Wednesday 1 October 2014

To pebble or to pave, that is the question

Both pebbles and paving can be highly functional and allow plenty of creative freedom when it comes to their design. So how can you decide between the two? Both creative pebbling and artistic paving layouts in Adelaide can have their benefits as well as their pitfalls, and the best option depends on a number of individual factors.

Pebbles are not the first thought for many home owners looking to add a new style to their property, as they are not as popular and common as pavers. But this uniqueness is something that attracts many. While paving follows a distinct pattern, the use of pebbles is far from uniform. No two gardens will ever look the same. Smaller stones are a great way to mix up a space that is otherwise too uniform, with straight edges, metals and too many hard surfaces. Pebbles of course look more natural than perfect square pavers, and therefore look more at home beside a pond or in a green garden. They can look reminiscent of a relaxing beach or flowing stream. In fact, smaller stones can even help your greenery to thrive. In some cases, gardeners use pebbles as an alternative to mulch in an effort to capture water and trickle it through to nearby soil and plants. For garden paths, the most popular type of gravel is pea gravel, and this is a highly cost effective option.

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Unfortunately, a major drawback for both pebbles and gravel is that they can be a pain to walk on if you enjoy exploring your garden barefoot. Their size also means that they can get caught in everything, from toes to car tyres. And finally, while paver can be swept, there is no way of cleaning your gravel or pebble area. This means that any thing from critters to just lots of dirt and dust could be lurking. This is barely a problem for most people, after all the gravel is outside and outside there is bound ot be dust. However for people with asthma or severe dust allergies, the extra irritants can cause a problem when stirred. Paver are smooth, fuss free and easy to walk on. They will not thin out in the high traffic areas as gravel has a tendency to do. While they are often the most expensive option, many home owners agree that the investment is well worth the safety and ease of use for many years in the future.

Larger, smooth pebbles should only be used for more aesthetic purposes, as they are significantly less stable than both gravel and paver. If they are intended for a pathway, they will need to be quite flat an also secured in place with some sort of filler. Pebbles are considerably more expensive than gravel depending on the type that you choose. Considering that you will need to be very selective about the shape of your pebbles for a safe path, this could be quite a costly exercise. While rolling a wheelbarrow is easiest on paving, it is not overly difficult across gravel. The real difficulty only comes when trying to man oeuvre it across a pebbled surface that is very uneven.

If you are finding it difficult to isolate one clear decision, then perhaps you might want to consider a landscaping design that unites the two. There are plenty of examples to get inspiration from, with a popular choice being a foundation of pebbles upon which stone paver stepping stones are positioned. For more tips about choosing the ultimate paving solution in Adelaide, and Fencing Adelaide  for your unique situation, please contact Thompson Landscaping Adelaide at http://thompsonlandscapingadelaide.com.au.

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