HELP...What can I add here to break up this mass of stones? (Photo)

[GloomyWaters]

Hi...this is the side of my house on the front ..it was just soil. Have stoned it but just looks too plain.

I know what I DON'T want...I don't want plants, I dont want pots of plants, I dont want climbing plants on side of house.

What do.you think?

If that was my plot I'd bung either a small tree or a shrub in there, somewhere around the middle. A Ceanothus or Rosemary, maybe.

And put in a little picket fence or something to define the edge. It does look rather stark.

I'd put a cordyline in the middle if it's south facing, no maintenance and looks ok with all the gravel. I think it needs some kind of low boundary though, or it won't be long before some CF thinks it's a handy parking space.

What about a low box hedge to define the boundary

Or small tree
Magnolia ?

Do a column of large pebbles: looks sculptural, but if someone nicks it, it's just stones.

Magnolia, cherry blossom, apple blossom, fruit tree, camellia, and a small picket fence would be perfect.

Something like this is cheap as chips and would work.

www.amazon.co.uk/s?ref=nb_sb_noss_2&i=aps&k=Small%20Fencing&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&url=search-alias%3Daps

I know you say you don't want a plant but a phormium would fill in that space nicely and it is almost completely maintenance free. We had one in our garden when I moved in and it was great to fill the space with greenery year-round.

one big thing like a tree is going to be much easier than lots of fiddly little things like alpines & stones

I'd put in a variegated holly that would look good all year & give berries in the winter.

@SaskiaRembrandt

Are large stones likely to be stolen, surely they'd be too heavy? Do some of you live near thieves who resemble Dwayne Johnson?

Agree with pp - definitely fence it off or it will be used as a dog loo/path off to cut off the corner. And yes, alpines would look nice but be low maintenance.

Yes ! Our neighbours had large stone ball on top of plinth stolen - must have taken 2 people to lift it

One large Phormium plant in the middle. Job done and will help with drainage

Some great ideas. Thanks

An arrangement

What you’ve got there OP is a cat toilet, I expect they will decorate it for you soon enough!