The pebble garden, often called a gravel garden, is a landscape feature designed for minimal upkeep, using stones and gravel as the primary ground cover. This form of dry landscaping offers a textural contrast to traditional planting beds and is well-suited for regions experiencing dry weather or poor drainage. Utilizing an inert, stone-based surface significantly reduces the need for regular watering and fertilization, creating a durable, aesthetically distinct, and low-maintenance outdoor space.
Preparing the Location and Gathering Supplies
Planning the location begins with selecting a spot that receives ample sunlight, since most suitable plantings for this environment thrive in sunny, well-drained conditions. While a pebble garden is highly effective at managing moisture, ensuring the existing soil does not naturally pool water will contribute to the long-term success of the feature. Once the area is defined, removing all existing vegetation is the next necessary step, which includes stripping away turf, pulling all weeds, and clearing any large debris or rocks.
The prepared site must be cleared to prevent existing roots and weed seeds from sprouting through the new stone layer. Before construction begins, gather all necessary components, including decorative pebbles or gravel, which should be a washed material for a clean final appearance. You will also need a high-quality, permeable landscape fabric, often called a weed barrier, designed to suppress weed growth while allowing water to pass through. Finally, secure an edging material—such as metal, plastic, or stone—to contain the pebbles and provide a crisp boundary.
Laying the Foundation and Spreading the Pebbles
Defining the perimeter is accomplished by installing a physical barrier to keep the pebbles from migrating into surrounding areas like lawns or walkways. Edging materials, whether a flexible metal strip or decorative stones, should be securely anchored and set to a depth that will retain the final layer of stone. Digging a shallow trench along the marked boundary allows the edging to be partially buried, preventing it from shifting over time.
With the boundaries established, the landscape fabric must be laid out to cover the entire prepared soil surface. The fabric sheets should be overlapped by at least six inches at all seams to ensure no gaps are left for weeds to exploit. Secure the permeable barrier using U-shaped landscape pins or staples, driven through the fabric and into the ground approximately every few feet, especially along the edges and seams. This fabric remains porous, allowing rainwater to reach the underlying soil, which is beneficial for deep-rooted, drought-tolerant plants.
The final layer is applied by evenly distributing the decorative pebbles across the entire surface of the secured landscape fabric. For effective weed suppression, the pebble layer should be spread to a uniform depth, typically between two and three inches. The stones are poured directly onto the fabric and then leveled using a rake to create a smooth surface that completely conceals the weed barrier beneath. This depth ensures the stone layer is dense enough to inhibit weed seeds from taking root and provides a stable finish.
Plant Selection and Ongoing Maintenance
Selecting the right plants favors species that naturally thrive in dry, lean soil conditions. Drought-tolerant options like succulents, sedums, and various ornamental grasses are excellent choices, as are perennials such as Lavender, Rockrose (Cistus), and Yucca. When planting, the landscape fabric is minimally cut with an X-shape just large enough to insert the plant’s root ball into the soil underneath. Remove excess soil from the plant’s roots before planting to minimize the introduction of new weed seeds into the garden.
Long-term care primarily involves managing debris and occasional weed intrusion, maintaining the clean look of the stone surface. Organic material, such as fallen leaves and twigs, should be removed regularly with a leaf blower or a plastic rake, which prevents the debris from decomposing and creating a new growing medium for weeds. Despite the weed barrier, any weeds that manage to sprout through the pebble layer should be pulled by hand to remove the root, as chemical weed killers can potentially damage the stones. Over time, stones may settle or shift, requiring the surface to be lightly raked to maintain a level appearance, and occasionally, a small amount of new pebble material can be spread to refresh any thin spots.