04/30/2026
Gravel garden install, one year in reflections.
I’ve been wanting to try this for a while—inspired by the gravel gardens of Beth Chatto in England. The idea is to put down a really thick layer of 5/8” gravel so w**d seeds just wash down through the gaps instead of sitting on soil and sprouting.
it is in a spot with lots of sun and not many overhead trees with lots of leaf drop.
So far it’s doing exactly what it’s supposed to. Very little w**ding. Almost no maintenance.
When we first planted it, it honestly just looked like a giant field of gravel with some plants dropped in. But even after a year it’s already starting to knit together. I’m guessing by next year it’ll read as a pretty lush, filled-in garden with gravel paths or pads—when in reality the whole thing is gravel.
One of the best parts has been how people use it. Kids in the neighborhood run right through it, cutting across, actually interacting with the space. It’s held up great.
Planting is a loose mix of drought-tolerant faves:
Jerusalem sage, manzanita, California buckwheat, salvias, Atlas fescue, Santa Barbara daisy, plus herbs like sage and thyme tucked throughout.
Stay tuned. Anyone else attempted this?
