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Front garden gravel design ideas ( low maintenance , UK )

n_sharma50n_sharma50 Posts: 35
in Garden design
Hello,

I have a gravel front patio/area which is currently as per the photo attached. I am looking to create some sort of colour/interest in this area because this is very bland at the minute.

I am looking for some ideas/ suggestions/ plant list for creating a nice looking front yard without expensive landscaping costs. I would also like to create may be some sort of fence/boundary to mark the area. Could be with shrubs if that works.

This is north east facing area so does get sun in morning.

Any feedback is appreciated.
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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I grow all sorts of plants in that aspect. Whereabouts are you though? That can affect choices. General climate and soil type too and any colours you like or dislike, and whether you want all year round interest or a combination  :)
    I have Spireas [white] Dicentra, Potentilla [white] Weigela and  various lower growing plants like Hellebores, Primulas, Iberis, Convallaria etc.
    Buddleia will also grow there. Mine is used along with Pyracantha, as part of the boundary hedge. I also have a Rowan which acts as a specimen tree, but you could have Ilex [holly] or something similar, and plant around that. 
    As my bed is quite shady - white is good for that, but there are lots of other plants that will suit, and some of those I mentioned come in other colours. 
    The bed doesn't dry out so I can use plants which are suited to that too. Camassias for example. 
    If you just want a simple arrangement, it's a good idea to have a circular or triangular sort of bed to one corner. A hedge can be of almost anything you want - according to your site and how much time you have for maintenance - Beech, Privet, Lonicera nitida etc. There are alternatives to box which are ideal if you're affected by the caterpillar or blight and want a lower hedge - some Euonymous and Ilex crenata for example. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • n_sharma50n_sharma50 Posts: 35
    Fairygirl said:
     Whereabouts are you though? 
    I am near London. Do you any specific planting suggestion in terms of creating a border and also dot some grasses/plants for all year around color/foliage etc. Every time I go to garden centre, I struggle to decide what may or may not work.
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    What's happening under the gravel - how deep, is there a membrane, or is it compacted hardcore? 

    It may be possible to create planting pockets within the gravel and make a gravel garden. That would certainly minimise effort and expense, and would look great IMO.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's impossible to suggest anything specific because what I like isn't necessarily what you'd like.  Very different climate to mine too.  :)
    If it was my plot - I'd do as I suggested earlier - a triangular shape in the top left corner [circular or oval if you prefer] with a specimen shrub [like the holly] and lower planting in front - a mix of evergreen and perennial, with some perennials for late interest, plus some spring bulbs.  Low hedge along the front. 
    You could have two fairly identical beds in opposite corners if you wanted, but some plants would then have more sun because of the location. Budget also comes into that.
    Keep it simple. It would be easy to maintain, and you'd have something to look at all year round, but it can be far more complicated if you have the time to spend maintaining it. 
    The type of soil is a factor - I'm on clay which doesn't readily dry out at any time.

    The most important thing is to prep the ground thoroughly.  If it's been gravelled for a long time, it could be very compacted and sour. I expect it's been used for parking in the past. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I would keep a bare space in front of the window (to let light in and allow for heavy-footed window cleaners who might need room to stand back a bit to reach the upstairs) and plant in a kind of crescent shape with a small tree in the front corner. You could either make a defined bed or plant through the gravel - depends what's underneath as others have said.
    This sort of thing

    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • n_sharma50n_sharma50 Posts: 35
    JennyJ said:
    I would keep a bare space in front of the window (to let light in and allow for heavy-footed window cleaners who might need room to stand back a bit to reach the upstairs) and plant in a kind of crescent shape with a small tree in the front corner. You could either make a defined bed or plant through the gravel - depends what's underneath as others have said.
    This sort of thing

    Thanks. This is good advice. I do need space for cleaners to come and clean. I like the idea of tree.

    Under the gravel is a membrane and hardcore I believe. under that is bare earth which is clay.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Loxley said:
    What's happening under the gravel - how deep, is there a membrane, or is it compacted hardcore? 

    It may be possible to create planting pockets within the gravel and make a gravel garden. That would certainly minimise effort and expense, and would look great IMO.

    I think this idea may work better for you, bearing in mind the substrate beneath your gravel.  Also, you have a run off drain in your gravel bordering the parking area which would function best by remaining clear of plant roots and leaves.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - I wouldn't want anything too near that drain.
    I'd still want something on that wall though. It's very stark. Crying out for a climber at the end, and/or some low planting of some kind. 
    It doesn't stop window cleaners getting access either.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    In that case you'll need to remove the gravel, membrane and hardcore, and dig some organic matter into the soil to improve it. Do the whole planting area, not just little holes where you're going to plant because they'd act like sumps in clay soil and the plant roots could drown in wet weather.
    Any or a mixture of the following will be fine: home-made compost if you have it, well-rotted manure if you can get it, composted green waste if your council sells it at a reasonable price, bagged soil improver, manure, composted bark or wood chip etc from the garden centre. Even bags of the cheaper kinds of peat-free multipurpose compost would do if that's the cheapest or only available option. For this purpose it doesn't matter if it's got bits of wood shreds in it which they often do.
    If the hardcore is deep you might also need some new topsoil mixed in to bring the level up.

    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's the prep that's the most important thing - regardless of where, and what, the plants are. They won't thrive if the soil's not right. 
    I've had to do it a fair bit here as it was all paved/gravelled and had been for a long time. There's no short cuts.  :)
    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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