Green areas and flower beds in the front yard require a lot of care: Weeds must be pulled, the lawn mowed and watered regularly. A gravel bed, on the other hand, is extremely easy to care for if laid out correctly and looks very attractive at the same time. The gravel is also walkable and harmonizes well with paved parts of the garden such as the path to the house.
How do I create a gravel bed in the front yard?
A gravel bed in the front garden is easy to care for and attractive. To do this, dig up the ground, remove weeds, pour in a gravel-topsoil mixture, lay out weed fleece, insert suitable plants and cover with a layer of gravel at least 5 cm thick.
The ideal conditions
A gravel bed is suitable for dry front gardens as well as for rather humid areas. However, as with any other bed, you should take the local conditions into account when planning the plants you want.
The overall size is based on the space available. Whether you prefer clear geometric shapes or, as in the Mediterranean gravel garden, more curved ones is up to your individual taste. Match the overall concept to the garden design and the style of the building.
Choosing the type of gravel
Gravel comes in different shapes, sizes and different colors; The material therefore offers a wide scope for design. If you like it classic, choose gray stones. Mixed glacier gravel goes well with an alpine gravel bed. Rose quartz looks elegant, colorfully polished bas alt looks youthful and trendy.
The facility
If you want to create a gravel bed, you must first dig the ground in the front garden about thirty centimeters deep. Carefully remove weed plants and their roots. If the excavation consists of pure topsoil, half of it is mixed with gravel and filled back into the pit. A weed fleece is then placed over the entire bed.
The planting
This consists of scaffolding images like:
- Butterfly Bush
- Pampas grass
- Dwarf pine species
- Japanese ornamental maple
- Bamboo
These are complemented by small plants that match the theme of the bed. For example, ideal for the limited area of the front garden are:
- Gentian and edelweiss in the alpine garden.
- Spurge, comfrey and fern for front gardens with dry shade.
- Flame flower and anome in the Japanese-inspired bed.
- Fragrant lavender, spring carnation and iris for the Mediterranean gravel bed.
The Insertion
First distribute the perennials on the bed so that you can take another look at the attractive design. The fleece is now cut crosswise at the intended location with a sharp knife. Dig a hole that is not too small with a hand shovel. Insert the plant, press down the soil and spread out the fleece again.
Grabbing the front yard
In the last step, the gravel is distributed over the entire bed. The layer should be at least five centimeters thick.
Tip
Gravel beds are not only suitable for designing the front garden. They are also an attractive eye-catcher in the garden that harmonizes wonderfully with green spaces and shrubs.
