| Natural stone pebbles are becoming extremely | | | | garden. When planning a water feature you can |
| popular in homes because of their wide range | | | | incorporate natural stone in a variety of |
| of colors and uses. Here are a few ideas for | | | | ways. Larger stones around the edge of the |
| use in your own home.Japanese GardensJapanese | | | | feature can add character. Pebbles can also |
| Gardens and known for their peacefulness and | | | | be used to cover the base of the water |
| tranquillity. This style of garden uses | | | | feature and to cover up any cords or pumps |
| specific plants as well as rocks and water to | | | | that are used to power it. Before choosing |
| create this effect. Often these gardens are | | | | your stone remember to wet a sample as this |
| small in scale and are incorporated into an | | | | is how it will look in your water |
| overall garden design rather than being the | | | | feature.PondsThe same rule applies with ponds |
| whole garden.Decorative PotsPlacing some | | | | to wet your sample and check the colour of |
| pebbles around the top of a potted plant can | | | | the stone. Natural stone is normally dusty |
| make indoor plants more attractive. Consider | | | | when collected and when the dust comes off |
| what part of the potted plant you want to | | | | the real color is revealed. Ponds look great |
| make the focus. You can use a decorative | | | | with built-up edging. You can use a variety |
| ceramic pot as well. Decide whether you want | | | | of materials including feature rocks, wood, |
| matching or contrasting colors in the pot and | | | | metal and many others. You can also mix and |
| the pebbles you choose. The pebbles and | | | | match various sized stones for a more natural |
| chosen pot should help focus your eye on the | | | | look.Pebbles as MulchMulching is something |
| plant you have chosen.VasesPebbles are also | | | | more gardeners are doing in the garden. |
| very effective used in the bottom of vases. | | | | Basically it involves adding a layer of |
| Glass vases in particular look superb with | | | | material over the top of your soil to aid |
| some colored natural stone in the bottom. The | | | | with water retention. This means less |
| pebble base also helps hold the arranged | | | | watering which saves time and also water |
| flowers in place. Decorative vases make great | | | | supplies. Not everyone has an endless supply |
| table decorations for dinner parties.Paths | | | | of water or the enthusiasm to maintain lawns |
| and DrivesPaths and drives become very low | | | | and pebbles are a great alternative, |
| maintenance when covered with a topping of | | | | particularly in naturally dry areas.Weeding |
| small natural stone pebbles. The pebble size | | | | in garden beds is greatly reduced. It is |
| you choose needs to take into account how the | | | | quite easy to pull the few weeds that attempt |
| path or drive will be used. Heavy car traffic | | | | to grow among the pebbles. As the plants |
| or foot traffic areas need smaller stones as | | | | mature and fill up the planting spaces there |
| they are more comfortable underfoot and | | | | is less room for weeds to find a place to |
| better for cars to drive over. Gravel drives | | | | grow.To stop the grass from coming up through |
| and paths should have retaining edging to | | | | the pebble mulch paths we have found that a |
| hold the stones in place. Drives and paths | | | | heavy layer of newspaper and then a layer of |
| need to be topped up with extra stone | | | | plastic or weed mat on top works very well. |
| occasionally. They are very durable and much | | | | The newspapers and the plastic help to retain |
| nicer looking than a plain old concrete | | | | moisture, another important reason for |
| driveway.Water FeaturesIt seems now that | | | | mulching. On top of this plastic the pebbles |
| everyone wants a garden water feature. They | | | | that were recently in the planting holes are |
| can be very small or quite large and bold but | | | | spread in a thick layer. Larger flat rocks |
| always add an element of tranquillity to any | | | | are used as edging. |