Natural stone pebbles are becoming extremely popular in homes due to their wide range of colors and uses. Here are some ideas to use in your own home.
japanese gardens
Japanese Gardens and known for its peace and tranquility. This garden style uses specific plants as well as rocks and water to create this effect. Often these gardens are small in scale and are incorporated into an overall garden design rather than being the entire garden.
decorative pots
Placing a few pebbles around the top of a pot can make houseplants more attractive. Consider which part of the potted plant you want to make the focus. You can also use a decorative ceramic pot. Decide if you want matching or contrasting colors in the pot and pebbles you choose. The pebbles and your chosen pot should help focus your eyes on the plant you have chosen.
vases
Pebbles are also very effective at the bottom of vases. Glass vases in particular look gorgeous with some colored natural stone in the background. The pebble base also helps keep the arranged flowers in place. Decorative vases are great table decorations for dinner parties.
Routes and units
Paths and pathways become very low maintenance when covered with a covering of small natural stone pebbles. The size of the pebble you choose should take into account how the path or drive will be used. Areas of heavy car or pedestrian traffic need smaller stones, as they are easier on the feet and better for cars to drive over. Driveways and gravel paths should have retaining edges to keep stones in place. Paths and paths need to be filled in with extra stone from time to time. They are very durable and much prettier than a plain concrete driveway.
water features
Now it seems that everyone wants a water feature in the garden. They can be very small or quite big and bold, but they always add an element of tranquility to any garden. When planning a water feature, you can incorporate natural stone in a variety of ways. Larger stones around the edge of the feature can add character. Pebbles can also be used to cover the base of the water feature and to cover any cables or pumps used to power it. Before choosing your stone, remember to moisten a sample, as this is what it will look like in your water source.
ponds
The same rule applies with ponds to wet your sample and check the color of the stone. Natural stone is usually dusty when collected and when the dust is flaked off the true color is revealed. Ponds look great with constructed borders. You can use a variety of materials including rocks, wood, metal, and many others. You can also mix and match stones of various sizes for a more natural look.
pebbles as mulch
Mulch is something more gardeners are doing in the garden. It basically involves adding a layer of material on top of your soil to help with water retention. This means less watering, which saves time and water supplies too. Not everyone has an endless supply of water or the enthusiasm for lawn maintenance, and pebbles are a great alternative, particularly in naturally dry areas.
Weeding in garden beds is greatly reduced. It is quite easy to pull out the few weeds that are trying to grow between the pebbles. As plants mature and fill planting spaces, there is less room for weeds to find a place to grow.
To keep grass from creeping up through pebble mulch paths, we’ve found that a thick layer of newspaper and then a layer of plastic or grass matting on top work very well. Newspapers and plastic help retain moisture, another important reason for padding. On this plastic, the pebbles that were recently found in the planting holes are spread in a thick layer. The largest flat rocks are used as the border.