Gravel, pebbles and stones : make them the highlight of your garden with elegant design solutions

In the past, many gardens had areas covered with gravel and pebbles of various kinds: they were useful solutions, and elegant alternatives to simple clay - and less expensive than using paving stones. And today, as then, gravel still gives off an undoubted classical charm. But that's not all: when stones or gravel with less traditional shapes or colors are used - especially when combined with contemporary design solutions - they acquire a truly irresistible modern and sophisticated look.

You can use the various types of stones and pebbles for borders, to outline areas of the garden to be used in different ways, or even for purely decorative purposes. Take a look at the ideas below to find out how to incorporate gravel and stones into the architecture of your garden:

Gray, round pebbles - like those from a river - can be used as a border that separates the lawn from the fence: it is a way to decorate too, adding a strip of contrasting color that enriches the landscape. But it's also handy for avoiding walking on the lawn if you don't want to ruin the turf - as well as avoiding having to cut the grass flush with the fence when mowing.

The same technique can also be useful in the space between flower beds and the lawn, or pathways. It is an extra detail that finishes the look of the entire garden.

Then there is the possibility of using crushed stone (gravel) of various kinds as a sort of mulch. In flower beds where there are succulent plants and perhaps stone boulders, gravel is a very elegant solution to create a fascinating chromatic contrast.

It is also possible to combine stones of different types and different sizes, playing with the shapes like it is a natural mosaic.

Using stones (flat ones are best) as a ground covering around succulent plants is the best choice for flower beds to enliven the spaces paved with wood or concrete, creating a more contemporary design and style.

Gravel is always an excellent choice for the paths that run down the middle of the garden, perhaps interspersed with slabs on which to walk more comfortably. It has a more natural appearance and integrates better with the surrounding lawns than strips of asphalt or concrete.

And when comes to covering larger areas, Japanese steps of all shapes and materials can always be used to avoid having to walk on the gravel itself.

Stones which all seem to be the same size - even in terms of their color - create an incredible effect: perfect in the context shown above, and combined with succulent plants and is in line with the trend towards xeriscaping (xeriscaping is the process of landscaping, or gardening, that reduces or eliminates the need for irrigation).

However, nothing prevents you from using this type of stone mulching in flower beds: it is indeed very decorative, and always useful to retain moisture in the soil for longer.

White cobble stones are amongst the most popular used these days in modern garden design.

Have you ever used gravel or stones in the layout or design of your green spaces?