Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Gravel flowerbeds

stuarta99stuarta99 Posts: 235
in Plants
Hi all, I'm seeing mixed comments online about whether to use gravel in flowerbeds that have roses.

I'm bored of having to top up my bark every year so was thinking of putting down membrane on too my bark then 20mm basic gravel aggregate. The beds consist mainly of roses, a lavender and a daphne. I was going to leave a collar around the base and not gravel right upto the plant but some messages says it heats them and takes moisture out.
«134

Posts

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    Roses like a mulch which may not be practical with gravel. I think roses look best in mulched earth but gravel is good for dry gardens and alpine beds.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I agree. I don't grow roses, but regular additions of organic material is highly beneficial to them, and you can't do that if the beds are covered in gravel  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    The bark will eventually rot and feed the soil, which feeds the roses, obviously why you have to keep topping it up! whereas gravel won’t feed the soil. Leaves and debris fall on it and it will sprout weeds even with a membrane. It does end up looking quite messy. You would have to leave a fairly wide ring around the roses to mulch them with compost/manure.
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I agree with @Nollie ,and I think it'll look horrible
    Devon.
  • stuarta99stuarta99 Posts: 235
    edited May 2022
    Ok thanks guys, back to topping up bark then potentially and maybe deeper to stop the weeds a bit more. This is what I was looking at, although yellower, as my dad warned me against limestone gravel.


    Last think I wanna do is kill off the plants especially as 2 were planted for a memory and the daphne.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    I've always been reluctant to use membrane on borders because it can act as a barrier for worms, leading to unhealthy soil and denying birds of a food source!  Gravel is fine as a topping in pots or on alpine beds but it's difficult to keep clean in borders, as @Nollie says.  Also, gravel can be attractive to cats!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    In about two years the gravel will be full of weeds growing roots down through the membrane.  Bark is so much easier to care and maintain.  

    You can put on a thicker layer of nuggets bark, which should last you multiple years.  
    Utah, USA.
  • stuarta99stuarta99 Posts: 235
    Interesting on the manure, my dad tells me every year I should put some down, wife then complains and says no  :)

    To be honest all I do is cut them back each year and that's it and they've gone crazy already, but determined to try and keep the leaves looking healthier this year and getting the rose clear out more frequently.  Although even with black spot, they still carry on but I'm sure healthier looking leaves will help and hopefully flower longer before dropping.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Try the "Farmyard Manure" made by many compost manufacturers and sold in garden centres - it's mainly composted green waste and not like what your wife might be imagining!  
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • stuarta99stuarta99 Posts: 235
    edited May 2022
    Plantminded said:
    Try the "Farmyard Manure" made by many compost manufacturers and sold in garden centres - it's mainly composted green waste and not like what your wife might be imagining!  
    Images of Biff Tannen in Back to Future being tipped in the car :)
Sign In or Register to comment.