Bunny, I can’t thank you enough for all the expert advice you give... I’ve seen every single one of your videos.. the bottomless pot one is brilliant! I’ve employed it here in my garden and continue to do so many times! You are a treasure! Thank you!! Please keep them coming!!
@@Gibbons3457 In LA?... well.... we have had quite a few. However, the uninvited visitor is the worst. I have a HORRIBLE story about mistaking Jehovas witness for someone coming to pick something up. 😶 and. Invited them in. Inside the house. 😶 take it from there.
Just discovered you Bunny as obsessed with trying to replicate the gardens of Thyme (on a much smaller scale) in my new garden 🪴 Your style is impeccable💕
My husband and I been trying to figure out how to cover a huge concrete pad in our yard to turn the area into a raised bed garden area. We had been looking at using the grid method and I would be very interested to know if that method would work on concrete or would it be better to go with the tar or resin instead? Thank you so much for doing this video and laying out the choices so clearly. Coating with tar had not even occurred to us. I can’t thank you enough!
Nice summary of gravel options. I’ve pretty much decided to go for the Nida system in a new courtyard part of the garden. The look I’m trying to recreate is one I saw at Thyme, Southrop, and is a mixture of paving, granite setts, gravel and planting. As a DIYer, the grid system will allow me to work on small areas as time and money allow. Another option I might experiment with is Vuba Easihold - it seems to be a resin binder that is poured onto loose gravel to give it extra rigidity. It could be a cheaper and less formal-looking alternative to resin bound gravel. Thanks for the content, and the inspiration at Thyme!
Oh that’s interesting I’ll investigate Vuba option. At time I used Breedon mixed with loose gravel in areas that I wanted to plant up. Mixing options ie having bound gravel route way through loose gravel works really well🐇
Very informative! I love the way the Distinctive Gardener on CZcams creates gravel seating areas, but I'm not sure how easy it is to maintain long term.
Have not seen that, but I do top up gravel every so often, it needs weeding too obviously and I freshen it up by raking it every now and then and it looks so much better after a bit of gentle titivation - like most things!
Very educational video, thank you. What would you recommend for an area which is underneath a large tree, and next to large hedge, both of which drop constantly. We want to drag our Wheely bins over it without making a mess, and we need to be able to easily sweep/rake/blow the leaves & hedge twigs that fall on it constantly. Grass just won't grow there so looking for a hard wearing alternative..not keen on slabs..
Bunny once again a very interesting video and good to see the comparison of diff gravel. I have a lot of raised garden beds that edge the grass and its very hard to keep it looking nice and crisp. I was hoping to edge all the borders with a path to minimse on the maintenance. Is there any particular type which would work better?
I just have loose gravel in that situation, just small sized particles, 10mm down ( ie 10 mm size and smaller) angular particles as it’s a working area. If you don’t want loose gravel there though, I would avoid the Breedon as you might drop soil on it when working in raised beds and probably go for the Nida system. I would put a fixed edge to it, such as a paving slab so you can run the mower over the edge of the slab and have a tidy line. Mowing edges such as paving slabs, brick soldier courses etc keep grass looking neater without a straggly line of grass, I talk about them in the video’ ‘My top timing saving gardening hacks’ - hope this helps. 🐇
@@bunnyguinness Thank you Bunny. Its a 3.5 acre garden with lots of curvy raised beds and becomes very tedious to maintain those sharp crisp lines. Loose gravel sounds like an option but i suppose it will need some sort of an edge too so we can mow over it. Will look at your other video too. Thanks.
You might find it interesting that your CZcams videos are reaching me in the United States. I happen to live in a woodsy town in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California.
A really interesting video, Bunny, particularly as I am thinking of laying something like Breedon for our terrace. Can I ask what it is like in barefoot if that is not an odd question? Mostly for our kids running around but my only concern is loads of it tracking back into the house. I have only managed to track down path gravel locally which is a hoggin (I am in Dorset) I believe. Would that be similar to the Breedon? Thanks and keep up the great videos!
A common question! If your feet are like mine, it’s no problem but if you have soft, beautifully pedicured feet, I think you would wince! Glad you found it useful🐇
Yes thats a great point. I remember working with the police on security measures for front gardens and they highlighted the fact that gravel actually warned you someone was around, you can hear intruders crunching on the gravel.
Hello, Bunny. I have a question concerning the Chinese path that you described in an earlier video. Do you know the ratio of cement to dirt? I was considering using pea gravel until I watched your other video.
I recently saw a video in which Bunny described a path system she learned about in Japan where cement and soil etc were mixed together using a cultivator in situ and I loved the idea. Sadly I can't find this video again - anyone out there got any ide a where I can find it please?
Hi Janet, yes, I watched the same video last night, very useful. It's the "SAVING MONEY in the Garden - My Top Tips" video and the path is 7.07 minutes into it. The video was uploaded 2 months ago. I'm sorry but I'm useless at IT so can't work out how to put in a link for you but I hope this helps.
Hello Bunny, please can you help me with a big problem I have... we've just had a bound gravel laid on sleeper steps and the colour is bright orange: namely Cotswold Gold. The chap who put it down told us it was Cotswold and when I searched up the colour, it was a stoney white which I loved. My question is : can I paint this vibrant golden yellow? Thank you in anticipation.
I think he laid the wrong one. You could ask him to scrape off the top layer, maybe 5mm or so and get him to replace it with the correct colour. I have done this when the top has got stained with soil or similar and it works well. 🐇
My choice would be Breedon Gravel, which appears to be the same as old fashioned hoggin so beloved of country house gardens. Is it, like hoggin, a bit muddy in wet weather?
Do you use paver stones in the UK? Some people in the US do it because it is permeable, as a substitute for asphalt or concrete. It's hard to find flat surfaces for gravel but some of the products you featured might do very well. Sloping driveways may be a euphemism for sharp drop offs where I have lived in the US.
Do you mean paving stones? We use those a lot here but these are only permeable if you use a special mortar to joint them with, so maybe I have got the wrong end of the stick? 🐇
@@bunnyguinness You're right. It about the material used between stones. It's usually sand or decomposed granite. Then of course, there can be a problem of weeds or washout of the material used between stones. One advantage is that the stones can be pulled up and reused more easily than some other materials. No solution is perfect, so it's reassuring that experiments continue. I have a city garden in Austin, Texas, where informality reigns (A big gala is Diamonds and Denim). Most of my paths are pine bark nuggets. Most stone is a problem because of heat retention. It's depressingly hot here. By British stands, we are vulgaris, but a lot of it is climate and terrain.
Yes that’s a good idea, it won’t be in next batch but maybe the batch after that. Even plants that don’t grow well in pots for any length of time such as yew , grows really well in a baseless pot. So you have a much wider range of plants to choose from and it pretty much boils down to personal taste 🐇
I don’t use glyphosate on annual weeds only on well established perennial weeds like couch, bind weed and ground elder. You must have a massive weed seed burden in your soil. I would just hoe the top surface repeatedly if they are annuals until you reduce the burden. 🐇
@@zoewhite7705 it reeks of classism Imagine if someone was to categorise any other race / gender. There would be uproar If you dont see the problem, then you are part of the issue
Bunny, I can’t thank you enough for all the expert advice you give... I’ve seen every single one of your videos.. the bottomless pot one is brilliant! I’ve employed it here in my garden and continue to do so many times! You are a treasure! Thank you!! Please keep them coming!!
I love this woman, she talks a lot of sense .
Omg! Fascinating really. As an American I’ve learned much! Thanks
Best aspect of gravel is the early warning sound alerting one of an intruder or a surprise visitor.
How many intruders per year are you experiencing, or expecting?
@@Gibbons3457 In LA?... well.... we have had quite a few. However, the uninvited visitor is the worst. I have a HORRIBLE story about mistaking Jehovas witness for someone coming to pick something up. 😶 and. Invited them in. Inside the house. 😶 take it from there.
When you live in South Africa, then it is almost a must
Just discovered you Bunny as obsessed with trying to replicate the gardens of Thyme (on a much smaller scale) in my new garden 🪴 Your style is impeccable💕
Bunny, your house and garden... OMG. Thanks again for great video
Finally a video with proper advice. Thank you.
Wow love this ! Great idea and looks classy !
Thanks Bunny! Very clear and helpful explanation.
Fantastic video (as always!)
Looking at this, I think I've developed 'gravel envy'.
Good clear explanation of surface options.
Very interesting. I didn’t know anything about these products just the overall look of them in pictures of estates and off of TV and films.
Great advice 👍thanks 👍
I love pea gravel. Not used often in Canada due to snow clearing.
Watch your videos from the Pacific N W (usa) . So informative. Love the UK, and get over there as often as possible. Thanks for your posts.
I went to Vancouver which is not so far, and really liked that too 🐇
My husband and I been trying to figure out how to cover a huge concrete pad in our yard to turn the area into a raised bed garden area. We had been looking at using the grid method and I would be very interested to know if that method would work on concrete or would it be better to go with the tar or resin instead? Thank you so much for doing this video and laying out the choices so clearly. Coating with tar had not even occurred to us. I can’t thank you enough!
Nice summary of gravel options. I’ve pretty much decided to go for the Nida system in a new courtyard part of the garden. The look I’m trying to recreate is one I saw at Thyme, Southrop, and is a mixture of paving, granite setts, gravel and planting. As a DIYer, the grid system will allow me to work on small areas as time and money allow.
Another option I might experiment with is Vuba Easihold - it seems to be a resin binder that is poured onto loose gravel to give it extra rigidity. It could be a cheaper and less formal-looking alternative to resin bound gravel.
Thanks for the content, and the inspiration at Thyme!
Oh that’s interesting I’ll investigate Vuba option. At time I used Breedon mixed with loose gravel in areas that I wanted to plant up. Mixing options ie having bound gravel route way through loose gravel works really well🐇
I wished there was more gravel use here in the US!
Thank you
Very informative! I love the way the Distinctive Gardener on CZcams creates gravel seating areas, but I'm not sure how easy it is to maintain long term.
Have not seen that, but I do top up gravel every so often, it needs weeding too obviously and I freshen it up by raking it every now and then and it looks so much better after a bit of gentle titivation - like most things!
I love bricks laid as pathways. Please do a video on them and as edging. I would also love to know how to build stairs into a sunken garden.
There's a house near me that has this bound gravel, it looks really nice.
Very educational video, thank you. What would you recommend for an area which is underneath a large tree, and next to large hedge, both of which drop constantly. We want to drag our Wheely bins over it without making a mess, and we need to be able to easily sweep/rake/blow the leaves & hedge twigs that fall on it constantly. Grass just won't grow there so looking for a hard wearing alternative..not keen on slabs..
Bunny once again a very interesting video and good to see the comparison of diff gravel. I have a lot of raised garden beds that edge the grass and its very hard to keep it looking nice and crisp. I was hoping to edge all the borders with a path to minimse on the maintenance. Is there any particular type which would work better?
I just have loose gravel in that situation, just small sized particles, 10mm down ( ie 10 mm size and smaller) angular particles as it’s a working area. If you don’t want loose gravel there though, I would avoid the Breedon as you might drop soil on it when working in raised beds and probably go for the Nida system. I would put a fixed edge to it, such as a paving slab so you can run the mower over the edge of the slab and have a tidy line. Mowing edges such as paving slabs, brick soldier courses etc keep grass looking neater without a straggly line of grass, I talk about them in the video’ ‘My top timing saving gardening hacks’ - hope this helps. 🐇
@@bunnyguinness Thank you Bunny. Its a 3.5 acre garden with lots of curvy raised beds and becomes very tedious to maintain those sharp crisp lines. Loose gravel sounds like an option but i suppose it will need some sort of an edge too so we can mow over it. Will look at your other video too. Thanks.
You might find it interesting that your CZcams videos are reaching me in the United States. I happen to live in a woodsy town in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California.
Wow, sounds lovely , what USDA zone are you? 🐇
A really interesting video, Bunny, particularly as I am thinking of laying something like Breedon for our terrace. Can I ask what it is like in barefoot if that is not an odd question? Mostly for our kids running around but my only concern is loads of it tracking back into the house. I have only managed to track down path gravel locally which is a hoggin (I am in Dorset) I believe. Would that be similar to the Breedon? Thanks and keep up the great videos!
A common question! If your feet are like mine, it’s no problem but if you have soft, beautifully pedicured feet, I think you would wince! Glad you found it useful🐇
@@bunnyguinness wow what a speedy reply! I think my somewhat less than perfect trotters could cope then. Thanks!
i really like that the garden table & chairs , where did you get from pls ?
I got them made up, by Tom at gedding mill forge I have done many variants on it : length, shape and height🐇
I have pea gravel and it does get kicked onto the sidewalk and all about but I love the sound of it under my feet.
Yes thats a great point. I remember working with the police on security measures for front gardens and they highlighted the fact that gravel actually warned you someone was around, you can hear intruders crunching on the gravel.
Will the water drain through the gravel after applying the resin ?
Hello, Bunny. I have a question concerning the Chinese path that you described in an earlier video. Do you know the ratio of cement to dirt? I was considering using pea gravel until I watched your other video.
I've been trying to re-find that very video! Do you have the link for it, please, by any chance?
@@janetbarkwith6369 It was the video 'Saving Money in the Garden'
@@beckyb76563 Got it! Thanks :)
I recently saw a video in which Bunny described a path system she learned about in Japan where cement and soil etc were mixed together using a cultivator in situ and I loved the idea. Sadly I can't find this video again - anyone out there got any ide
a where I can find it please?
Hi Janet, yes, I watched the same video last night, very useful. It's the "SAVING MONEY in the Garden - My Top Tips" video and the path is 7.07 minutes into it. The video was uploaded 2 months ago. I'm sorry but I'm useless at IT so can't work out how to put in a link for you but I hope this helps.
Hello Bunny, please can you help me with a big problem I have... we've just had a bound gravel laid on sleeper steps and the colour is bright orange: namely Cotswold Gold. The chap who put it down told us it was Cotswold and when I searched up the colour, it was a stoney white which I loved. My question is : can I paint this vibrant golden yellow? Thank you in anticipation.
I think he laid the wrong one. You could ask him to scrape off the top layer, maybe 5mm or so and get him to replace it with the correct colour. I have done this when the top has got stained with soil or similar and it works well. 🐇
Gravel grids are very impressive
Yes some people never lay gravel without them 🐇
My choice would be Breedon Gravel, which appears to be the same as old fashioned hoggin so beloved of country house gardens. Is it, like hoggin, a bit muddy in wet weather?
No it’s not at all muddy in wet weather, it is laid to a slight fall so water drains off it🐇
Do you use paver stones in the UK? Some people in the US do it because it is permeable, as a substitute for asphalt or concrete. It's hard to find flat surfaces for gravel but some of the products you featured might do very well. Sloping driveways may be a euphemism for sharp drop offs where I have lived in the US.
Do you mean paving stones? We use those a lot here but these are only permeable if you use a special mortar to joint them with, so maybe I have got the wrong end of the stick? 🐇
@@bunnyguinness You're right. It about the material used between stones. It's usually sand or decomposed granite. Then of course, there can be a problem of weeds or washout of the material used between stones. One advantage is that the stones can be pulled up and reused more easily than some other materials. No solution is perfect, so it's reassuring that experiments continue. I have a city garden in Austin, Texas, where informality reigns (A big gala is Diamonds and Denim). Most of my paths are pine bark nuggets. Most stone is a problem because of heat retention. It's depressingly hot here. By British stands, we are vulgaris, but a lot of it is climate and terrain.
Sorry about my typing. I have a tremor. Every year the warranty on another body part expires.
Pleased will you do a video on your top plants for pots, both architectural and a more natural look .
Yes that’s a good idea, it won’t be in next batch but maybe the batch after that. Even plants that don’t grow well in pots for any length of time such as yew , grows really well in a baseless pot. So you have a much wider range of plants to choose from and it pretty much boils down to personal taste 🐇
high heels shoes for gardeners seem to be the main problem with gravel............. as a male gardener, Ive decided not to wear them in future.
Hahaha 😂
What herbicide to use? Glyphosate take a couple of weeks to kill the weeds by which time the next lot have grown.
I don’t use glyphosate on annual weeds only on well established perennial weeds like couch, bind weed and ground elder. You must have a massive weed seed burden in your soil. I would just hoe the top surface repeatedly if they are annuals until you reduce the burden. 🐇
Bunny, get that door fixed behind you - looks really rotten.
@@RalphTGP I am in the UK;-)
Lost me when she used the term white van man.
Don’t you have white van men? Where do you come from? The vans are white.
She said white van drivers, as in drivers of white vans - deliveries etc. I’m not sure why that’s an issue?
@@zoewhite7705 it reeks of classism
Imagine if someone was to categorise any other race / gender. There would be uproar
If you dont see the problem, then you are part of the issue