If you want a more practical and low-maintenance garden, gravel for the garden can be a great choice. The use of a light-coloured gravel front garden can create a warmer atmosphere and complement a Mediterranean design scheme.
Gravel is a more cost-effective and convenient alternative to the paved option. Also, the porous nature of loose gravel allows for less surface runoff during rainstorms.
But the question is, how much would it cost to gravel over a portion of my garden? In this post, we’ll discuss the factors that will determine the answer to the cost of front gardens with gravel.
Factors Affecting the Cost
Some of the top factors that affect the cost of gravel for gardens include:
- Paving
This is a more manageable starting point if your current landscape features a lot of paving. However, planting pits are necessary if you want to incorporate vegetation into a gravel landscape.
It will cost about £15 per square metre to remove the existing pavement, dispose of it, apply a membrane, and spread standard gravel across an area of 100 square metres.
You will be spending around £19.50 per square metre to remove the existing paving, dispose of it, install a membrane, and lay 100 square metres of beautiful gravel for the garden.
- Overgrown
You should expect to pay from zero to a hundred pounds or more to have your garden gravelled, depending on its current condition. In the worst situation, your yard will be completely overrun by massive bushes and hardy weeds.
It will cost about £24 per square metre to remove an overgrown 100 square metre garden. The process will include ground preparation, membrane addition, and standard gravel.
Price estimates put the expense of clearing an overgrown 100 square metre garden at roughly £30 per square metre. This includes ground preparation, a membrane, and decorative gravel front garden.
Other Factors
Some other common factors to keep in mind are:
- The size of the location
- What needs to be taken out of it before gravel for garden is installed
- How doing so will affect the price of gardening labour and trash pickup?
- The amount of digging needed to level a base for the gravel
- Your preference in gravel or chippings
- Location is a major factor in cost, as London and the South East are consistently the most costly regions when you are living in the UK
- For the purposes you have in mind, the depth required for foot traffic will be significantly less than that required for the parking and flow of automobiles
- Costs associated with clearing the land of plants and shrubs, as well as other detritus like old fences, prior to laying the gravel.
The Different Types of Gravel
- Limestone
Crushed stone in the UK is almost always made from this sedimentary rock. Limestone is one of the most useful building rocks due to its versatility; it is commonly used in the production of ready-mix concrete, as well as in the laying of roads and tracks. It can be found in many of the country’s quarries and is a reliable option for front gardens with gravel.
- Crushed Shale
The fine crushed stone known as “Crushed Shale” ( hardcore, clause 804, or 1 1/2′′ down) is required for all pavement, walkway, and driveway applications. In most cases, crushed stone can be used in place of gravel and sand, as well as the other way around. There aren’t many natural alternatives to aggregate due to its similar features.
Quarries are the typical sites where this crushing and screening work is performed. To make the most of the available rock, crushers are sometimes transported right to the construction site.
- Granite
This gravel for the garden, comprised of broken-down granite rock, is ideal for giving a space a more natural appearance. The reddish-tan shade it typically appears in is a welcome addition to any garden. Granite that has been broken down into smaller pieces can be used to pave walkways or as topsoil around trees and other dry plants.
- Concrete
Gravel can also be put directly on top of concrete surfaces. It may be necessary to remove the concrete before this is possible, depending on your degree of exploration. Especially if you plan on planting right through the gravel.
How to Install a Gravel Front Garden
The contractor will conduct a preliminary site inspection to locate utilities such as water and gas lines, electrical wiring, and drain runs. After that, the grass or other hard slabs are removed, and the earth is prepared. This is done by excavating to a depth of 150 mm-200 mm.
After the soil has been excavated, it is protected from weed growth by a weed-proof barrier or fabric. Water is allowed to drain through porous layers in the ground. Crushed rock serves as the sub-base in the process. This material must be porous in order to be compacted with a compactor or roller.
Next, 50 millimetres of gravel is sprinkled on top so that turning vehicles don’t get stuck and pedestrians don’t sink into the surface.
The Advantages of Having a Gravel Front Garden
Here are some of the most prevalent advantages of a gravel front garden:
- It requires very little to no care; all you need to do is spray it a couple of times a year to keep the weeds at bay. However, the majority of gravel areas that have been appropriately built will have a weed-proof membrane or textile underneath the stones.
- In comparison to concrete or tarmac, gravel is cheaper and might have a softer, more aesthetically pleasing appearance.
- Unlike other choices that necessitate expert installation, this one may be laid quickly and easily by the homeowner themselves.
- Vehicles can be moved away from the curb, where they are safer from theft and vandalism, and if they are close enough, they can be charged in the garage.
Keep in mind that there is no one right way to landscape a garden. The price of landscaping will vary based on factors like the availability of skilled labour, ease of access, level of danger, and project size.
The final price tag for gravelling your garden will be determined by the condition of your site and the grade of gravel for the garden you select. The price may also potentially increase due to some factors not discussed in this article.
