This article will explore and compare the use of slate and shingle in your garden, comparing functionality, cost and ease of use.
Let’s Compare The Use Of Slate And Pea Gravel For An Average-Sized Garden.
| Factor to consider | Slate | Pea Gravel |
|---|---|---|
| size of chippings | Range- from tiny up to 40mm | Uniform – approximately 40 mm |
| range of colours | a bag will contain very similar colours of slate | a bag will contain a range of colours |
| colours | blue, green, grey, plum | white, cream, grey, orange, brown |
| pros | inexpensive, easy to lay, prevents weeds and easy maintenance | inexpensive, easy to lay, prevents weeds and easy maintenance |
| cons | Larger size means it shifts underfoot less. Needs to be contained with edging material. Slightly easier to remove if you change your mind. More comfortable for bare feet. Can support chairs and tables Once laid should not need replacing | Small size means it shifts underfoot. Needs to be contained with edging material. Difficult to remove from soil if you decide to change landscape. Uncomfortable on bare feet. Does not provide a solid base for chairs and tables. Extra shingle will need to be added as it compacts and travels. |
| cost comparison | Bag cost similar to pea gravel but coverage is less so works out more expensive. | Bag cost similar to slate but coverage is more so works out cheaper. |
Slate Chippings Are Available In Different Sizes.
You can choose tiny chippings for mulch and slightly larger for rockeries and planted areas.
20mm slate chippings are really useful for paths as they don’t move too much underfoot as you walk on them.
40mm slate chippings are quite chunky. They can be used for paths but are especially useful as ground cover and around the edge of ponds or as a decorative element for water features.
Slate Chippings Are Available In Different Colours.
We all know that slate is grey- they even name paint colours “Slate grey”, but there is quite a variation.
Colour wise, some are a cooler grey, almost green and some are a much warmer grey. Often called plum, they have a definite purplish tone.
The great thing about slate is that it looks good against many other colours in your garden. The only thing I would say is that to my mind, they don’t look great against patio slabs with a distinct yellow tinge. That’s my personal preference and you may disagree.
Any colour slate matches really well with grey garden fences.
A lot of slate comes from Wales which is not too far from where we are based, so it feels like we are doing our bit to buy local when we use it.
How Do I Decide How Deep To Lay My Slate Chippings?
I recommend 4 – 5 cm or 2 – 2 1/2 inches for most uses.
How Many Bags Of Slate Chippings Am I likely To Need?
5 Bags each weighing 25kg will cover approximately 1 square metre.
You may decide to buy in bulk and this will often work out cheaper, unless delivery costs are high. If you are collecting bags in your car, the average family car will take about ten bags without passengers. It’s a very expensive mistake to damage the suspension with too heavy a load. Most companies will deliver for a small fee.
How Easy Is It To Lay Slate Chippings?
Laying slate chippings is not a difficult job and requires few specialist tools, but bags are heavy and you may need a couple of you to transport it, especially if , like us, you have no side access to your back garden. You will need a spade to dig out the ground, a rake for levelling and possibly a wheelbarrow to transport the chippings.
Once you have decided where you would like to lay your slate chippings, mark it out with string or lengths of wood.
You will need to dig out the area to approximately 10cm or 4 inches deep. Level it with a rake and feel free to use your feet too.
Decide how you are going to keep the slates contained, especially if it is next to grass as there is nothing more annoying than mowing over a chipping and it’s dangerous too! Wood makes an easy and fairly cheap frame but you can use bricks or metal if you prefer.
Some people like to add dust or very small aggregate before they put down a weed- proof membrane, but this is not really necessary. But I would say that you will regret it if you don’t put down the membrane as this will make your slate much higher maintenance.
Now empty the slate chippings over the membrane (watch your back!) and use a rake to level it.
Why Choose Slate Chippings For My Garden?
Slate is pretty maintenance free and doesn’t get slimy like wooden decking, but you will need to occasionally wash it over with a hose. If it’s walked on, you will need to rake it if you notice that the membrane is peeping through.
I really like slate chippings and we have used them successfully as a way to keep the weeds down between plants. We also have used them as a pathway and they have been surprisingly effective. We do sometimes insert round slabs along a slate path, especially if small children will use the garden, but we haven’t found them to be slippery, even in the winter.
So What Are The Benefits Of Using Slate Chippings In A Garden?
- It’s long-lasting and not really affected by the weather ( except on a Welsh mountainside over thousands of years!)
- It is a surface which looks great when wet- think children with a watering can or hose ( and even in the rain)
- It’s ideal when combined with a weed-free membrane to keep weeding to a minimum ( an absolute must for busy people)
- Its good to keep plants hydrated in hot weather ( another time saver)
- It’s an easy beginner DIY job (as long as you have a strong back) and much simpler than laying a patio.
- I didn’t know this until recently, but slate chippings are more environmentally friendly than some other stones- a big bonus.
Why Choose Pea Gravel And Not Sharp Gravel?
Sharp gravel , which is often grey, is not usually used decoratively in a garden, except perhaps for paths. It is really designed for drainage and laying under sheds.
However, pea gravel (sometimes called pea shingle ) is much more attractive and is useful for supressing weeds in flower beds and making pathways and driveways. It comes in a variety of colours, meaning that it blends well with most garden features.
Uses For Pea Gravel
As stated above, pea gravel works well as a mulch and for making pathways and driveways. You will need to remember that as it is small and round ( pea-sized!) walking on it is difficult for those with mobility problems. Pushing a wheelbarrow or pushchair across it is very difficult too.
How Easy Is It To Lay Pea Gravel?
This is very similar to laying slate chippings.
To help prevent the pea shingle shifting when it is walked on, use a good layer of crushed rock and dust underneath it. This and a sturdy frame will help it to stay in place since it really does need containing well. Either use a wooden frame or bricks or decorative edging. Whatever you do use, ensure there are no gaps for the shingle to escape. Be especially careful with this if the shingle is used near grass.
- Dig out about 15 cm or 6 inches soil and remove any weeds.
- Lay a weed suppressing membrane at this stage.
- Lay down 5cm or 2 inches of coarsely crushed rock.
- Cover that with 7 cm or 3 inches of pea gravel and rake level.
Colours Of Pea Gravel
There are various neutral colours including grey, cream, orange, brown, white, and translucent. A bag will contain a mixture of colours, in contrast to slate which has a much more uniform colour within the bag.
How Many Bags Of Pea Shingle Am I Likely To Need?
You will need about two 25kg bags of pea gravel to cover a square metre.
So which would you recommend?
For walkways used by children or those with mobility problems, I would recommend slate over pea shingle if you really want to avoid concrete.
The cheapest option for mulch is pea gravel.