How to maintain decorative aggregates- 3 things you need to keep on top of.
Decorative aggregates are a great, low maintenance option for improving the aesthetics of an outdoor area. Available in a range of different designs and colours they have become an increasingly popular option for homeowners and gardeners who want to spend more time enjoying their garden than working in it. Whilst they do require much less maintenance than say a lawn or flower bed there are some things you can do to keep your decorative aggregates looking their best. Whether you have slate chippings, decorative gravel, or crushed stone this guide will help you keep your outdoor spaces looking fresh.
Let’s look at some of the common maintenance issues with decorative aggregates and how you can overcome them.
Decorative gravel.
Weeds
They say prevention is better than a cure and in the case of weeds the best thing you can do to protect your decorative aggregates is to lay them on top of a quality weed prevention membrane. This should stop any weeds poking through your slate or gravel; however, some will still get through so here are some ways you can remove them.
Weed killer- will get rid of any weeds quickly and easily. Make sure that this is suitable for use on your aggregates before application.
Salt- this acts as a natural weed killer by dehydrating the weed. Salt is much cheaper and safer than weed killer so can be a great option if you’ve got pets or kids.
Boiling water- is also a quick and effective way of killing weeds. This method is much better for the environment than weed killer so is our preferred option.
Rip them out- finally there is the manual method, this one is a bit more time consuming but can be oddly satisfying. Make sure to pull out the roots as well otherwise they’ll come back! You might also want to invest in a decent pair of gloves and a kneeling pad to protect your hands and knees.
Leaves, twigs, and other debris
Most gardens and other outdoor areas where you would lay decorative aggregates are, well outdoors! This means they are likely to collect leaves, twigs, acorns, one cones and other naturally forming debris throughout the year, especially if you have any trees or shrubs on your property.
It’s important to stay on top of removing these items, if they are left, they can stain your decorative aggregates as they start to decompose. This can create a perfect environment for mould, moss and algae to grow which will quickly leave your beautiful aggregates looking dull and unloved. Here are some ways you can stay on top of this menace.
Power tools- there are a plethora of blowers and outdoor vacuum cleaners ranging from small handheld devices all the way through to ride on machines resembling a small tractor! These tools will quickly remove any leaves or loose items from your aggregates.
Raking- you can rake up the loose items and remove them by hand, this works best if you have only a few leaves on your aggregates or just a small area to clear. We’d recommend using a plastic rake that won’t scratch or damage your decorative aggregates.
Sieve- finally you can use a gravel sieve to filter out debris from your gravel.
A shrubbed landscaped area.
Mould, dirt, and algae
Different types of aggregates will need more cleaning than others, this will depend on the material itself, the environment it’s installed in, and how quickly you can remove loose natural debris.
Most of the time, simple rainwater will keep your aggregates looking fresh. During the summer when things can get a bit dry and dusty, it’s a good idea to periodically rinse off your aggregates using a hosepipe or similar. The beauty of gravel and other decorative aggregates is that the water will drain quicky away, leaving no puddles.
If your aggregates are stained with mould or algae simply follow this 3-step process:
1. Pour a mixture of water and vinegar over your aggregates.
2. Use a scrubbing brush to brush the stones and loosen off the staining.
3. Rinse with clean fresh water.
You may have to repeat this process if your aggregates are particularly stained, if you are having trouble removing the mould, try leaving the vinegar/water mixture to soak for a few minutes before brushing.
This process can also be used to clean larger decorative stones and boulders.
Slate chippings.
Hopefully this guide will help you keep your decorative aggregates looking their best. This may sound like a lot of work but in reality, aggregates are very low maintenance and if you keep on top of the three issues outlined in this guid it should only take a few minuets a week. By investing this time into maintenance, you’ll keep your decorative aggregates looking fresh for years to come.
If you have any questions regarding aggregates or waste management, pop them in the comments bellow or contact the team here. Thank you for reading.
Further reading
https://www.sixtownswaste.co.uk/blog/which-is-the-best-aggregate-for-drainage
https://www.sixtownswaste.co.uk/blog/turning-rocks-into-treasure-how-aggregates-are-made
https://www.sixtownswaste.co.uk/blog/how-much-is-skip-hire
Sources
https://www.wlabs.ltd/maintenance-keeping-your-decorative-aggregates-and-garden-stones-clean/
https://decorativeaggregates.com/blog/how-to-clean-maintain-decorative-garden-stones
