helianthemum, lavenders and thyme, as the site is sunny (and windy!).  The gravel is deep; can I add a lot of soil or compost to it, and plant in the mixture?  
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.

Posts

  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Yes; where you are going to plant, pull back the gravel and break up the hardcore base a bit, ideally down to the underlying soil. Mix in some soil. Scrape back the gravel when you're done planting.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    Thanks very much, @WillDB.  Not sure I'll be able to get to the underlying soil, because the builders added more gravel and then put their sand heap on top, so there's a considerable depth - but I'm telling myself the weeds in the gravel must have found their way to something resembling soil, so maybe just mixing soil and compost with what's there, might work.   :)
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Yes I'm sure it would. If you can get a fork in as far as possible and give it a waggle that's probably plenty. I hope this link works, this guy is making a garden using excavated hardcore from a motorway widening scheme, virtually no soil. Here he's ranting about the topsoil they are unnecessarily laying along the new stretch of motorway.

    https://www.facebook.com/1159030005/videos/10219850587552643/?t=3
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    Try and get a copy of Beth Chatto's Gravel Garden - some great ideas. 
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    Thanks very much for that useful link, @WillDB, and for the book suggestion, @hogweed.  I was looking at photos of Beth Chatto's gravel garden the other day, on line, but the book would be great...
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
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