What are the Types of Gravel
When people think of landscaping, the first things that come to mind are plants and flowers. However, there are lots of elements that can be included in a landscaping project.
Another popular choice by landscapers is decorative stones. Aside from giving your home’s space more value and charm, decorative stones can also be used to create pathways and even be used to maintain your soil’s pH levels.
Of all the decorative stones out there, one that’s very popular is gravel. If you want to get the most out of your landscaping project or your property, picking one of this gravel to compliment your home is highly recommended.
1. Aquarium Gravel
If you have an aquarium in your home or a pond in your backyard, then you might want to get aquarium gravel. Apart from being decorative, aquarium gravel also acts as a substrate for your pond or aquarium. It’s a great supportive piece for water features inside your yard.
The best gravel materials include rainbow stones and iron-enriched gravel substrate. As much as possible, avoid getting ones that are painted or ones that are too fine. Granite that’s too fine might get accidentally eaten by fish.
This type of gravel also has the perfect salinity so it doesn’t make your water harmful to fish.
2. Pea Gravel
Pea gravel might just be one of the most popular forms of gravel out there. It’s used for various purposes. Due to the size of each stone, pea gravel can provide solid footing.
That being said, it’s most commonly used to create pathways in your backyard. Some people also use pea gravel as a means to create gravel driveways. Pea gravel also comes in plain solid colours which makes them very versatile in terms of style. Overall, they’re nice to look at as well.
Pea gravel is one of our most popular products at MLSWA. Thanks to its versatility, it’s one of the best types of gravel to get. It’s also very easy to add to your landscaping project.
3. Crimson Stone
As the name says, crimson stone gravel looks reddish/brownish. It’s a cut stone that has edges and is pretty solid.
Due to its density, the crimson stone is most often used as a means to create pathways and driveways as well. Unlike pea gravel, however, the crimson stone is not as versatile and some people might find it difficult to match the colour with other motifs in a landscaping project.
4. Chat
Chat gravel consists of stones that range from 3/16 to ⅜ inches in size. It’s coarse-grained leftovers that are made after fine sand is sifted. While it may not look as great as other forms of gravel, chat does serve a special purpose.
Due to its size, chat is useful in many constructions and landscaping projects where dust control is required. Chat is often used in industrial applications but if you live in an area where dust can be a problem, this is a great way to control that too.
5. Black/Lava Stone
These are crushed lava rocks that measure from ½ and 2 inches. Most of the time, this is used as a decorative ground cover. It can also be used as a border in gardens as well. As the stones are sharp and coarse, they’re not ideal for pathways and driveways.
In terms of visual appeal, lava stone and score are best used as inorganic mulch for desert-themed gardens.
How To Pick The Right Gravel
Picking the right gravel for your landscaping can be hard. We highly recommend getting the help of a professional landscape artist so that you know which one fits your garden. Of course, you can be more experimental yourself and start working on your designs.
When picking the perfect gravel, you’re going to have to know what you’ll need it for. Is it for a pathway? For your plant’s bedding? Or for your water feature’s substrate? Some stones are perfect for specific purposes.
One stone that’s all around is pea gravel. It has practical applications such as being good for pathways. At the same time, pea gravel is also an excellent visual addition to your garden.
Buy your gravel from a good and reputable supplier. Nothing beats quality gravel being delivered to your doorstep. A good dealer should also help you with the installation of your gravel inside your property.
Gravel is one of the most underrated pieces that you can add to your landscaping design. You’ll be surprised at how well this complements a landscaping project. There are many other types of gravel to choose from but not all of them are fit for a lawn.
If you want help adding more flair to your landscaping project, feel free to contact us at MLSWA and we’ll help get you started. You’ll have the yard of your dreams in no time.