Gravel/stones or grass for front garden?

[lovinglavidaloca]

We have quite a large space to the front and side of the house which can all be seen from the road. It’s currently all laid with stones but weeds constantly come up through it.

We’re thinking of giving the garden a bit of attention and wondered if people tend to recommend having a bit of lawn at the front or sticking with the stones? Is it just preference?

We could have a nice patch of lawn in front of the living room window and possibly an equal sized bit on the other side of the front path.

As I said it’s a big space and at the moment I feel just having all the same stones is a bit much and it maybe needs breaking up a bit?

What do you have and what do you wish you had?

Weed membrane, stones and a low maintenance Japanese style garden?

What aspect is it? Is it sheltered?

Could you mow it easily? As in get the mower to the front garden

I’m voting for ‘not gravel’ unless you put down a weed proof membrane and have a very thick layer or gravel.

I have spent the last 3 days pulling weeds out of a gravel path (no membrane), probably have another 2 days to go, so may be biased.

Gravel needs more maintenance than you think. Mines desperately needs weeding and I have a weed proof membrane problem is dirt settles on top of the stones over the years and washes down to the membrane and stuff starts growing. Also needs topped up annually. If you do go with gravel get it delivered in ton bags and power wash it. If it's delivered loose it comes filthy and you get a head start on that dirt on weedproof membrane I mentioned.

Weeding it at the moment drives me crazy as they just grow through so maybe that’s my answer right there - to minimise the stones or gravel as much as possible and where we do have some to make sure we have good membrane down.

Mowing isn’t a problem and id absolutely rather do that than pick awkward weeds out!

Thanks folks.

What about a paved area with spaces, eg miss laying a paving slab, where you plant shrubs/small trees. Leave a gravelled area for a car.
You could put rockery plants round the edges of the paving where the shrubs are to get a bit more colour. And mulch round the shrubs to keep weeds down.
That's what I would do. Lawns are nice if they are well kept.
Gravel isn't great under shrubs due to leaves.

I'd go for a lawn then and give the local wildlife a bit of habitat back

I'd have stones with lots of different grasses planted all over the place