Decorative ground covers: the final touch

Not only do decorative ground coverings such as mulch, pebbles and gravel add the finishing touches to outdoor landscape design, but they also have numerous horticultural benefits. Here are just a few of them...
Plant selector
Project guide service
Related Projects
Related Tips
Page 1/1
Mulch
Pebbles and gravel

Mulch

Mulch makes a gardener’s life easier. Mulch plays the same role as forest debris, discouraging weeds, protecting surface roots, and maintaining soil humidity so you don't need to water as much. It keeps the earth cool during heat-spells and, when it rains heavily, prevents mud being splashed on your foundation, and erosion. Mulch is available in various textures and colours, plus you can substitute some composts, such as Forest Compost.
When planting trees and shrubs, coat the equivalent of three times the root-ball diameter with a 10 to 15 cm layer, leaving the immediate base area uncovered. For perennials and annuals, you can bury the whole flower bed in a 10 cm layer, again, leaving plant bases free. Mulch, though, doesn't only stop weeds from growing, it also makes it difficult for ground covers to take root, so don't spread it in areas you want to see ground cover. Some mulch, such as cocoa hulls, breaks down quickly, making it ideal for annuals and easily accessible locations. Others, for example cedar and hemlock, are extremely durable, taking a long time to break down, so use them wherever those qualities are important. Nevertheless, add mulch every year to ensure a uniform coating.

Pebbles and gravel

Decorative pebbles and gravel are primarily used for aesthetic reasons, but they also help drainage and store solar heat, which benefits the most cold-sensitive plants although it increases evaporation. In order to maintain their appeal, they should be washed every spring and fall. Use them to complement other decorative stone elements: paving, bricks and rockery stones. Use a geotextile tarp so the covered soil doesn't get mixed in with your pebbles and gravel.
Always choose a soil cover that blends in with your garden style and house colours. Natural shades, which are discrete and always harmonize with other natural elements, are the easiest to integrate. Black mulch can create a luxurious atmosphere underpinning abundant foliage, and reddish-brown adds an exotic element. Although overpow ering colours like black, red and white work well in your garden or siding, in small quantities for formal or symmetrical gardens, don't be too generous with them.
Page 1/1