Gravel is a popular choice if you are looking for a low-maintenance option for your front garden whilst still preserving or enhancing the kerb appeal of your home. It is also a versatile option, as you will see from the sheer variety of choices in the Decorative Gardens range. If there is just too much choice out there, take inspiration from the following ten front garden ideas with gravel, and then place your order today for fast and efficient delivery and start allowing those ideas to take shape and transform your outside space.

1. Choose the right kind of gravel for the job

If you are planning a front garden design with sleepers and gravel, think about the type of gravel you want to use. This will be influenced by where you want to use it. If you are creating a path, for example, think about using medium grade gravel, and in particular, angular shaped gravel, as this is easier to walk on than the likes of large cobbles, rounded pea shingle and smaller grade gravels. In general, gravel measuring between 10mm and 20mm in diameter is the perfect size for pathways.

2. Think about how much you will need

Gravels from Decorative Gardens, such as Golden Gravel, Moonstone Flint Gravel and Caramel Cream Flint Stone, can generally be ordered in units weighing about 875kg. In general, around 25kg of gravel will cover an area measuring around 0.6sq m, offering a covering of about 5cm in depth. Use this measurement to decide how many garden gravel bulk bags you will need to buy.

3. Consider colours

When choosing the gravel for your front garden, think about colours that already exist in the area. You want the gravel you choose to complement any stone structures or paved areas that are already there.

When planning a garden design with sleepers and gravel, you should also think about how different colours make you feel. Silver-leaved plants in a gravel garden, for example, will often make people think of exotic places and warmer climes.

4. Protect your plants

If you are thinking about gravel garden ideas incorporating gravels and smaller plants, then make sure you consider how you will prevent them from becoming swamped by the gravel. The easiest way to do this is to grow the plants on a small mound to make sure that they are raised a little above the highest level of the gravel.

5. Allow some self-seeding

Before you lay gravel such as Swiss Glacier or the delicately coloured Italian Rose, it is usually a good idea to use landscape fabric. This will stop weeds from becoming too much of a problem, as well as keeping self-seeding plants under control. If you can cope with the weeding, however, it can be a good idea to allow self-seeding, as this can give your front garden a more natural look and add to the kerb appeal of your home.

If you do choose to use landscape fabric, make sure that you cover it properly with gravel. There is nothing worse than seeing ratty bits of material sticking out. Having some areas with no material can also be really good for your front garden as it will allow worms to pull down the gravel stones and improve the drainage in the area.

6. Let the sun shine out front

If you get tired of the British weather, think about front garden ideas with gravel that will add a little sunshine to your life. Mediterranean-style gardens are perfectly suited for designs involving gravel. Combine the likes of Tuscan Glow chippings, Golden Corn, Milano Rose or French Pearl with Mediterranean plants such as lavender, olives and rosemary. Your front garden will also smell as good as it looks.

7. Create a structure

Even if you want a rustic or informal look to your front garden, you don’t want it to appear like you just tipped out a truck full of garden gravel bulk bags. Instead, use planting to create structure. You could choose to use a scattering of evergreens in order to create this structure and to add colour all year round.

8. Don’t be afraid of colour and shape

Some purists will tell you to stick to one or two colours when thinking about front garden ideas with gravel, but this is not necessary if that is not your style. In fact, contrasting colours of flowers can work really well in gravel gardens, along with contrasting and complementary leaf shapes. Creating a design with different height aspects can work very well too. Individual trees or shrubs accompanied by erupting Verbascum can create a really eye-catching effect.

9. Complement your building

Make sure that your garden design complements the style and design of your property in order to create a cohesive appearance. A very modern gravel garden in front of a period cottage may not be the best choice, for example.

10. Keep it simple

If it fits in with your home design, don’t be afraid to keep things simple. A contemporary Japanese gravel garden can be extremely simplistic in design but can be extremely effective in adding interesting and a wow factor to the front of your home.

Take a look at our selection of high-quality garden gravel today.