Despite the fact that the gravel bed proves to be extremely easy to care for during the gardening season, fallen leaves often collect on the area in autumn. The damp weather conditions of the cold season often cause the stones to become mossy, which looks extremely unsightly. So even the gravel bed can't be done without care, even if cleaning is quite easy.
How do I clean a gravel bed?
To clean a gravel bed, you should cut back plants in spring, remove leaves and plant parts with a leaf rake, smooth the gravel surface and treat stubborn green growth with an environmentally friendly green growth remover.
When will the cleaning take place?
The best time for this is spring, before the plants sprout again. Leaves should be removed with a leaf vacuum in autumn.
Step 1: Cut back plants
During the winter months, the grasses covered in hoarfrost and snow offered a fragile, glittering sight. In spring, however, many stalks turn brown and dirty the bed. Therefore, as a first step, unless you have already done so in autumn, cut back the plants.
This is a good opportunity to divide and propagate lush perennials. Some plants are getting old and should be replaced with fresh greenery? Then do this work now.
Procedure
- Push gravel aside around the plants.
- Carefully lift the weed protection fleece and fold it over.
- Either dig up the perennial, divide it and replant it or
- Paste evenly along the edges.
- Fill the resulting hole with soil.
- Spread the weed fleece carefully.
- Finally, cover the area around the plant with gravel again.
Remove leaves and plant parts
You don't have to laboriously pick up leaves and dirt by hand. The good old leaf rake does an excellent job here. You'll be amazed at how much dead plant material is revealed this way.
Remove green growth
Afterwards, smooth the gravel surface with a rake. You do not have to replace mossy or dirty stones. You can simply spray them with a green deposit remover (€24.00 on Amazon) from the store. The products are environmentally friendly and do not damage the plants. At the same time, the active ingredients prevent the formation of new moss deposits in the long term.
Tip
Ornamental grasses in gravel beds are often difficult to cut back. Tie them together with a wide ribbon and cut the plants above with hedge trimmers. Then loosen the cord again. The perennial now has a slightly semi-circular head, which is visually very appealing.
