Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design Re: What colour pebbles for my garden? 31Jun 15, 2010 8:13 pm Site Start: 10th September, 2010 PCI : Friday 27th January, 2011. Handover: 3rd February, 2011 Build Thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=37677 Re: What colour pebbles for my garden? 33Jun 16, 2010 12:02 pm A healthy sustainable garden works like this at your house and in forests ( in a heavily simplified way) Pens ready, Plant matter falls onto forest floor. (you can add uncomposted mulches from tree lopper mobs or mulchnet.com) It begins to decompose where it touches the soil surface. The stuff higher up doesn't. Nutrients are released to other soil organisms which have started to explode in numbers since the uncomposted mulch went on. Some nutrients become directly available to plants. Things living in the soil that we can't see convert that matter into nutrients further available to the plant. New soils are formed as it decomposes and the soil microbes consume the older organic material so it is all constantly replaced. This means fertilisers are not really required other than in the odd case of a nutrient balance's or needed supplement. Often though just leave it and they sort themselves out The plants will grow at rates far in excess of what they do with no soil prep and black mulch or pebbles or no mulch. Moisture stays far deeper than it does with other mulches. To the point where some think it isn't there. Plant roots will be onto it though Pebbles do not break down. They can when applied thinly increase soil moisture loss. Nothing is returned to the soil. When the soil prep has been done, the microbes begin consuming it and there is nothing in place to continue the cycle ... The organic material is not replaced. This further creates a fertiliser dependency for your plants and they become like drug addicts. Pest and disease will become common as will nutrient imbalances. The end result is $$$$$$$$$$$ to you and increased nutrient run off into the environment. Then again pebbles look pretty and stuff Love you guys Fig Landscapes has produced an e-book and native plant index, available for purchase from their website. It's a great resource, full of inspiration and tips. Another… 1 12222 Our Bondi Greenwall was impressive from day one with advanced lush plants to provide a wow factor to this recently renovated living area. The boundary was less than 1… 0 15293 |